HEQ5 Mount Poor Tracking After 60 mins

grantboxer (Grant) · #1 03-04-2011, 07:30 PM

I have a HEQ5 mount that I am using for astrophotography and find that after about 60 - 70 m of guided tracking, the tracking suddenly become poor. I have not done any periodic correction error stuff but I do a reasonable polar alignment. Is this the possible cause or could it be soemthing else?
Cheers Grant

DavidTrap (David) · #2 03-04-2011, 07:56 PM

Flat battery?

DT

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #3 03-04-2011, 08:10 PM

Its very much worth doing the PEC training.
Mine responded beautifully.
Is it balanced properly for the work you're doing? Uneven loading can cause excess power drainage even when attached to the mains.
Though if you are using a battery, it could be going flat as David rightly points out.

grantboxer (Grant) · #4 03-04-2011, 08:31 PM

I think the barrey is OK but will check.

Can I do the PEC using an auto-guider to do the corrections/training? Is there a preffered method?
Cheers Grant

grantboxer (Grant) · #5 03-04-2011, 08:38 PM

Please excuse my typing - was doing it in the dark!

Balance may also be a possible problem but I find it difficult getting a good balance with the way I have my scope set-up, with the guide scope piggy backed on the ED80 tube. The QHY-8 camera is fairly weighty and hangs a long way out on the focus tube.
Cheers Grant

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #6 04-04-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grantboxer

I think the barrey is OK but will check.

Can I do the PEC using an auto-guider to do the corrections/training? Is there a preffered method?
Cheers Grant

I don't see why not, but I did mine manually so someone who's tried this might chime-in.

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #7 04-04-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grantboxer

Please excuse my typing - was doing it in the dark!

Balance may also be a possible problem but I find it difficult getting a good balance with the way I have my scope set-up, with the guide scope piggy backed on the ED80 tube. The QHY-8 camera is fairly weighty and hangs a long way out on the focus tube.
Cheers Grant

Try shifting the imaging scope closer to the centre of gravity then playing about with the whole rig so that it balances throughout the movement of the mount.
Its like trying to lift a 10kg weight with your arm straight-out: much easier when its closer to your body (mount axes).

grantboxer (Grant) · #8 04-04-2011, 01:12 PM

Thanks guys. Has anyone used PHD guiding to train the PEC?
Cheers Grant