NEQ6 - WOW! - But!

Sarge (Rod) · #1 11-04-2012, 08:55 PM

My brand new and shiny NEQ6 Pro arrived today (took nearly two weeks to ship from West Aust!!). It is big, heavy and shiny.

Unpacked, checked all parts - all there (I thought). Read the instructions and started to put it together.
No issues reasonably simple procedure. Set it up in the lounge room, very rough polar alighnment (very rough), went to plug in scope into the power plug to try out the Goto, and ..............
No power supply,

only a connection to the power supply (with cig lighter plug!). Apparently an AC/DC converter is not supplied with the scope - drats and double drats. Oh well off the Dick Smith's or Jaycar tomorrow, then I can try out the scope.

I thought I had done a fair amount of research before purchasing this scope. Nowhere in any advertising, google searches or postings did anyone mention - no power supply. Guess I just assumed it would be there like all electrical equipment. That's what happens when your assume

Frustratingly clear skies

Rod

g__day (Matthew) · #2 11-04-2012, 10:39 PM

Buy a regulated power supply! Jaycar sell them for under $70

lacad01 (Adam) · #3 11-04-2012, 11:04 PM

Yeah bummer about the power

I've got one of these from Jaycar
Or if you can afford a few more $$ for other accessories which need 12v then this one would be good

MrB (Simon) · #4 11-04-2012, 11:26 PM

I managed a Jaycar store for a few years and can tell you the GH1379 12v 5A power supply that Adam first linked to above is a great unit.
It was originally sold as an optional extra for a small Peltier cooled fridge, that's why the catalogue number is not the same as all the other power supplies Jaycar stock... 'G' = Gadgets. The fridge was discontinued many years ago, the supply is still stocked because it is so popular and you can't beat it for the price. Try finding another 5A supply for $30.
In my time at Jaycar I can only remember one of these coming back.
It still has the fridge connecter on the 12v end... I am sure upper management in head office is still scratching their heads why this thing sells so well when the fridge is long gone! haha

The MP-3079 in Adam's second link? DANGER DANGER!!
Seriously, I lost count how many of these I got back smelling of smoke.
I used to realy enjoy smashing them to bits before throwing them in the bin. Yes, some of them work, but I reckon the return rate on these would have to have been close to 30% or more.
Total crap.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #5 12-04-2012, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

The MP-3079 in Adam's second link? DANGER DANGER!!
Seriously, I lost count how many of these I got back smelling of smoke.
I used to realy enjoy smashing them to bits before throwing them in the bin. Yes, some of them work, but I reckon the return rate on these would have to have been close to 30% or more.
Total crap.

That's interesting, I have had one of these since 2006 used every imaging session since then, it powers NJP mount (FS2 goto), scope fans and dew heater and so far it hasn't missed a beat

...touch a lot of wood it would seem?

Mike

MrB (Simon) · #6 12-04-2012, 01:10 AM

Yeah there are good ones.
When asked, most of the customers said it went pop and flash the first time they plugged it in. Whenever I got a delivery I would plug these units in and see if they worked. the ones that didn't pop went on the shelf, the ones that did got written-off to force re-supply (automated ordering)
I also saw a few where items were loose from the factory(chinese QA

), like the fan and also the binding posts.

If anyone needs more than a 5A supply and is considering one of these give it a good look over in store and ask to try it in store first with a load. I used to grab a store-stock 50W halogen downlight to test.
Any decent Jaycar employee will be happy to help, if it's not too busy (and if they haven't yet been lobotomised by the job

)

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #7 12-04-2012, 01:37 AM

I have the 8A power supply

to be honest i now know how much draw i have on the system... 4.5amps and thats with everything running laptop, mount, sbig, qhy with 70% cooling on both. say no more

8A is a over kill but its never gotten close to capacity! hehehe

Oh by the way sarge

you need a 240v power supply

The first night i got stung the same way! so i had it out beside the car plugged in that way

strongmanmike (Michael) · #8 12-04-2012, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

Yeah there are good ones.
When asked, most of the customers said it went pop and flash the first time they plugged it in. Whenever I got a delivery I would plug these units in and see if they worked. the ones that didn't pop went on the shelf, the ones that did got written-off to force re-supply (automated ordering)
I also saw a few where items were loose from the factory(chinese QA

), like the fan and also the binding posts.

If anyone needs more than a 5A supply and is considering one of these give it a good look over in store and ask to try it in store first with a load. I used to grab a store-stock 50W halogen downlight to test.
Any decent Jaycar employee will be happy to help, if it's not too busy (and if they haven't yet been lobotomised by the job

)

Great advice Simon...I feel a bit easier now

Mike

DavidTrap (David) · #9 12-04-2012, 07:12 AM

Fingers crossed I'm in the same boat as Mike. I've had one for over 5yrs and have charged a lot of RC batteries using this power supply to run my chargers. It would often be running near capacity with 3 chargers plugged in.

