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monkey10120
member
Reged: 07/27/09
Posts: 15
Loc: omaha
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I have an astroview EQ-3 and it is rated for only 10LBS!?!? i noticed it after i got it... It feels like a very solid mount.. how much do you think it could really hold?
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t.r.
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 577
Loc: Upstate NY
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I believe it is actually rated at 12#, and for visual only, i think thats about right. I mount my Tak Sky90, 2" everbright, binoviewers and two 70* WA eyepieces and it handles it fine...(~11#)
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Present Stable:
Kmart 40mm(first scope @ age 8)
Jason 60mm
C80SS
Tak Sky90II
PST
C6XLT
AP130 "Gran Turismo"
C-11XLT
EQ-2,CG-4,ASGT-5,DenkII's,TV(zoom,plossls,Ethos),Pentax XW's,UO volcano set, ZAOII 4mm,BaaderZoom and other un-notables
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
Carl Sagan
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Retentive
member
Reged: 02/16/08
Posts: 15
Loc: Florida
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I have an astroview mount with the add on 6v drives. Does anyone sell a 6v power supply to eliminate the batteries?
BTW, my mount was used when I bought it, I tuned it up using the guide from Andy's shot glass and it made a huge difference in how smooth it was. It was full of that black sticky stuff used for grease.
Phil
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Mobius1
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 700
Loc: Madison, WI / Gurnee, IL
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If you polar align the thing correctly, and make sure that the batteries are fresh, it is very capable for imaging with a smaller scope. The most I got out of it was about 60-90 second subs, but there was one night where I successfully pushed it to 180s with a Zenithstar 80. It holds my 100ED just fine, though I've never tried this for imaging. I imaged using the 120-ST it came with, as well as my new ZenithStar 66-SD- here are the results from my first try on M31 with said setup (66mm): for that small scope, it is a rock, even with DSLR and extensions attached.
PS. It's so much easier to lug out with everything attached than is my CGE 
--------------------
Martin
William Optics 66SD
Orion 100ED
Orion 120-ST EQ
PST-Ha
Celestron CGE 1100
Canon Rebel XSI with Astronomik filters
DSI-IIC
Homemade spectroscope in progress...
Yerkes Observatory Volunteer
(24" Cass on weekends)
Edited by Mobius1 (10/21/09 02:55 PM)
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monkey10120
member
Reged: 07/27/09
Posts: 15
Loc: omaha
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Mine is actually rated for 12# i just looked it up again. And i am looking at a scope that is 15lbs and it will hold a small CCD camera. I dont know if that is pushing it as they said that if the weight exceeds it will only amplify bumps or hits. by the way that probably is the best andromeda pic i have seen before, great job.
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t.r.
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 577
Loc: Upstate NY
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You can push mount capacity abit using a longer counter-weight shaft and less weights. In addition, the weak link in most of these "budget" mounts is the aluminum tripod. Fill the hollow tubes with whatever, sand, foam, lead, anything to kill the vibration tendancy. Or, just put it on an oak tripod of your own fashion or a pier.
Nice pic of Andromeda 
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Present Stable:
Kmart 40mm(first scope @ age 8)
Jason 60mm
C80SS
Tak Sky90II
PST
C6XLT
AP130 "Gran Turismo"
C-11XLT
EQ-2,CG-4,ASGT-5,DenkII's,TV(zoom,plossls,Ethos),Pentax XW's,UO volcano set, ZAOII 4mm,BaaderZoom and other un-notables
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
Carl Sagan
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seethat?
member
Reged: 03/12/09
Posts: 79
Loc: NOVA
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I have an astroview EQ3-M with a wooden legs upgrade and a 120mm f8.3 mounted with a 100mm f6 on top. Used a counterweight bar extension from Scopestuff and only using a single 7lb weight(way out at the end). Need to watch yourself when you slew it.  Keeps everything light. Dampens quick.
I too am looking for a R.A axis drive solution for it.
Orion sells one but it is only 2x and 8x and I don't know if that is good enough.
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Mark
Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
So far:
Orion 100mm F/6 piggy backed
an a Orion 120mm F/8.3
on a Astroview EQ3 mount
with wooden legs.
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t.r.
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 577
Loc: Upstate NY
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I use that very drive (orion) and it seems fine driving ~11#.
--------------------
Present Stable:
Kmart 40mm(first scope @ age 8)
Jason 60mm
C80SS
Tak Sky90II
PST
C6XLT
AP130 "Gran Turismo"
C-11XLT
EQ-2,CG-4,ASGT-5,DenkII's,TV(zoom,plossls,Ethos),Pentax XW's,UO volcano set, ZAOII 4mm,BaaderZoom and other un-notables
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
Carl Sagan
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