Mains Power to EQ5 Motors

[JohnSadlerAstro]

Hi,

Is there any part on the market that allows plugging the mains into the 6V DC port on an EQ5 motor handset? Has anyone seen anything like this?

Would this kind of thing be safe to use with a mount?

John

[wookie1965]

My EQ5 is 12v Just check yours I have looked on FLO and they dont appear to have any 6v power supplies which makes me suspicious. I was told it was down to amperage when i looked for one for mine nI went for a 5amp one as I would run a dew heater off it as well. If you are running just the mount it needs tip positive 6v 3amps should suffice.

[JohnSadlerAstro]

I guess the one in the link, with 1.5 A might not have enough power, though I'm pretty sure that the mount doesn't draw more than that, or the 4 D cells in the power pack that came with the motor kit would drain empty very fast. 

John

[wookie1965]

I was told drew 1amp why slewing so its well worth having a couple of amps in reserve especially for a good session.

[JohnSadlerAstro]

Right. Is your EQ5 one of the smart ones with ASCOM? Mine is just the basic one with motors and autoguiding port on the handset, so it cant slew except at 16x sidereal !

John

[Cornelius Varley]

The EQ5 dual axis motors don't draw as much current as the 12v Synscan versions so it should work.

[JohnSadlerAstro]

1 minute ago, Cornelius Varley said:

The EQ5 dual axis motors don't draw as much current as the 12v Synscan versions so it should work.

Is there any chance of damage to the motors if there isn't enough current, or will they just not run properly? Adapter doesn't cost much at all, but I don't want to have to buy new motors coz it didn't quite work.  

[wookie1965]

1 minute ago, Cornelius Varley said:

The EQ5 dual axis motors don't draw as much current as the 12v Synscan versions so it should work.

Now that I did not know I was assuming it was the same as the 12v.

[Cornelius Varley]

The psu produces 1.5 amps at 6v which should be plenty.

[JohnSadlerAstro]

1 minute ago, Cornelius Varley said:

The psu produces 1.5 amps at 6v which should be plenty.

Great, thanks for the help . I will buy the adapter and try it out, hopefully it will save me the fortune in D cells which is being used right now!

John

[ronin]

I have 2 of the Maplin's L06BR supplies, similar to the Amazon item.

https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/20w-acdc-multi-voltage-power-supply-l06br

Think they do a slightly smaller one and at times they have them reduced.

Just be sure of setting the polarity correct.

[triton1]

I bought a 6v 2amp for my Cg5 off eBay for about a £5 never had any problems.

[Cosmic Geoff]

I have an EQ-5 with RA motor drive (it's not the GoTo version which uses 12 volts). While the D-cells needed to be replaced with annoying frequency, a small lead-acid battery lasts for many nights before requiring recharge. Just my opinion, but with such a low power demand (it only has to track, not slew) unless it's a fixed observatory installation the extra safety and potential portability of a 6v battery is preferable to a mains supply with the high-voltage hazard and trailing cable.

[triton1]

Yup a 6 volt motorcycle battery will work fine and as above no trailing cables as long as you have a charger no probs.

[Alien 13]

You can power these mounts from the 5.2V you get from mobile phone power banks, the SW handset does not contain any protection devices or voltage regulators, they are very cheap so you can have a pocketful in reserve if you want, you have to make up a lead but it is quite simple using an old USB cable and a plug fitted to the other end.

Alan