What are the EQ 1-6 mounts

[Pinwheel (Doug)]

Can someone explain all the EQ mount types in a simple explantion. There are so many types now, I don't even begin to understand it all....I'm getting too old.

[Nico13 (Ken)]

Look here Bintel.
Two pages with info on some of the range.

[pw (Peter)]

I'm only a newbie duffer, but I've figured out that the lower number mount is smaller and can carry a lower weight of equipment.
There are variants in each size too, EQ5 is medium, HEQ5 is a heavy duty medium, and HEQ5 Pro is more better :-)

[Pinwheel (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Nico13

Look here Bintel.
Two pages with info on some of the range.

I did that first, but I see you don't know either..

[Pinwheel (Doug)]

Originally Posted by pw

I've figured out that the lower number mount is smaller and can carry a lower weight of equipment.
There are variants in each size too, EQ5 is medium, HEQ5 is a heavy duty medium, and HEQ5 Pro is more better :-)

I'm not sure that your right about the higher the number the stronger weight appy's..

[Astro_Bot]

Had a bit of spare time, so ...

Originally Posted by Pinwheel

I'm not sure that your right about the higher the number the stronger weight appy's..

He basically is right, though payload isn't the only difference. Referring to Skywatcher mounts (or the Orion-badged versions sold in the USA), for EQ2 (4kg), EQ3 (7kg), EQ5 (11kg), HEQ5 (15kg), N/EQ6 (25kg) and EQ8 (50kg), the payload capacity increases with each larger model. I can't find a payload for EQ1, but it's pretty small. These are the manufacturer's claimed figures - most people stick to smaller real-world limits.

The "Pro" designates a motorised GoTo mount - also called "SynScan". I don't think HEQ5 or NEQ6 models are made in non-GoTo variants anymore - at least it's been a long time since I've seen them - so I think you'll only ever see the "Pro" variant for those. Note: the EQ8 is only made in GoTo form, so using "Pro" or "SynScan" is a bit superfluous.

The new AZ-EQ6-GT supposedly has the same capacity as the N/EQ6 and is a GoTo mount - it does both Alt/Az mode and Equatorial mode, hence the peculiar designation.

The Bintel link above from Ken will lead you to some more info on readily available mounts, but also doing a search will help you, e.g. "Skywatcher EQ3 mount" as that might pull up more information.

[Pinwheel (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

He basically is right, though payload isn't the only difference. Referring to Skywatcher mounts (or the Orion-badged versions sold in the USA), for EQ2 (4kg), EQ3 (7kg), EQ5 (11kg), HEQ5 (15kg), N/EQ6 (25kg) and EQ8 (50kg), the payload capacity increases with each larger model. I can't find a payload for EQ1, but it's pretty small. These are the manufacturer's claimed figures - most people stick to smaller real-world limits.

The "Pro" designates a motorised GoTo mount - also called "SynScan". I don't think HEQ5 or NEQ6 models are made in non-GoTo variants anymore - at least it's been a long time since I've seen them - so I think you'll only ever see the "Pro" variant for those. Note: the EQ8 is only made in GoTo form, so using "Pro" or "SynScan" is a bit superfluous.

The new AZ-EQ6-GT supposedly has the same capacity as the N/EQ6 and is a GoTo mount - it does both Alt/Az mode and Equatorial mode, hence the peculiar designation.

Thank you, now I understand, I Googled this & got no answer that was close to this explanation.