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CEM60-EC


psjshep

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Well... after patiently waiting for what seems an ice age, my CEM60-EC (the "EC" denotes the high precision encoders with realtime periodic error correction) finally arrived.

Big thanks to Nick & Ian @ Altair Astro for them keeping me informed of everything and the swift sorting out & dispatch of the equipment  049.gifhappy-smiley-8769.gif

When it all arrived. it consisted of 2 boxes - 1 counterweight box & 1 with the mount in it

In with the mount was

  • power cord from the mount to a cigarette lighter type connector
  • bag with counterwight shaft lock bolt & 2 x studs
  • counterweight shaft
  • Go2Nova® 8407+ hand controller & cord
  • PE curve printout
  • Connector for mount to DB9 for firmware upgrades and/or PC control

In order to attach it to my pier, I had to drill & tap 2 x M8 holes approx. 130mm apart - these were for the 2 x studs included, which locate via a slot on each side of the mount to allow slight rotation in azimuth for polar aligning.

What I did find really snazzy was that any of the adjusters have holes along the direction needed for tightening/untightening and a small lever is included (almost hidden as it stores at the front of the mount) which fits into these holes to allow good torque when tightening... ingenious. The adjusters include the altitude knob, both capped nuts which fit on the 2 x studs (& the studs even have a hole through them to allow tightening on the pier plate!)

The unique design of the CEM means it looks odd when both axis are moving... and lets it carry a phenomenal payload... 

check out this uTube of Paul Chasse who loaded his up with as close to the 60lbs as he could.

Also included here are screen shots of a 2 worm-cycle with PemPro... most impressive!

Details:
102mm Triplet (715mm fl) with 1.0x field flattener & a SXVR-H16 camera, giving an image scale of about 2.1 arc seconds per pixel
1 second exposures
2 complete worm cycles

All in all... VERY pleased... and after the imaging test and the PemPro test, am very glad I went for the EC model....

If you want pricing information of the next batches, please talk to either Ian or Nick @ Altair Astro.

Hope this was usefull...

Phil

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Iv just picked up the standard version, but typically has resulted in the worst weather ever so no first light yet. Is a beautiful mount, extremely quiet even at full speed slew, not too heavy (is lighter than an eq6) and build quality looks pretty good.

Good luck with yours, will be interesting to see how the 2 models compare.

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Iv just picked up the standard version, but typically has resulted in the worst weather ever so no first light yet. Is a beautiful mount, extremely quiet even at full speed slew, not too heavy (is lighter than an eq6) and build quality looks pretty good.

Good luck with yours, will be interesting to see how the 2 models compare.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah... always the way  :grin:

I just love the mount noises... slewing is nice.... on the EC model, there is this funky noise if you put your ear close to the mount when tracking...

Indeed it will be interesting....

Phil

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Hi Phil, looking good, I have an iEQ45 which I use as a portable setup, it hasn't been without it's problems and was considering getting the CEM, do you think it's very portable and quick to set up like the iEQ45.

Dave

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Just another query Phil (edit button not working for some reason) did it come in that nice case as standard or was it extra ?, only ask because the iEQ45 only came in a cardboard box and I had to by a case

Dave

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Hi Dave..

(yeah.. I couldn't find how to edit a post....)

Well... the CEM weight is down as 12.3Kg whereas the EQ6 Pro I believe is 16Kg.... (I believe the iEQ45 is 11.4Kg)  I have a pillar extension for my EQ6 Pro so that's got to be be at least another K or 2.... I take my EQ6 Pro out for our society viewings and to Kelling without any issues.... I am not sure I would want to take the CEM60-EC out though due to it's cost rather than it's weight.... but as so long as you could get it insured, it would be as easy if not easier than the EQ6 Pro... One of our members has the iEQ45 when he comes out to ours sessions - I have got to like the handset of the CEM which looks similar to the iEQ45.

Others might think otherwise?

As for the case - you would need to check with Nick @ Altair Astro for info on the case in the future. Mine came standard with the mount.

Phil

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Mine also came with a case. Which from what I have read is standard (at the moment anyway).

Going from a HEQ5 to the CEM I can really notice the difference in weight, but it still seems pretty easy to setup, even well not tried in the field as yet.

Think the encoders change the sound produced as mine is virtually silent when just tracking, just a faint ticking noise like a old fashioned watch :-)

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I see what the beta testers mean when they said it sounded like an old PAC man game :-) mine doesn't sound like that, suppose that would be the motor speed being corrected

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I can post slewing if anyone fancies it?

Phil

:laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh: Yeah it did!  But tbh, the one which came with the CGE was even longer!!

At least I can route it around the inside of the observatory without worrying about tripping over it.... (I have one of those cable "sleeping policeman" strips :grin: )

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Did you Cem60 come with the longest power cord in recorded history? Was somewhat shocked when I unraveled it!

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lol - wrong quote earlier

:laugh:   :laugh:   :laugh: Yeah it did!  But tbh, the one which came with the CGE was even longer!!

 

At least I can route it around the inside of the observatory without worrying about tripping over it.... (I have one of those cable "sleeping policeman" strips  :grin: )

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Well as firsts lights go, I couldn't have asked for more :-) every connected 1st time, which is a 1st, guiding was spot on, average 0.07rms which is miles better than my old heq5, tracked and slewed like a dream. One happy chappy :-) and only took 90mins to set up, eek, will have to get that time down.

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Incidentally.... I also managed a few hrs.... so that's OIII layer now... the un-park & slew to Deneb put the star about 5 - 10 pixels off the centre!! VERY please with that!

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