EQ2, EQ3, etc. what does it all mean?

[dazzst]

Hi all,

Another noob question. Title says it all.

Cheers

Daz

[rowan46]

eq is short for (german) equatorial mount and the number goes up dependng on weight bearing ability, quality and price.

[dazzst]

Thanks. Is there a formula or something that tells you that EQ3 can support x weight and is poor, medium, good, incredible?

[ollypenrice]

They all have quoted paylods but these are rules of thumb. Firstly they are all optimistic. Secondly, long telescopes are more demanding that short. Thirdly, for imaging, long focal lengths are far, far, far more demandng of accuracy than short.

Olly

[dazzst]

Thanks Olly but it doesn't help answering my question regarding the number after EQ

[Black Knight]

Essentially, they are just model numbers. Higher numbers indicate a slightly more serious payload capacity, but other than that they have no special significance.

[malc-c]

As far as I know there is no correlation between the number behind the EQ and the weight. The EQ5 has a max rated payload of 9kg for example. I think it simply followed sequential numbering, EQ1, EQ2, EQ3 etc. with each mount being able to support a larger payload

[malc-c]

Gazumped by Andy - must type faster !

[Black Knight]

Gazumped by Andy - must type faster !

Hehehe!

[rowan46]

they give the recommended payloads on flo essentially it up to 6" eq3, 8" eq5 anything else eq6. For imaging up to 6" heq5 anything else requires eq6 (imaging weights are aprox depending on accessories and focal length)

[dazzst]

This should be a sticky. Certainly helped me. Thanks people.

[JamesF]

No, it's really more to denote their position in a range of mounts, the EQ1 (or EQZ?) being smallest and EQ6 biggest. Different vendors may rate the carrying capacity of each mount differently, too, depending on what extras it comes with (eg. aluminium box section or stainless tube legs).

There are also manufacturers of equatorial mounts who don't use the "EQ" designation, so you can't really be sure what you're getting without checking the specs for a specific mount, or just by learning what mounts in which ranges are roughly equivalent.

James

[JamesF]

Bah. Also too slow

James

[dazzst]

james. Thanks for throwing a rather large, but perfectly formed, spanner in the works!

[malc-c]

There are also manufacturers of equatorial mounts who don't use the "EQ" designation, so you can't really be sure what you're getting without checking the specs for a specific mount

James

Exactly. Celestron CG-5 has different specs to Skywatchers EQ5... it doesn't follow that because there is a "5" after the letters means that they are the same...