Not discounting some were DOA, but I hope that if they survive the first month, they are likely to survive long term.

DT

Poita (Peter) · #10 12-04-2012, 09:12 AM

I went through three of those and eventually got my money back. I'd steer clear. The fridge power supply is great value though.

My first night I parked the car next to the scope too. But I got carried away and the car wouldnt start by the time the sun came up!

Poita (Peter) · #11 12-04-2012, 09:14 AM

Oh and btw I cut the fridge connector off and soldered on one of those triple cigarette lighter sockets, and then used the standard cable that came with the mount.

Sarge (Rod) · #12 12-04-2012, 09:23 PM

Popped into Jaycar and picked up a 12V 5A ac adaptor.

Plugged it in tonight, and it worked - WOW!!

Haven't got a scope on it yet, but slewed all over the sky. Slewed to Sirius, Achernar, M83, 47 Tuc, Omega Cent, Jewel Box, Rigel and several others. Couldn't actually see them (I was in the lounge room and no scope!

), but it was pointing in the right directions and tracking. Although I can imagine how good the Jewel Box looked

Now just need to buy the new scope. Fingers crossed for a NG 127mm APO CF.

Thanks for all the advice

Very Happy
Clear skies

Rod

eskimo · #13 19-04-2012, 08:54 AM

"Tripod: Stainless Steel Legs Counterweight Shaft Diameter: 1.8cm Counterweight Shaft Length: 28.5cm Mount Weight (without counterweight): 16Kgs Mount Height: 41cm Total weight: 23.5kgs (without counterweights) Motor Type: Microstep driven 1.8 degree stepper motors Motor Resolution: 0.144 arc sec (or 9.024,000 steps/rev.) Power Supply: 11 to 15 V DC 2Amp (Tip positive) Gear Ratio: 705 *13" Dovetail Bar , SynScan Hand Control See"

Hi Sarge
I assume you may have got it from BTOW
the above extract from their (BTOW) web site infers/implies it comes with a power supply.

I would be jumping up and down...but thats me

bartman (Bart) · #14 19-04-2012, 11:08 AM

Rod I had the same when I set mine up!!!!!
No power supply......lucky the shops were open and I could get it up and running that night

Bartman

alistairsam · #15 19-04-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lacad01

Yeah bummer about the power

I've got one of these from Jaycar
Or if you can afford a few more $$ for other accessories which need 12v then this one would be good

Hi,

I bought the same 5A supply from Jaycar and works fine with my heq5pro, but I got a mild "shock" when I touched the steel legs of the tripod. anyone noticed this?
its not noticeable when you touch the tripod firmly, but is noticeable when you touch it lightly or run your finger along the steel leg, hard to describe but definitely there.

I'm guessing the output, although regulated, is not filtered adequately or there's something wrong with my mounts electronics although that's unlikely because it was fine when I used a different 1A supply.
same powerboard, same mains socket. Can't see any earthing issues.
I will have to test the output with an O'scope.

Edit: it does mention in the description on the web site
"IMPORTANT!
This power supply is not intended for powering sensitive electronics such as surveilance cameras. For powering sensitive electronics, please use our MP-3242"
I'm guessing mount electronics can be considered sensitive??

asimov (John) · #16 19-04-2012, 03:19 PM

I don't really trust power supplies, (I've had a few that caused evil things!) I'll stick with my big V8 car battery.

MrB (Simon) · #17 19-04-2012, 04:27 PM

I don't believe the EQ6 could be considered sensitive when the input spec says 11 to 15volts. Judging by that it's reasonable to assume the mount has it's own regulator.

White Rabbit · #18 19-04-2012, 09:50 PM

Nothing worse than getting a new toy and not being able to play with it. It will make it all the sweeter when you do though.

Sandy.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #19 19-04-2012, 10:10 PM

Onya Rod. You sounded excited about it when you were watching my Broadcast on NSN.

But interesting that you bought it from Perth.

Did they beat the Melbourne prices?

Sarge (Rod) · #20 20-04-2012, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Onya Rod. You sounded excited about it when you were watching my Broadcast on NSN.

But interesting that you bought it from Perth.

Did they beat the Melbourne prices?

Yes Ken, they easily beat any other price. $1380 plus shipping. Best I could get in Melb/Sydney was $1689 plus shipping. At $1380 it was too good to ignore. Wasn't intending to buy a new mount just yet, it was planned for down the track after the new scope, but I couldn't let that price go.

I am excited. Just ordered a new 127ED. So for now - new mount with no scope.

Clear skies

Rod