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Celestron VX mount

Started by rmollise , Jan 09 2013 07:52 AM
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1139 replies to this topic

#401 186vett

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Posted 13 February 2013 - 12:01 AM

Sir;
From whom did you order from? Just curious.
Jerry

#402 jfrech14

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Posted 13 February 2013 - 05:58 PM

You really think that the two saddle screws are not enough? I will have 25 lbs on that bad boy with 22 lbs of counterbalance. I dont want the screws to slip and drop my scopes. Of course an ADM saddle will be better but will the celestron saddle suffice?

#403 GTBaker

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Posted 13 February 2013 - 09:25 PM

I ordered it from a local shop here in town. I'm in Newfoundland, Canada. It's an authorized Celestron re-seller. I also got an email saying I'll have it in 2 weeks instead of waiting till April. :jump:

I was going to get it through Canadian Telescopes but they're not a authorized Celestron re-seller.

#404 cn register 5

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 02:59 AM

You really think that the two saddle screws are not enough? I will have 25 lbs on that bad boy with 22 lbs of counterbalance. I dont want the screws to slip and drop my scopes. Of course an ADM saddle will be better but will the celestron saddle suffice?

I think it will be fine. I've got a dual mount with two scopes and two CCD cameras that comes to about 18 lbs and it's not budged.
If you are concerned fit stop screws to the dovetail bar, then the scope can't slide right off the end.

Chris

#405 morecoffee

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 11:57 AM

I wonder if the 11 inch SCT now offered on the VX with one CCD would be pushing it's limits with counter weights.

#406 dr.who

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 12:37 PM

Not for visual but for AP it would not be something I would want to try.

#407 chasdz

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 01:54 PM

:jump:For what's it's worth Astronomics has the VX in stock today a shipment arrived last night 2/13.

#408 MDearingJaxFL

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 01:58 PM

Does anyone think that the vx could handle for AP the Astrotech AT8in F/4 astrograph with 50mm guider on it? About 22 lbs maybe......

:>) mark

#409 R L Harris

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 02:09 PM

you will be several pounds over 50-60% point for ap on this
setup!

#410 jfrech14

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 03:11 PM

I will be at 25.2 lbs and I have been told that since I am using 22lbs counterbalancing and im mostly in an observatory this new mount has enough torque to handle it (told by astronomics, opt and celestron) so I think 22 lbs will handle it UNLESS you have a long tube.. my longest tube is 19.6 inches which is really short so i have less of a moment arm causing less torque exertion

#411 jfrech14

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 03:13 PM

PS I ordered from highpoint scientific. free shipping plus I got 5% off which was enough to get the ac adapter and still save 20 bucks... it got to my doorstep in 3 days

#412 Carl N

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 03:51 PM

Got mine yesterday. I ordered it from Celestron, OPT was out after I drove there to pick up when they said. It was in stock. :mad: celestron consigned it to Hands on Optics. Interesting, since I mounted a 102 AstroTelescopes f/11 from Hands on upon it. I received it in 4 days.

On setup, the only issues I have noticed are that the counterweight safety stop bolt at the end of the counter weight bar does not thread easily. Some burring in the female threads of the counter weight bar which. Had to chase and oil the threads to not need a pliers to remove the darned thing.

The other issue I noticed was an indented dimple on at least one tripod leg tube from the set screw being turned a bit hard at the factory. Neither is a big deal, but a bit disappointing.

Full disclosure, this is my first go to mount. I have a 10" dob.

I was able to do an alignment that got me finding things pretty much center of 9mm ES 100 every time with only a few "restarts". I am confident anyone familiar with the celestron menus and alignment process will have no issues.

The mount doesn't seem too noisy, even at fastest slew. At slowest it is virtually silent.

My total weight on it is around 15 pounds and it is rock solid. I plan to eventually put an 11" on it and I can't see it being an issue, particularly since when I do, the mount will be on a permanent pier. Once I am used to the mount and its menus, I will be trying AP with my Nikon D7000 on it.

Carl

#413 Carl N

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 06:04 PM

Also, I couldn't get a clear answer. The power receptacle has a threaded collar. The cord which has a cig lighter on the end that comes with it has a threaded housing for it.
But the AC adapter that is recommended by celestron is the one that is not threaded. They have a threaded one, at a different volt rating for the CGEM.

