help needed.. eq3/eq5

[dobbie]

Hi all , I am wanting a med load mount but not a goto , but want to track this is for visual only , am I right in thinking that I could use a eq3/eq5 to manually move the scope to a object then engage a ra motor to track or am I completely wrong in my thinking .

[Knight of Clear Skies]

Yes, that would work fine. Just polar align (doesn't have to be very precise for visual), unclutch to find your target, engage the clutches and turn on the RA motor. For fine adjustment you can use a slow motion control on the DEC axis, while the RA motor control will have reverse and usually 2x/8x speed controls. You can't use a manual slow motion control in RA while the RA motor is attached.

You'd also need to check the max payload of the mount against whatever scope you want to put on it.

[JamesF]

You'd also need to check the max payload of the mount against whatever scope you want to put on it.

Very much so.  The EQ3-2 can get very wobbly even with relatively small scopes on board.  It's not generally a problem once you've found the target and got focused, but it can be a pain when focusing unless you have a motorised focuser.  I'd have thought your 80mm ED would be ok.  Not sure about the 100mm though.

James

[dobbie]

That's the answer I wanted, thanks for the info now for some shopping ....

Hi James it's a 100mm frac that I am putting it on , so maybe a eq5 is the answer .

[triton1]

I use the cg5 which is the same as the eq5 you can manually track with the ra motor left on but you will have to remove the sprocket first.

[dobbie]

Cheers jonn , cg5 will have to look out for one , along with a eq5 I think I will rule out the eq3

[nightfisher]

Dobbie, if its a long f/l 100mm then best get EQ5, or CG5

[dobbie]

Thanks jules, yes it's the new star wave acro from altair astro 100mm f/11 , I am going back to refractors, they like my eyes , better then reflectors/sct , etc.. I am picking up a eq5 today so by Mon I should be sorted, John.