EQ8 Owners

[adamw]

I am considering upgrading my NEQ6 Pro to an EQ8 as I am planning on buying a C14 in the near future. Would any of you advise against buying one for mainly visual use? The reason I am looking at an EQ8 is purely cost v payload plus skywatcher mounts are excellent value for money.

Adam

[alan potts]

I would have though a C14 would be at home on a mount like that, I don't know how much one weighs but I am sure it is beyond the handling of the normal, like Neq 6 Az eq6, even the Cem 60 and maybe the G11. My Meade weighs about 18 kg so a C14 must be at least 25-30kg a 50 kg mount will have plenty in store.

Alan.

[Zakalwe]

The CEM60 looks like a very good mount and is similarly priced to the EQ8. It's has a payload of 27Kg in comparison to the EQ8's payload of 50Kg.

The C14 has a weight of 20Kg, excluding diagonals, EPs and all the other gubbins, so you're a lot closer to the payload capacity of the CEM60.

I think that you'd be very pleased with either mount. One thing to consider is if you have to set-up and tear-down each night. The CEM60 would win here as the mount head weighs 12.3Kg (plus another 8Kg for the tripod). In comparison the beefy EQ8 weighs in at 25Kg (plus another 30kg for the tripod).

[libraryman]

The Eq8 will handle the C14 with ease, if you want to image with this combination check the Dec backlash...it scan be adjusted out but better to check first.

Ray

[CCD Imager]

^{I have both the CEM60 and EQ8. If you are planning mounting a C14, then without hesitation, I would recommend the EQ8. The CEM60 wont handle the C14 at all, it struggled to handle my 6 inch refractor, very wobbly views! The EQ8 is great bang for the buck and performs well. Long term, you will get rusting of some parts, so best to keep on top of that.}

^Adrian

[Herrman]

My EQ6 handled a C11, but only just. I now have the EQ8 which manages this scope without issue. I'm sure it would also handle a C14 comfortably. Herrman

[ollypenrice]

What do we mean by 'handle?' An EQ8 will carry the weight. Will it guide sufficiently accurately for long focal length DS imaging? I don't know. If you get one with a lot of backlash it won't, and if the backlash is assymetrical I don't see how it can be tuned out.

Olly

[Zakalwe]

What do we mean by 'handle?' An EQ8 will carry the weight. Will it guide sufficiently accurately for long focal length DS imaging? I don't know. If you get one with a lot of backlash it won't, and if the backlash is assymetrical I don't see how it can be tuned out.

Olly

You're going to wear that drum out Olly if you keep banging it so hard... :grin: :biggrin:

The OP was thinking of it for mainly visual use, so it'll be fine. The C14 is less than half the payload weight of the EQ8/

Adam,

If you were thinking of doing imaging, then have a gander over on Astrobin. You can search for users of the EQ8 (and other mounts)

http://www.astrobin.com/users/ftapissier/

http://www.astrobin.com/users/AstroGG/

http://www.astrobin.com/users/Pellervo_Observatory/

[Herrman]

Hi Olly,

By 'handle', I was thinking about the mount's ability to cope with the payload weight. Like Adam, I employ the C11 mainly for visual use (plus some lunar imaging). I've yet to dabble with DS imaging, but I appear to be amongst the lucky ones whose mount doesn't suffer from backlash problems, so I hope if I do give it a try, it will prove to be just a daunting rather than impossible challenge!

All the best, Herrman

[tony210]

I don't use the EQ8 for visual use and I think mine would support long focal length guiding - currently operate at 1.2 metres but plan longer- Tony

[tony210]

I should add that I am about to try a 12ich RCT with reducer -FL 1.8metres - should be a test? - Tony

[Tomvictor]

It would be interesting to see a guidegraph on this mount. Is it possible to get it to guide below 0,6" all night?

[CCD Imager]

Ive imaged with an OO 12 inch OKD giving a focal length of 82 inches and the scope weighs about 22Kg with imaging kit on it. I get less than 0.3 arc sec tracking, its a very good mount. Someone mentioned a CEM60, but this would no where near take a C14! It only weighs about 12Kg.

Adrian

[alan potts]

Having read a good deal recently on mounts and seen what people say on here it strike me that what the manufacturer claims many times is not what people find out in the field. I think unless you are paying a massive amount for a mount, like 5,000 plus the figure given could be exaggerated a little, even the EQ8 I saw writen was more like a 45 kg mount and then only for visual. I would have thought the C14 imaging with it's massive focal length would test any mount, even a very expensive one.

I am thinking of one though for my LX 12 inch.

Alan

[jaspalchadha]

My cem60 handles my 10 inch RC perfectly

[Physopto]

Hi Adam,

If you haven't already bought an EQ8 read the EQ8 Problems just posted. I bought mine months ago but have not had the chance to use it . I cannot get it to be recognised by the EQDirect Toolbox. Topolbox cannot see the com port for some reason. Only Prolific usb ttl leads will control the mount then only if you specify the com port in EQ toolbox. Not sure what will happen over the next Kielder meeting.

