Calling All EQ5 Owners - Help Needed

[Alkaid]

Hi all,

I am currently in possession of an EQ5 clone - the German manufactured Astro-5 mount (now dis-continued). It was distributed by Telescope Service of Germany a few years back. I am wanting to upgrade this Astro-5 unit with the Skywatcher Synscan upgrade.

The EQ5 and Astro-5 are very, very similar. But there could be subtle dimensional differences of which I am unaware. For example, I have already found that my AZ4 head does not fit the Astro-5 tripod.

The motor mounting holes appear to be the same and I am farly confident that the Synscan motors will bolt into place on the Astro-5. What is bothering me is the wrap around plastic housing which houses the Synscan electronics. I don't know if this will wrap around the Astro-5.

Can anyone run a tape measure around the RA axis of their EQ5 where this plastic shrouding would fit? A simple circumference measurement would really help me to establish things.

Thanks for your help - Steve

[JamesF]

You'd want to be sure that the gearing on the RA and DEC axes was the same, too.

James

[knobby]

If no one comes to the rescue... I can measure mine tonight

[Alkaid]

Excellent - cheers guys!

[knobby]

Only had a tape that wouldn't bend...

48.5 cm all round

+ pics may help

[bamus]

I think that measurement must be taken without plastic housing. I have just sold mine eq5, so unfortunately can not help, but remember that there is an issue with eq5 clones and fitting synscan upgrade.

[bamus]

have a look here, it seems that cg5 can accepty synscan upgrade, so you might be lucky as well (post 38):

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/100433-synscan-pro-goto-version-3-upgrade-kit-for-eq5/page__st__20#entry1400383

[knobby]

How did you get on Steve ?