EQ5 pro question

[Hertford Stargazer]

I'm changing my eq5 pro over to a pillar mount and noticed the control box appears to be earthed to the tripod leg. How important is it that I find a way of replicating that earth on the pillar.

The pictures show the contacts on the control box and tripod bracket.

[DaveL59]

hmmm hopefully someone else can answer, but I've the SynScan upgrade on my EQ5 and it works just fine without - my tripod has the squared legs so the holders don't suit it so I just leave the MC unit sitting in the tray.

[Fieldsy]

I thought it was a magnet

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, Hertford Stargazer said:

How important is it that I find a way of replicating that earth on the pillar.

Can't be that important for two reasons:

1   On my HEQ5  Pro the handset sits in a holder on the tripod spreader with no such earth point

and

2   The handset is designed to be use out of the holder and in your hand...

[Adam J]

Is it not just a magnet?

[Fieldsy]

3 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Can't be that important for two reasons:

1   On my HEQ5  Pro the handset sits in a holder on the tripod spreader with no such earth point

and

2   The handset is designed to be use out of the holder and in your hand...

The handset doesn’t have the metal on the back it’s just the power and eqmod box

[Hertford Stargazer]

5 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Can't be that important for two reasons:

1   On my HEQ5  Pro the handset sits in a holder on the tripod spreader with no such earth point

and

2   The handset is designed to be use out of the holder and in your hand...

Hi, this is a master control box (not sure of its proper name) not the handset.

[Stub Mandrel]

Ah. In that case it's probably to help minimise electrical noise, it's not needed for safety with a 12V system. If you get glitching, add an earth wire.

[Fieldsy]

Ive just tried the metal strip on the back its def not a magnet .

[Hertford Stargazer]

I'm intrigued, although it's an earth as such (I assume) in practice its insulated from the ground when in use by the rubber feet on the tripod so as far as I can see its just linking the tripod to the DC negative.

[Stub Mandrel]

56 minutes ago, Hertford Stargazer said:

I'm intrigued, although it's an earth as such (I assume) in practice its insulated from the ground when in use by the rubber feet on the tripod so as far as I can see its just linking the tripod to the DC negative.

It's a 'chassis' connection for the purpose of shielding/reducing interference than an 'earth' for the purpose of protection against electrical faults.

But I would say it's pretty pointless

 

[Hertford Stargazer]

On 19/09/2019 at 13:51, Stub Mandrel said:

But I would say it's pretty pointless

 

Yes I think your right, though I'm tempted to have a look inside the plastic case to see if there's any internal pcb screening. I must try and distract myself before the thing ends up in a dozen pieces and the puppy running around munching vital bits which cost a fortune to replace 😮

[msacco]

Interesting, I've never even saw this. Not sure I have ut on my EQ5...Probably not very important.

[Merlin66]

Interesting....

The ports you show are normally located on the HEQ5pro head.....

What exactly is that control box - you mention power and EQMod????

Is this an upgrade to an EQ5 mount???

 

[Hertford Stargazer]

3 hours ago, Merlin66 said:

Interesting....

The ports you show are normally located on the HEQ5pro head.....

What exactly is that control box - you mention power and EQMod????

Is this an upgrade to an EQ5 mount???

 

It's not an upgrade, the box has the power input, hand controller socket, autoguider socket and a 8 pin lead going to the mount (pic below)

 

[Merlin66]

Hmmmm

The mount shown in the background is not a HEQ5 Pro mount.

looks like an EQ5.

 

[Hertford Stargazer]

Yes it's an eq5 pro.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-eq5-pro-synscan-goto.html

[Merlin66]

My misunderstanding!!

yes, an EQ5pro not an HEQ5 Pro. Sorry for the error.

 

[Hertford Stargazer]

I couldn't resist having a look. There is screening on the lower half of the pcb which would still be effective without the tripod contacts as its connected via the case screws to the negative of the pcb as per standard. So it very much seems like a belt and braces approach.