The mount in it's box weighs 46.5 Kg (102lb). The head alone I believe is about 26 Kg ( 57lb) but the weight bar and other bits contribute to the extra weight. If you want it, be sure that you can lift it if needed, new backs are not available . The legs and post weigh about 30 Kg (66lb) but you have to add on the extra weight of the adjustable feet. I had an NEQ6 and really liked it, but convinced myself that I needed the extra solidity. Time will tell. Wish you all the best,  it's a really nice mount but heavy!

Derek

[ollypenrice]

You're going to wear that drum out Olly if you keep banging it so hard... :grin: :biggrin:

The OP was thinking of it for mainly visual use, so it'll be fine. The C14 is less than half the payload weight of the EQ8/

Adam,

If you were thinking of doing imaging, then have a gander over on Astrobin. You can search for users of the EQ8 (and other mounts)

http://www.astrobin.com/users/ftapissier/

http://www.astrobin.com/users/AstroGG/

http://www.astrobin.com/users/Pellervo_Observatory/

I had a good look at the images in these links... 

Olly

[jaspalchadha]

I have a spare eq8 motor board brand new should anyone want one

[orion69]

Hi Adam,

If you haven't already bought an EQ8 read the EQ8 Problems just posted. I bought mine months ago but have not had the chance to use it . I cannot get it to be recognised by the EQDirect Toolbox. Topolbox cannot see the com port for some reason. Only Prolific usb ttl leads will control the mount then only if you specify the com port in EQ toolbox. Not sure what will happen over the next Kielder meeting.

The mount in it's box weighs 46.5 Kg (102lb). The head alone I believe is about 26 Kg ( 57lb) but the weight bar and other bits contribute to the extra weight. If you want it, be sure that you can lift it if needed, new backs are not available . The legs and post weigh about 30 Kg (66lb) but you have to add on the extra weight of the adjustable feet. I had an NEQ6 and really liked it, but convinced myself that I needed the extra solidity. Time will tell. Wish you all the best,  it's a really nice mount but heavy!

Derek

I bought this: http://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/hitecastro-eqdir-adapter.html

No problems.

[Sp@ce_d]

Hi Adam,

If you haven't already bought an EQ8 read the EQ8 Problems just posted. I bought mine months ago but have not had the chance to use it . I cannot get it to be recognised by the EQDirect Toolbox. Topolbox cannot see the com port for some reason. Only Prolific usb ttl leads will control the mount then only if you specify the com port in EQ toolbox. Not sure what will happen over the next Kielder meeting.

The mount in it's box weighs 46.5 Kg (102lb). The head alone I believe is about 26 Kg ( 57lb) but the weight bar and other bits contribute to the extra weight. If you want it, be sure that you can lift it if needed, new backs are not available . The legs and post weigh about 30 Kg (66lb) but you have to add on the extra weight of the adjustable feet. I had an NEQ6 and really liked it, but convinced myself that I needed the extra solidity. Time will tell. Wish you all the best, it's a really nice mount but heavy!

Derek

I've never got EQMod to find the port for my eq5 or 6 whether using prolific or FTDI chipsets.

I use device manager to find the com port & assign it manually in EQMod setup.

Are you using a 3.3v or 5v TTL level FTDI chipset?

I've got a 5v one ready to make up when I get my EQ8 ordered soon.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ian_bird]

I had a good look at the images in these links... 

Olly

And?

Round stars or signs of poor tracking?

Just asking.

[ollypenrice]

And?

Round stars or signs of poor tracking?

Just asking.

Zakalwe provided a good source of EQ8 images so any prospective buyer can have a careful look at the results. That's a good resource and better than any opinion I might be able to offer on the subject.

Olly

[nmoushon]

For visual and the tad bit of lunar imaging you say are are planning on doing I would vote the EQ8. For those two uses I don't think the CEM60 can compare. Plus the EQ8 has the extra capasity that you could throw on a second wide field scope at the same time and not have to worry at all about the weight....maybe even a third scope!

I know this isnt the main topic of the thread so don't want to derail it but if you ever want to get into DSO imaging at with the C11 you will be limiting yourself with this mount. The backlash can be a problem if you are wanting to do really long exposure and at the really long focal lengths. I just had a post on this a couple day ago so you can look there for more explanation if you want for details. (Again don't want to derail your post)

[Gina]

I bought this: http://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/hitecastro-eqdir-adapter.html

No problems.

Me too   Also no problems   I'm pleased with my EQ8 - much better than the NEQ6

[Gina]

I don't know about other countries but the UK never seems to get good enough seeing and transparency to handle DSOs at anything like the FL of a C11.  I often need to use binning even with a 1000mm FL scope.

I guess I have been lucky with my EQ8 as backlash doesn't seem to be a problem.  Maybe they've dropped their standards since I got mine