[xelasnave]

So in keeping with me ramping up my wide field imaging I put the camera on the HEQ 5 together with a guide scope and camera expecting to run off some long subs at low iso and take flats etc...a proper run...everything was well planned and much preparation went into making sure everything was in order.

So I connected everything in PHD guiding successfully and it would select a guide star as one would expect but it gave me a message that it could not correct enough in RA etc...OK I switch off PHD and take a good look at the stars and to my horror they are rushing across the screen as if tracking was not on..check that..it's on..fiddle with the counter weights and notice a very small improvement but still alarming..so I do a factory reset, then check everything even try it on Solar and Luna tracking , try everything in auto guide speed..then I put a huge counter weight on that would be ten times or more overkill..small improvement but it is ridiculous...so I thought sleep on the problem and went to the 115mm on the eq6 and started getting some subs...but the night was gone but got 10 mins in RBG and HA to play with but I may add to them tonight if I sort out the eq5 and can forget that issue.

Now it should not be power as the brick is new and I have had it moving the 80mm and cameras ..all I can think is the mount needs more weight than just a camera and guide scope..that's clutching at straws I suspect..exercised everything dragged the clutch and made sure it was biting...anyways I have been working on everything around the observatory today and will put on the 80 mm and balance it and see if that causes the mount to come good.

I don't think I need advice but more of trying to think more by writing it down but if you have experienced similar and can point to what I am missing please point me in the right direction because as at this point it has me beat.

But the wonderful thing today... I added a flooring infill around the pier mat which not only makes it look nice but now eliminates a tripping opportunity that has nearly dropped me on a couple of close calls.

It has to be the mount needs more weight to function I hope.

Alex