Telescope Reviews: EQ-6 installing GoTo components

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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

Pages: 1

PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/14/05

Loc: coastline of Belgium

EQ-6 installing GoTo components
#2959218 - 03/02/09 03:38 PM

I would like to install GoTo components & computer on my EQ-6 skyscan mount, which nowadays can only follow an object...
How difficult is it to install these components and could someone point out some kind of installation manual...
The mount:

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TheMenace
sage

Reged: 10/21/08

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2959281 - 03/02/09 04:17 PM

Hard to find the kits anymore.
Grab one if you can.
Doesn't really look like it would be that difficult to install though.

Telescope service

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Skylook123
Postmaster

Reged: 04/30/05

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: TheMenace]
#2959363 - 03/02/09 05:09 PM

KW Telescopes in Canada is reported to be about the last place to still have some of the kits available, and Dr. Brady Johnson there is a great help. I don't have a URL available on this computer, though; Mr. Google may be your friend.

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ragebot
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/26/05

Loc: Tallahassee, FL, USA

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: Skylook123]
#2959397 - 03/02/09 05:23 PM

I did this upgrade on my Atlas some time ago. Basically it was plug and play.

You unscrew the cover plate, pull out some wires with plugs and a card after unscrewing some more, plug the wires back in, and screw the plate back in, and finally screw in the new cover plate.

You might want to check out shoestringastronomydotcom and EQASCOM. You can buy a some wires from shoestring and download the free software and use some thing like CDC, or other free astronomy programs, to make your Atlas/EQ6 a virtual GOTO with the aid of a laptop; all at prices you can afford.

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John Carruthers
Skiprat

Reged: 02/02/07

Loc: Kent, UK

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2960244 - 03/03/09 03:22 AM

just put a link in a thread above about the vixen sp kit, AWR also do kits for the eq6 http://www.awrtech.co.uk/ih/ih_eq6.htm

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PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/14/05

Loc: coastline of Belgium

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: John Carruthers]
#2960731 - 03/03/09 11:24 AM

Looks like a serious upgrade costs about Euro 1100 so it might be better to buy an additional GoTo mount such as the Celestron CGEM
... or GoFor an even greater leap on towards the new CGE:
http://www.galileo.cc/GALILEO-france/descriptif_accessoires.php?ref=CL-91524

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Steve4328
Vendor (KW Telescope)

Reged: 12/10/08

Loc: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2966140 - 03/05/09 06:15 PM

As Jim "Skylook123" says above, we do have upgrade kits available,and they are in short supply as Skywatcher has stopped making them. They are much cheaper than the 1100 Euros mentioned. Send me a private email if you want more info.
Cheers,
Steve
info@kwtelescope.com

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PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/14/05

Loc: coastline of Belgium

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: Steve4328]
#2971066 - 03/08/09 06:26 AM

Indeed, here in Europe there're still alot of those upgrade kits available at US $ 400.00 with handcontroller etc included. However changing the motors doesn't seem to be that easy

as shown in this full maintenance video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8G-gpCpQ20

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PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/14/05

Loc: coastline of Belgium

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2971888 - 03/08/09 03:45 PM

I'll do my IYA2009 good gesture of the year and ditch this EQ-6 at a local astronomy club

Uploaded a new photo:

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astro_baby
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/17/08

Loc: United Kingdom

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2971911 - 03/08/09 03:51 PM

The guy on the video looks like he is stripping down the DEC axis rather than refitting the motors.
I just upgraded an HEQ5 which would be similar to the EQ6

Basically you take the side panel off, take off the existing gears, remove the motors, replace the new motors and gears, install a new controller board and thats about it. Its quite simple.

The only curse I had was my HEQ5 decided to start binding so I had to readjust the worm engagement which was a pain but not that hard.

Its s shame Synta have stopped doing the upgrade kits as theres a lot of mounts out there.

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Chote
sage

Reged: 10/31/05

Loc: Bangkok, Thailand

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: astro_baby]
#2975624 - 03/10/09 12:16 PM

I have the 1st version of EQ6, just order the upgrade kit from kwtelescope. Installing the kit is easy as mentioned above. You need to check the gear mesh before completing the upgrade.

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Charlie Hein
Postmaster

Reged: 11/02/03

Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W

Re: EQ-6 installing GoTo components new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2975637 - 03/10/09 12:19 PM

Quote:

Indeed, here in Europe there're still alot of those upgrade kits available at US $ 400.00 with handcontroller etc included. However changing the motors doesn't seem to be that easy as shown in this full maintenance video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8G-gpCpQ20

It only took me about 15 minutes to convert the mount start to finish. It's not difficult at all.

Charlie

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