Quote:
Originally Posted by Outcast
That's interesting Tony, I was just on Skywatcher's website & they seem to claim 10kg payload capacity for HEQ5 Pro & 15kg (Astrophotography) payload capacity for AZ-EQ5 on either EQ 5 Tripod or Pier/tripod setup...
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The heaviest load I put on mine comes in at 11.2kg, and it handles that just fine. I did need some new counter weights though; the two it come with were practically hanging off the edge to balance it, so a new EQ6 counterweight has been added.
However, that setup is pretty squat, based around an Esprit 100 with extras strapped on top, so the weight is nicely distributed and easy to keep over the centre of gravity. It’s more temperamental when I use the Vixen VC200l, but it’s weight is poorly distributed and quickly becomes a wind sail in anything more than a very light breeze - but weighs less then 9kg all up. A big solid tube newt would be asking for trouble I think!
I think the advertised weight limit is ‘right’, but in common practice for these consumer mounts, apply the rule of two-thirds and keep weight to about 10kg. Over that and it’s down to things are built and distributed. The mount is a good performer though, from my backyard in Brisbane, where seeing is rarely better than ok-ish, I get 0.7 to 1” total RMS error per PHD2 in otherwise good conditions. It’s no AP or Paramount killer, but I’m pretty happy with that for a small, light and easy transported mount.