Heq5 polar scope led, can it be fixed?

[Starkler]

As any heq5 (and maybe eq6?) owner can attest, that polar scope illuminating led is way too bright, obliterating any chance of seeing the faint octans stars while it is on.

How hard is it to disassemble the mount far enough to get at the resistor controlling the brightness of this led? Would it be possible to strip down the mount far enough to access it and be able to tinker with the brightness 'live' rather than the mount being in pieces on a workbench?

I know the workaround is to have the mount powered off and then shine a red torch near the front opening but I'm seeking a more permanent solution. Thanks.

[danielsun]

Sorry Geoff, can't help you with modifying the led but I find that the led brightness is fine in my heq5 pro and eq6 and can even see octans in light polluted Taylors lakes with a near full moon just the other night. I find by switching the the light off to basically find Octans then switching it on to final align and also use averted vision to help further but not crucial.

Cheers Daniel.

[Zuts]

Hi Geoff,

The EQ6 has a dimmer function from the control box but not sure about the EQ5. Some people simply turn it off and when aligning place a red torch near the front of the polar scope. This provides enough light to see the reticle and doesnt require gymnastics as you are bent over looking through it anyway.

Paul

Edit, sorry didnt fully read your post about the torch :)

[Tandum]

You can see the LED if you remove the front cover. I think the side cover ( the one that covers the gears ) comes off first then the front one. It wouldn't be easy to reach as the bar the counterweight arm slides into is in the way. Easy enough to have a look though, you just need a screwdriver :D

[AndrewJ]

Gday Geoff



Not the newer EQ6 Pros. They have a much larger dropping resistor making the red illumination almost non existant.



Not sure for disassy of the HEQ5, but if the led is too bright, its a relatively easy fix. On the EQ6 you just unscrew the side panel and everything is accessible, and the Led runs of a 2 pin jumper wire.
Just cut one of the wires going to the led and fit a 100k potentiometer in line, one cut end to the wiper and the other cut end to either side of the pot.
This can be fitted into the plate if you get a small enough one.
Now you can adjust the brightness to suit

Andrew

[Starkler]

Thats what i wanted to know, thanks :)
I didnt want to tear the mount to bits only to find its too hard. Theres hope! :)

Thanks all:thumbsup:

[peter_4059]

Paul,

From your post it sounds like you can control the LED brightness from the Synscan hand controller - is this correct? How?

Peter

[acropolite]

Ditto what Paul said, I can't even find any reference to turning the LED on and off in the Manual.

[AndrewJ]

Gday Paul



I just bought a new EQ6 Pro and have flashed it to the latest rom and spent a while playing with the Hbx and reading the manual ( unusual for me :sadeyes:)
I found sections where you could control the HBx lights and the LCD brightness/contrast, but not the polar led.
Also on my pcb, the led supply comes direct from a 5V regulator, so i doubt there is any cpu controlled switch in there.

Andrew

[Zuts]

Sorry Guys,

Maybe I was dreaming about the polar scope dimmer function, I was sure i had done it, i just checked my handcontroller and of course the option has vanished :shrug:.

Paul

[Tandum]

Here's an image of the LED behind the central rod and it's connection to main board. You could easily modify it.

[Starkler]

You beat me to it!

Take off the side plate to get access to screws for the front cover.
Remove front cover and note plug for the LED is the 2nd from the bottom.

The existing series led appears to be 160K :scared: That seems to be way too high.

[Tandum]

Next time you pull the side cover off, check the centre gear in the drive chain. They appear to be sitting on rubber grommets and flex all over the place. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing :shrug:

[Starkler]

I didnt take much notice of the flex, but I did notice that the gear train had some backlash so I adjusted the dec motor pinion to snugly mesh the gears.

I still have backlash evident in dec, so the next step is to adjust the worm meshing.

[peter_4059]

OK so can you install a pot in series to reduce the brightness? If so any suggestions about what to get?

[AndrewJ]

Gday Geoff

Thats what i have in my new EQ6. ( i was surprised too )
I can see the effect of the red light when its on, but only just, and it doesnt illuminate the reticle enough at the edges to see the sig oct asterism marks.
Ok for Polaris tho, ( pity its hidden behind rock )
I will probably just run a new line to it from the regulator, rather than muck around.

But hang on, yr orig post said its too bright
Is your led too bright with a 160k resistor????

Andrew

[Starkler]

At its current brightness level it could be on the verge of dropping out, or not.

Will have to try it and see, but if I do get around to doing it I'll be sure to post my findings here.



Yep way too bright!

[monoxide]

i just took to the LED with a black paint marker, do a little bit at a time until your happy with it.
not dimmable or anything but its easy to do and you dont have to cut any wires or add anything else in.