Can I use the threaded AC adapter or will that voltage harm my electronics?

#414 Whichwayisnorth

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 06:07 PM

Different Volts or different Amps?

Should all be 12v and amps don't matter as long as they are over about 2.5 amps.

#415 morecoffee

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 07:09 PM

Newfoundland, wow, never been, would love to see it some day. Keep us posted on when it arrives.

jfrech14,
How do you go about the 5% off I was poking around their site but could not find it. Thanks in advance.

#416 jerwin

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Posted 14 February 2013 - 11:30 PM

I too am wondering about this 5% discount at highpoint scientific. I got a 2% rewards program discount at optcorp. Better than nothing but not enough to really buy anything.

Jim

#417 jacktechie

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Posted 15 February 2013 - 12:39 AM

Also, I couldn't get a clear answer. The power receptacle has a threaded collar. The cord which has a cig lighter on the end that comes with it has a threaded housing for it.
But the AC adapter that is recommended by celestron is the one that is not threaded. They have a threaded one, at a different volt rating for the CGEM.

Can I use the threaded AC adapter or will that voltage harm my electronics?

I bought a CGE Pro in January and it has the threaded collar. I found the 2.1mm power coaxial plug comes in a 12mm and 14mm length. The 12mm works on the CGE which has no threads as well as the 14mm. But the 12mm is too short on the Pro so there is no contact, but the 14mm works.

Do not use a power adapter that is rated lower than what equipment requires, otherwise you can burn out your adapter. Or in my case, I blew a 2.1 amp inline fuse, wired to my marine deep discharge battery, when I tried slewing the CGE Pro.
Jack

#418 esthel

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Posted 15 February 2013 - 05:25 PM

Will Stellarium and EqMod work with the VX mount?

#419 rmollise

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Posted 15 February 2013 - 05:34 PM

Will Stellarium and EqMod work with the VX mount?


Yes and no. Stellarium will work. EQMOD is _for SynScan only_...but...NexRemote is similar to EQMOD... ;)

#420 esthel

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Posted 15 February 2013 - 05:55 PM

I would need to install NexRemote to have Stellarium and any software that requires EqMod. I would not be able to only run only EqMod?

#421 rmollise

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Posted 15 February 2013 - 06:36 PM

I would need to install NexRemote to have Stellarium and any software that requires EqMod. I would not be able to only run only EqMod?


NO. You will not be able to run EQMOD period. It will NOT work with the Celestrons.

To use Stellarium with the scope, all you need install in Stellarium...nothing else. ;)

#422 cn register 5

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Posted 15 February 2013 - 06:53 PM

I think NexRemote may need an upgrade to run with the AVX.

But you don't need NexRemote to run Stellarium. Connect to the real HC. The basic hand controller functionality is the same as all the other NexStar based scopes.

You definitely don't need Eqmod.

Chris

#423 rmollise

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Posted 15 February 2013 - 06:56 PM

Not sure about an upgrade being needed. At this point I believe the program will run as is...we'll see...

#424 Whichwayisnorth

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Posted 15 February 2013 - 08:42 PM

Against my better judgement I broke down and bought the SkyQ accessory today and the app. I am actually pretty impressed. Now I also own SkySafari and the SkyFI module which is great but I think for my kids to use I am going to prefer SkyQ.

#425 Ben B

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Posted 16 February 2013 - 12:09 AM

I would need to install NexRemote to have Stellarium and any software that requires EqMod. I would not be able to only run only EqMod?


NO. You will not be able to run EQMOD period. It will NOT work with the Celestrons.

To use Stellarium with the scope, all you need install in Stellarium...nothing else. ;)


To elaborate a bit more, the Advanced VX comes with a serial cable that plugs into the hand controller. I was able to connect this serial cable to my RS232 to USB adapter (my netbook doesn't have a serial port), install the ASCOM platform, Celestron ASCOM drivers, and control the mount with Stellarium and PHD Guiding without any issues.

So assuming you either have a serial port on your computer or a serial to USB adapter, the mount comes with all the hardware needed to control it from a computer.
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