zjc26138
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 4439
Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio
|
|
I have a meade lxd500 mount with dual axis drives. I was playing around with it and thought maybe making it goto was as simple as adding a autostar controller. My 494 Autostar did not work. It would not fit into the handbox slot. I wonder if the 497 would fit? Or maybe some other brand?
--------------------
SCOPES:
Custom Meade AR5
Zhumell Z10
Orion ED80
MOUNTS:
Meade LXD500
CAMERAS:
DSI Color
Canon Rebel XT
Clear, dark skies everywhere,
-Zachary
Edited by zjc26138 (08/10/08 06:03 PM)
|
rmollise
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 1564
|
|
Quote:
I have a meade lxd500 mount with dual axis drives. I was playing around with it and thought maybe making it goto was as simple as adding a autostar controller. My 494 Autostar did not work. It would not fit into the handbox slot. I wonder if the 497 would fit? Or maybe some other brand?
You can't turn this into a go-to mount just by plugging an Autostar into it! Doing so won't work. Nor will plugging any other go-to hand controller into the mount work. Worse case scenario is that you could damage the hand control. 
How can you make this into a go-to? It might be that Ioptron's go-to conversion kit will fit the mount. The catch? By the time you spend for that you will likely have dished enough dollars to buy a new go-to CG5.
--------------------
Uncle Rod
Watch for Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using the New CATs--coming soon!
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1116
Loc: New Hampshire
|
|
I looked at some pictures of the LXD500. I'm not overly confident that the GOTONOVA kit would be a direct installation. In my opinion, modifications to both the GOTONVA AND the mount would be necessary.
Steve
--------------------
Steve Forbes
6.25" f/15 Mogey/NASA refractor on GOTO GEM
6" f/15 Jaegers refractor on GOTO GEM
5.1" f/8 Burgess on CG-5 w/GOTONOVA
4" f/15 Jaegers on ORION ATLAS GOTO
2x 6" f/6 Edmund Palomar reflectors on GEMs w/ RA and DEC drives
2x 4-1/4" Edmund Palomar Jr. reflectors on GEMS w/ RA drives, (all circa 1965 - 69)
3" Edmund reflector on "EQ" mount from @1963
4" Criterion reflector with "EQ" mount from @1956.
150mm f/12 MAK w/iOptron Mini Tower
Lots of other stuff, too!
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1116
Loc: New Hampshire
|
|
I looked at some pictures of the LXD500. I'm not overly confident that the GOTONOVA kit would be a direct installation. In my opinion, modifications to both the GOTONOVA AND the mount would be necessary.
Steve
--------------------
Steve Forbes
6.25" f/15 Mogey/NASA refractor on GOTO GEM
6" f/15 Jaegers refractor on GOTO GEM
5.1" f/8 Burgess on CG-5 w/GOTONOVA
4" f/15 Jaegers on ORION ATLAS GOTO
2x 6" f/6 Edmund Palomar reflectors on GEMs w/ RA and DEC drives
2x 4-1/4" Edmund Palomar Jr. reflectors on GEMS w/ RA drives, (all circa 1965 - 69)
3" Edmund reflector on "EQ" mount from @1963
4" Criterion reflector with "EQ" mount from @1956.
150mm f/12 MAK w/iOptron Mini Tower
Lots of other stuff, too!
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22365
Loc: NE Ohio
|
|
It can't be done with the installed motors - but swapping them out for a pair of DH4 motors (which will bolt on directly just like the ones you have now) will make it into an Autostar compatible mount.
--------------------
John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
|
ccs_hello
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/03/04
Posts: 2781
|
|
Zach,
#1702 does not support Autostar intelligent handbox.
Max fast slew rate is 32x which is way too slow for GOTO.
The motor unit has a high gear-down ratio gearbox 300:1.
It is using a simple, low-resolution 24 step/rev unipolar stepper.
Clear Skies!
ccs_hello
|
Skywatchr
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/03/06
Posts: 1550
Loc: North-Central Pa.
|
|
These are the motors you need. But beware the mount must be balanced perfectly or the plastic gears onside these motors can strip. You can use the #494 labeled Starfinder, or use a firmware "hack" for the #495/497 Autostars to recognize the motors. The ratio needs to be set at (I think) 3.2853312 (1/2 of 6.57066059 approx.) If you use a #495/497, set the mount to an LXD55 and you won't actually need the firmware "hack", and set the ratio as above. If you want to try these motors, PM me. I have a couple of sets and the #494 Starfinder autostars.
Jeff
Quote:
I have a meade lxd500 mount with dual axis drives. I was playing around with it and thought maybe making it goto was as simple as adding a autostar controller. My 494 Autostar did not work. It would not fit into the handbox slot. I wonder if the 497 would fit? Or maybe some other brand?
