I'm interested in peoples experience with the EQ6 and in particular how much load it can take. I'm planning to use my ED80 to guide while imaging through my 10" f5 Newt in a side by side config. I've got all the parts and set it up (without guiding) and it seemed to cope with the load ok (4x5 kg counterweights were required to balance it up). I'm getting the mount upgraded to the goto version next week so new motors.
Does anyone have the EQ6 pro or EQ6 goto version with this type of load?
Hi Pete
My EQ6 Pro carrries the same load as Mike's and I slew all over the place visually observing.
I find the mount handles the weight very well although when windy there is a fair amount of wobble in the eyepiece. A hargreaves srut helps a lot to quieten it down.
Thanks Mike and Steve for the info. That will be a similar load to what I'm contemplating - good to hear the mount can take it without the motors melting.
Steve - are you using 25kgs of counterweights like Mike and where did the Hargreaves strut come from - did you make one?
Hi Pete
Yes, I am using 25kg of CW. I made a strut by flattenning the ends of a curtain rod and drilling holes in the flat ends. I then attach to the bottom CW screw using some spacer washers and to the scope via one of the screws that hold the top ring in place. I used a longer screw. I also marked the scope once balanced etc so that I always put the ota in the same place.
I also made sure that when in home position the eyepiece points down in the same direction as the CW shaft so that 90% of the time I dont have to stand on a chair when viewing. When using the camera it is not important as I remote the camera with the laptop.
I will post a pic later today.
The setup you are looking to use would be pretty similar to that the late great ezystyles ( now ceased imaging ) used, he produced pretty good images with his setup.
I've seen pictures of Eric's setup and althought he has similar gear he has the guidescope mounted on top of the Newt. I'm planning to have them side by side so the centre of gravity should be closer to the mount however the weight won't be distributed uniformly. Not sure if this is going to be a big problem but I've seen a lot of poeple (including you) who have them mounted side by side so just interested to know if the EQ6 is up to it.
Steve,
I would love to see some pics. I wonder if SWMBO would miss the curtains from the spare bedroom?
Like Mike I will be using my EQ6 GOTO mainly for planetary imaging and just visual work. I have heavily modifided the mount so that it can carry the weight of the 14" LX200R (27kg). With 22.5kg's of Gym weights to balance the system it fuction very well as a planetary imaging platform. So how much weight can an EQ6 carry, so far the max is 27kg as long as you only plan to use it as a planetary imaging and visual platfrom.
Before anyone ask the question when will I post the first imaging they will come in due course, I am still in the shake down stage e.g refineing polar alignment, collimation, setting up the power and computer system etc.
Hi Pete
Herewith a pic of scope and strut.
Bit heath robinson but it works.
will endeavor to make a decent one some time when time allows.
Check sidewalk astronomy post for some more pics
Thanks for posting the pics Anthony and Steve. I'm now feeling a whole lot more confident in the mount with my gear having seen the load you guys have.
Planetary imaging and deep sky imaging guiding/trackign accuracy are completely different. Anthony and Mike uses the EQ6 for planetary imaging and Anthony's EQ6 is heavily modified.
Personally, the 10" F5 + ED80 scope "JUST" do it for the deep space stuff. Anything more you won't be able to do long subs and will probably kill the gears .
I have heavily modifided the mount so that it can carry the weight of the 14" LX200R (27kg). With 22.5kg's of Gym weights to balance the system it fuction very well as a planetary imaging platform.
So, wouldn't that mean the mount is carrying a total of 49.5kgs (LX + gym weights) ???
Or do you only count the heavier load on one side of the mount?
I have an EQ6 and use it only for planetary/visual and have often wondered about its max carrying capacity. Good thread
That's an interesting point you make about planetary vs deep sky - I would have guessed the very long focal length required for planetary to get a reasonable image scale would demand good tracking but I guess this is compensated for by the shorter exposure time.
How much weight do you have on the EQ6? Do you have a view of the merits of stacking the guide scope on top of the Newt vs side by side? I can balance it up with 4 standard EQ6 counterweights in the SBS configuration as the weight of the OTA's is kept close to the mount.
Matt,
I had always interpreted the load capacity as that of the optical gear - not including the counterweights - if you are meant to include the counter weights then we are going a long way past the published capacity of the EQ6 in these examples.
Anthony - what mods have you made to the EQ6 - it looks like the counterweight bar is heavier than the standard on in your pic. I'm assuming the bearings and gears were as supplied or have you beefed these up some how?
That's an interesting point you make about planetary vs deep sky - I would have guessed the very long focal length required for planetary to get a reasonable image scale would demand good tracking but I guess this is compensated for by the shorter exposure time.
How much weight do you have on the EQ6? Do you have a view of the merits of stacking the guide scope on top of the Newt vs side by side? I can balance it up with 4 standard EQ6 counterweights in the SBS configuration as the weight of the OTA's is kept close to the mount.
.
Sorry for the late reply. Yes your totally correct. Planetary imaging not required for accurate tracking. You can even do planetary imaging with a dob from short expo time.
I havent tested the EQ6 with the ED80 side by side. works well with the ED80 ontop of the EQ6 as it is. Havent properly weighted everything on the EQ6 yet so i wouldnt know. Im guessing with my 10" F4.7 + ED80 with correct balance weights and DSLR cam, thats pretty much the limit for the EQ6 for the deepskystuff... how do i know this? without autoguiding, i can't even do 1 minute without star trails
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I would like to add something here as a relative newbie, I intend to try (at least) my 8" LX 90 (8.5kg), on a dovetail once deforked, to join my Skywatcher 100mm apo and Meade 80mm apo triplet (approx 3kg,2.7kg) plus an Orion short tube guide scope (1.1kg) plus sundry imaging stuff so I can have a rig all set up for both DSO and planetary on an EQ6 pro with 10kgs of CW. The heaviest thing attached I think would be an SLR, or the drag from a Gstar-ex with cables, (my atik & DFk being reasonably light). I estimate about 19.5kg. Do the jury think this is too much for accurate guiding? Haven't set it up yet so all ears as far as doing either one set up (planetary) Vs another.
I have been using the above mentioned setup for a couple of years now and there is no problem with this load on the mount so far. The bigger issue is flexure between the guide and main imaging scope which in my case has nothing to do with the mount. I have also had the mount in pieces and the bearings that are carrying the load are wheel bearings off a car - obviously these are good for a lot more than 40 kgs.
The one weak point in my opinion is the way the counteweight shaft is attached to the DEC axis. If you end up with a lot of counterweights and the shaft is horizontal you are putting a fair amount of stress on the aluminium DEC locking nut that is holding the counterweight shaft to the axis. I've seen another post where someone has modified this arrangement to transfer the load to the steel dec shaft rather then have the aluminium part carry it.
) used, he produced pretty good images with his setup.
... wrong. 
