RA Drive Motor for EQ1 Mount

[Ed in UK]

Looking at possibly making a small investment in a RA Drive motor for my scope that fitted on a EQ1 Mount.

Had a quick search and can find some single speed ones for just over £30. These are battery driven, which I'm happy with so as not to have power cables drapped on the floor for a trip hazzard.

Any feed back from anyone is welcome please.

Single speed OK ?

I did notice there are some with multispeed drives for double the price worth looking at or not ?

It would be nice not to keep manually moving the scope especially at higher magnifications.

Any drawbacks with using them.

I'm assuming RA can still be adjusted manually with motor switched off.

TIA

Ed

[Peter Drew]

I don't think it's worth spending a lot extra on an EQ1 mount, better to put the money towards a more capable mount.  A single speed motor will be adequate for visual use as the EQ1 is not recommended for imaging.    🙂

[Tomatobro]

In my collection of stuff I have a EQ1 mount with the motor drive. Looking at it I converted it to run off a 12 volt power supply.

See the thumb screw on the  end of the drive coupling? you have to slacken it off to make it free to turn with the large chrome wheel.

[Ed in UK]

12 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

I don't think it's worth spending a lot extra on an EQ1 mount, better to put the money towards a more capable mount.  A single speed motor will be adequate for visual use as the EQ1 is not recommended for imaging.    🙂

Thanks Peter.

Won't be using it for imaging, just making life alittle easier whilst observering. 🙂

[Ed in UK]

3 minutes ago, Tomatobro said:

In my collection of stuff I have a EQ1 mount with the motor drive. Looking at it I converted it to run off a 12 volt power supply.

See the thumb screw on the  end of the drive coupling? you have to slacken it off to make it free to turn with the large chrome wheel.

Interesting the ones I've see attach to the opposite side where the flex cord/control attaches.

I'll see if I can post a link.

[Tomatobro]

We are talking a long time ago now but if I recall it eat's PP3 batteries so that is why I converted it

Edited December 6, 2023 by Tomatobro
corrected battery type

[Tomatobro]

Like this?

[Ed in UK]

RA Single Speed Motor Drive for EQ-1 | First Light Optics

I can't find the one now that shows the photos of it fitted.

Basiclly it replaces the flex control on the opposite side to the large silver disc. It's secure by a screw on the mount to hold it in place.

[Ed in UK]

1 minute ago, Tomatobro said:

Like this?

Sort of ??

It fits where your flexi control is attached.

Looks very similar though.

 

[Tomatobro]

from Flo's feedback

motor works
09 November 2012  |  Paul
good little motor, but battery dont last long, pp3 square type,

[Ed in UK]

This is my Mount.

[Tomatobro]

Is there a suitable mounting point on the other side like in my picture?

[Ed in UK]

This is the side of my mount, where your drive motor is fitted.

[Tomatobro]

Looking at the Flo picture you see your lever with the rounded cam attached? Looks like you remove this lever and use the screw to fix the motor mounting bracket.

Mine looks to be for a different mount than yours

[Ed in UK]

Yes I see.

Thanks fort that. 👍

[orly_andico]

The problems with the EQ1 (I had the misfortune of owning two..) are

1) pot metal worm wheels

2) the terrible clutching mechanism, if you do get the RA motor

 

I realise not everyone can buy a better mount.. but a Vixen Polaris with scope was selling on ebay UK for 75 quid a few weeks ago. A much, MUCH more capable mount than an EQ1 (I owned two of those, too).

Edited December 14, 2023 by orly_andico

[skybadger]

Ditto to that. The cam lever shown was the clutch to pivot the motor that originally hung off that large protruding bolt and was held against the gear wheel by a spring , the cam lever rotated the motor drive pinion off the gear wheel to declutch. 

[Ed in UK]

Thanks guys, really appreciate your feedback.

[PeterStudz]

I had/have one of these that was used to drive my EQ1. Personally I found that it transformed my EQ1 from something barely adequate to useful. Eg when setup properly you didn’t need to touch anything, so wobbles were less of an issue. And when observing with my daughter, changing eyepieces etc there was lots of time. When observing the moon Alice enjoyed going up and down the terminator, stopping at something she found interesting, asking me what it was, knowing that that whatever it was would still be in the middle of the FOV by the time I took a look. 

I also added a bigger rechargeable battery, larger knob on the Pot and a little cheap volt meter over the motor so you could dial back the same speed.

It now drives my DIY EQ mount for my Skywatcher 200p Dob which I find superb. At the time it cost me £28 - best astronomy purchase I’ve made and one of the cheapest. 

[Ed in UK]

@PeterStudz Thanks, really appreciate it.

It's on order now so hopefully here soon.

Much like you I hope that it will reduce the 'Fiddling' with the scope in order to stay on target, especially at higher magnifications.

Happy to gamble the £35, hopefully for the better. 🙂