HEQ5 Pro Payload

[widow18 (Pete)]

I have a real basic question about this mount, what is classified as payload?
Is it just things hung on the telescope side or does it include all the counterweights as well.
thanks
Peter

[casstony]

Payload is the telescope not including CW. The tripod is the weakest link with the HEQ5; 2" legs would be a better match.

[RobF (Rob)]

Conventional wisdom for chinese mounts is to halve the payload if you'll be imaging. TAks, AP, SB, losmandy mounts tend to be far more conservative in the rated payloads supposedly.

What are you hoping to load on and what are your goals?

[widow18 (Pete)]

Rob and Tony, thanks for that. I was hoping to do some modest photography, not sure how deeply I will get into it. Having vibration problems at the moment but just thinking ahead. Going to try photos with an Orion 120 tonight if it is clear.

[rally]

Pete,

The Payload is sometimes specified in detail in the manual in the top end mounts, but more often not in others.

The usual payload is the maximum carrying capacity of the mount additional to the standard supplied counter weights.

Any additional counterweights are all extra that needs to be included in your payload total.

That is not to say that some haven't exceeded this !

Rally

[2stroke (Jay)]

Put your heq5 on a pier inside a ob and prey no one farts, it'll take its given and then some that way

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

I run a EQ6pro ('09 vintage), rated i think at 21 or 22kgs My OTA rings and dovetail alone is 19kgs, the W.O. Megrez 90 is another 4 odd kgs plus all the cameras and the like the imaging rig itself is closing in on 30kgs thats not including my 12 and 15kg counterweights either! Im not running a huge focal length but at 1200mm it is still sensitive enough to vibrations and the like. My stars are round at 15-20 min subs so it can be done!

Key to making these things work is adjustments, get as much of the backlash as you can out of the system, align the worm/and gear perfectly and your fine.

My kit is happy with wind upto about 5km/h and ill tell you now my scope is a parachute!

Brendan