EQ5 mount capacity

[erialc79]

I currently have a Helios 8" reflector currently mounted on my EQ5 but wondered what extra weight it could take? would a Skywatcher 80mm or 102mm mounted on the 8" push its boundaries?

[barkis]

I'm assuming you intend imaging if you're adding the ed80 as a guidescope, in which case I would say too much weight.

You might get away with a lighter guide unit, perhaps an off axis guider.

But, perhaps someone has such a combo in use, and makes my analysis look silly.

Ron.

[John]

If your EQ5 is one of the older ones with the aluminum tripod legs then it's probably a bit overloaded with the 8" newtonian on it's own. The versions with the 1.5" or 1.75" steel tubed legs have a bit more capacity but even then I think holding the 8" plus a guide scope for imaging would be pushing things.

[erialc79]

Thanks for the comments