One for the Sparkies

[pmrid]

Wire guages guys. My HEQ5Pro is giving me flashing red lights. I've installed a 20Amp power supply so I know that's not the issue. The mount is said to want 6 Amps when it starts a slew.
But is it possible I have a mis-matched gauge of wire delivering power to the mount? What gauge should I be using?

Peter

[DavidU]

Use as thick as physically possible (and as short as pos).

[Karls48]

If you can do the “restore factory defaults” with your hand controller, try that first.
To test power lead and power supply – get 2.7 Ohm 5W wire wound resistor. Connect multimeter probes to the resistors wire legs. Insert one of the resistor wires in the hole of your DC plug (Positive 12V). Touch the outside of DC plug with other resistor wire (Negative 12V) for couple seconds. If the voltage drops below 12V, your lead, the plug or PS is faulty or not suitable to supply current required by Heq5.
Resistor will provide load around 5A. It will get very hot very fast and it will burn out if the connection is maintained for more then few seconds. I had similar problem you are experiencing with my HEQ5 and traced it to oxidised connection on the battery.
Other possible problems – noisy power supply, or faulty noise filtering in the mount electronic. Try to power the mount from battery.
Faulty DC socket on the mount. Metal on the socket sometimes oxidise and develop high contact resistance. You would have to get access to the back of the socket and measure voltage when slewing. Make sure that your plug and lead is OK, first. I had this problem with older Celestron mount.