Motor speeds: faster than 1x?

[teh_orph]

Hi guys

I'm looking into buying a motor drive for my EQ2 mount. The info on the FLO product page says that it has 1/2/4x speeds, and the PDF for the product (I think it's the same product)

http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtsupport/Instruction_Manuals/EQ2Single.pdf

...says it goes to 8x!

Why would I want a motor to track at faster than 1x? I realise the moon and sun go at different speeds, but 8x?

Since there's a cheaper motor that only goes at 1x, should I just buy that one instead?

I think I'm missing something

Thanks for the help!

[gfletcher]

Hi

The 2X and 4X etc are only used for finding/centring the object in the FOV.

The 1X is the tracking rate once the object is centred

Graham

[TopHouse]

And trust me, you'll keep it at 8x all the time!

[Llamanaut]

my ra/ dec skywatcher tracker only goes left to right, when i press the up and down button nothing happens... ive tried it with brake on and brake off still nothing.... its making a noise but nothing moves... is it dead or is it me?

[TopHouse]

Is this a built in one or the add on motors?

[Capricorn]

Hopefully the motor is going round as required, hence the noise, and the shaft connected to the drive gear has lost a small pin that locks the two together.

If the motors are add on then at worst you may have to replace.

[Llamanaut]

the drive is an add on... only 1 week old however!

[teh_orph]

Cheers for the info guys.

However, why use the motor to drive to where you want to see in the sky? Isn't it easier to do by hand? It's not computerised, this EQ2 motor so you can't punch in where you want to see...

[Llamanaut]

it fine tunes your scope so you dont have to reach for the fine control knob...

[TopHouse]

If it's making a noise, have you checked the gears are turning where the clutch assembly is? Also, for some reason, my up/down one likes to undo the clutch if I don't make sure the knurled knob is nipped up properly. Don't forget also that mount brakes should be on.