Weight Capacity EQ5 vs EQ6 Mounts.

[Banjo-tam]

I have a Vixen Super Polaris which I believe qualifies as an EQ5 mount? I have read in various places that it's top weight capacity is somewhere between 15.5 and 22 lb. Presently I have a Celestron C8 mounted on it, and am considering one day moving up to a C9 if my mount can handle it. I know that it will be a close call, and many recommend against it. My question is relatively simple. What is the capacity of an EQ6 mount? They seem a little pricey, but can they handle 11inch, or even 14+ inch scopes?

My interest is astrophotography, so whatever weight the OTA may have, I have to calculate in the weight of the camera and adapter.

Any thoughtful response would be appreciated.

 

FA

[Hallingskies]

The NEQ6 is rated at 18kg for imaging but with long focus SCTs your limiting factor is likely to be guiding accuracy rather than weight.  Suggest you have a play with the Astronomy tools “CCD suitability” calculator http://astronomy.tools/calculators/ccd_suitability

As I understand the theory of these things, your mount will need to guide to an RMS of around half of whatever arcsec/pixel combo you have.  With a C11 fitted with a 0.63 reducer and CCD with 6u pixels running 2x2 binned, you are still right on the edge of what a good NEQ6 can guide at (though I hear good things about belt-modded ones).

 

 

Edited August 25, 2019 by Hallingskies

[Merlin66]

My spectroscopic hardware is sitting on a C11 @ f10/ NEQ6PRO; spectroscope, eFinder, four cameras all up around 17kg.

No issues guiding for as long as you like on a 20 micron slit plate.

works very well for me.

 

 

Edited August 26, 2019 by Merlin66

[Stub Mandrel]

The HEQ5 is between an EQ5 and an EQ6, I recall capacity is 15kg?