HEQ5 - refractor - how big?

[gazza]

Hi,

I've picked up Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro to use as a portable mount today. I previously had a superb example of an AZEQ6 for portable use, but after developing painful arthritis ( getting old sucks!) I could no longer lift it without significant discomfort and stopped going to dark skies. I had intended attaching an Espirit 100mm refractor for portable imaging purposes, but funds have become available such that I could afford either an ES 127FCD100 or an Espirit 120mm. These are within the weight range of the mount, but I wonder whether their length may be an issue? Anyone have any experience with this sort of load on this mount for imaging purposes - QHY9/Filterwheel?

TIA

cheers

Gary

[xtreemchaos]

HI Gary, how far dare you go, I use mine with ed80 or starwave 102 or AR127L and as long as its balanced well it works as it should, for solar I use a duel set up of a ed80 +quark + cam with the 102 + lunt wedge+1200d with no problem at all. charl. 

[Davey-T]

27 minutes ago, xtreemchaos said:

HI Gary, how far dare you go, I use mine with ed80 or starwave 102 or AR127L and as long as its balanced well it works as it should, for solar I use a duel set up of a ed80 +quark + cam with the 102 + lunt wedge+1200d with no problem at all. charl. 

Alright if you're indoors Charl  no wind.

I use the 152mm on a iEQ45 which works fine as long as there's no wind.

Dave

[xtreemchaos]

9 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

no wind.

I still get wind mate, mostly after beans , floor movement is my biggist problem, winds a problem with any mount and a big frac, its like getting your sea legs, you get used to it in the end. charl.

[MarsG76]

31 minutes ago, xtreemchaos said:

floor movement is my biggist problem,

THATS SOME WIND!!! what kind of beans are they exactly???

[Adam J]

For the scope itself I would try to keep it under 6kg and under 9kg once you have everything else bolted onto the setup assuming that you want to do long exposures with that QHY9S. I dare say that you could get away with a larger scope and shorter subs with one of the new CMOS cameras.. 

So in essence I think that an Esprit 120mm is pushing it just a little bit too far. 

 

[xtreemchaos]

nuka beans grown at Chernobyl . charl

16 minutes ago, MarsG76 said:

beans are they exactly???

 

[carastro]

I put all this on my HEQ5 when I am at Star parties.  (I know it's sitting on an NEQ6 in the picture, that is when I am at home).

I also use on its own a Skywatcher ED120.  HTH

[Bizibilder]

I used to use my ED120APO and ST80 guidescope, cameras etc on an HEQ5 with no issues.  I was in an observatory so this may have helped on windy nights.

[Owmuchonomy]

3 hours ago, xtreemchaos said:

I still get wind mate, mostly after beans , floor movement is my biggist problem, winds a problem with any mount and a big frac, its like getting your sea legs, you get used to it in the end. charl.

Too much information Charl .

[gazza]

Thanks for the replies - I have trouble with beans too.. 

I thought the 120 was probably going a bit far...probably about 12kg all up, with a significant lever arm due to tube length.

Will stick with the 100mm Esprit.....probably about 8-9 kg loaded with camera etc, and significantly shorter....

cheers

Gary

[ollypenrice]

An OAG would save weight over a guidescope, too.

Olly