Mount motor stalling and hypertuning service in Brisbane?

[brenchen]

I've had a problem with the Dec motor on my AZ-EQ6 stalling carrying only 15kg of well-balanced payload. And I was adviced to get it hypertuned.

If in fact that is true, is there anyone in Brisbane/Gold Coast area that will be able to hypertune my mount? If there is no professional service to get it done, I'm happy to pay whomever that can help me get it done :) Thanks.

[Bart]

You may not need a hypertune. It may be as simple as adjusting the backlash in the worm drive. Are you a member of an Astronomical Society? Is there a Technical Officer that could help?

[xelasnave]

Check your power supply also.
I seem to recall I had a similar issue many years ago and it turned out to be powere related.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Also maybe the main axis is a little too tight so maybe try backing things off a half or quarter turn. ..actually I bet that is the problem...cause after reassembling my eq6 the dec wont move very well...I had forgotten cause I move the mount manually and dont worry about dec at all really☺ for guiding as I have not set up for auto guide on that mount...mmm I must do what I suggest you do☺
Alex

[Wavytone]

Hi brenchen I have an AZEQ6 and my scope with the usual bits is also 15kg. My first guess is you are trying to power it from an AC mains power pack which is inadequate.

The! possible causes of the motor stalling are as follows:

1. The power supply is inadequate, and I’ve seen noobs make this mistake by trying to power it off the AC mains power adapter ... this will seem to work.. until it slews - the mount can draw 4A and it really needs to be powered from a decent SLA or LiPo battery. The point here is the rating of the wall wart is inadequate and the wiring too thin for the peak current so the voltage available to the motors drops and the result is reduced torque - and it stalls. Faced with buying yet another and some heavier cable, I’d suggest bite the bullet and get a 9AH or 12AH SLA battery which is what it really needs.

Since then I have found a 4A power pack (different application - a 00 electric train set) and it is quite big and heavy and cost as much as a decent battery.

Alternatively ask an auto electrician for a secondhand (used) car battery, while no good for a car, you can usually bag one for free and they’re overkill to run a scope.

2. In trying to reduce backlash, the worm has been adjusted too tight against the worm wheel; an adjustment will fix this. Note with these mounts there’s is always a little backlash so the cure for that is to have it ever so slightly unbalanced...

3. But if the mount is grossly unbalanced it will stall in one direction... you fix...