--------------------
18" F/5 Home-Built Dob. with Mike Dudley Mirror
Highly Modified Meade DS-16 in Roll Off Roof
6" F/15 Brass w/ D&G Lens on DS-16 Mount
DS-10 10" F/4.5 Newtonian
LXD650, LX200 Classic
Orange Tube C11
DayStar 0.45 with multiple ERFs
Vixen ED80sf
10" LX200 GPS SMT
11x80 Meade, 20x80 Celestron binocs (Japan Made).
Lots of Naglers and 8mm and 13mm Ethos.
Gadgets and parts everywhere.
And a Wife that loves it as much as me!
|
ccs_hello
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/03/04
Posts: 2781
|
|
Jeff,
I think LXD500 worm ratio is 144:1.
When using DH4 motor, the ratio should be 6.57066.
Clear Skies!
ccs_hello
|
zjc26138
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 4439
Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio
|
|
Thanks for all your help everyone. I have a pair of 494 motors, but Im probably not going to attach them. I fear that the tracking will suffer going to the 494 motors, thus making my imaging attempt even harder.
--------------------
SCOPES:
Custom Meade AR5
Zhumell Z10
Orion ED80
MOUNTS:
Meade LXD500
CAMERAS:
DSI Color
Canon Rebel XT
Clear, dark skies everywhere,
-Zachary
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22365
Loc: NE Ohio
|
|
Quote:
Thanks for all your help everyone. I have a pair of 494 motors, but Im probably not going to attach them. I fear that the tracking will suffer going to the 494 motors, thus making my imaging attempt even harder.
What mount are they from? If those are from an alt/az mount, then they are DS motors and your controller is a 494. If so, they aren't suitable for that mount.
--------------------
John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
|
zjc26138
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 4439
Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio
|
|
They are from the EQ2 mount, so they should work fine.
--------------------
SCOPES:
Custom Meade AR5
Zhumell Z10
Orion ED80
MOUNTS:
Meade LXD500
CAMERAS:
DSI Color
Canon Rebel XT
Clear, dark skies everywhere,
-Zachary
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22365
Loc: NE Ohio
|
|
Quote:
They are from the EQ2 mount, so they should work fine.
Yup. I've put those on a couple of LX500 mounts with good success.
--------------------
John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
|
ccs_hello
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/03/04
Posts: 2781
|
|
Quote:
They are from the EQ2 mount, so they should work fine.
I think you meant Meade 4504 mount or 114EQ-DH4 mount.
That's a good news!
The motors used are called DH4 motors as shown in Jeff's picture.
In Autostar menu, not only you can set the ratio, but also can fine-tune the tracking speed.
Clear Skies!
ccs_hello
|
Skywatchr
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/03/06
Posts: 1550
Loc: North-Central Pa.
|
|
You're probably right. I was trying to remember but just couldn't pin it down. It's been a few years since I messed with them.
Jeff
Quote:
Jeff,
I think LXD500 worm ratio is 144:1.
When using DH4 motor, the ratio should be 6.57066.
Clear Skies!
ccs_hello
--------------------
18" F/5 Home-Built Dob. with Mike Dudley Mirror
Highly Modified Meade DS-16 in Roll Off Roof
6" F/15 Brass w/ D&G Lens on DS-16 Mount
DS-10 10" F/4.5 Newtonian
LXD650, LX200 Classic
Orange Tube C11
DayStar 0.45 with multiple ERFs
Vixen ED80sf
10" LX200 GPS SMT
11x80 Meade, 20x80 Celestron binocs (Japan Made).
Lots of Naglers and 8mm and 13mm Ethos.
Gadgets and parts everywhere.
And a Wife that loves it as much as me!
|
rmollise
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 1564
|
|
Quote:
Thanks for all your help everyone. I have a pair of 494 motors, but Im probably not going to attach them. I fear that the tracking will suffer going to the 494 motors, thus making my imaging attempt even harder.
I wouldn't surprised if you could still get (or fabricate/modify) an encoder installation for this mount. A nice Sky Commander DSC would be nearly as good as go-to.
--------------------
Uncle Rod
Watch for Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using the New CATs--coming soon!
|
zjc26138
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 4439
Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Thanks for all your help everyone. I have a pair of 494 motors, but Im probably not going to attach them. I fear that the tracking will suffer going to the 494 motors, thus making my imaging attempt even harder.
I wouldn't surprised if you could still get (or fabricate/modify) an encoder installation for this mount. A nice Sky Commander DSC would be nearly as good as go-to.
Yeah I really dont need goto, but DSC would be nice.
--------------------
SCOPES:
Custom Meade AR5
Zhumell Z10
Orion ED80
MOUNTS:
Meade LXD500
CAMERAS:
DSI Color
Canon Rebel XT
Clear, dark skies everywhere,
-Zachary
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
