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I am considering replacing my Ioptron CEM40 with a strain wave mount to avoid the 20 pounds of counterweights necessary to balance my 8” MEADE LX200 ACF OTA, reducer, EFW, OAG and ASI2600MC, which weighs about 24 pounds. I have narrowed it to the Ioptron HAE43C and the ZWO AM5N, and would appreciate any recommendations based on your experience. The HAE43C is rated at a 44 pound payload compared to the 33 pound payload of the ZWO AM5N, and cost about $500 more new. Would the 24 pound payload be pushing it for the AM5N? Both of these are relatively new and I am hoping to hear from those who have used them. Thanks. Jim
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I run a C11 on the AM5 gen 1 often at 2900mm focal length with OAG and get 0.7 or better total RMS.
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ZWO says 44 lbs max load with counterweights and 33 lbs without. You should be good to go.
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I just started running a C9.25 on my AM5 (not N). I first tried guiding unweighted and the results were not good. After adding a 10lb counterweight, 600s exposures are no problem.
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I also have C11 on AM5 with 11-pound counterweight and get guiding in the similar 0.7 guiding as JHayes mentioned. (Also using OAG, but I've never tried mine without the focal reducer.)
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The AM5N will work but the iOptron gives you some extra weight capacity if you ever decide to go to a larger scope. I always use a counterweight to reduce motor strain and to reduce the possibility of tip-overs.
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I am using a Celestron C8 reduced to 1280fl on my AM5 non N with a william optics 200fl uniguide. I get .3-.5 rms guiding. I use a counterweight because I am nervous about it tipping. Its the same weight as my FLT91 but the center of gravity is lower with the FLT and I dont counterweight with it
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24lbs payload for the ZWO AM5 should be fine. I run a C11 + counterweights on mine without issues (so far). The AM5 has a "heavy payload" switch that will slow down the mount some and help it handle the extra load. Note that the AM5 + carbon fiber tripod are relatively light compared to other mounts & tripods and you will need to make sure the legs are sufficiently deployed to increase stability. I also add weights to the tripod net to lower its center of gravity and increase stability. I also use it with a Lunt LS100MT and a C8. The AM5 is a solid and reliable mount - I have had mine for 18 months. The lighter weight and ease of use are clear "cons". |
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I run the C8 Edge (0.7x reducer @ 1422mm) with the Celestron OAG and I routinely accomplish ~0.5" RMS. I do put on a 5lb counterweight, but as others have said this more for defending against the darned thing falling over near the meridian.
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Personally, the AM5s I have encountered, and the one I own, are not well-suited for this type of setup. And that tracks mathematically for me when you take into account swings in periodic error, amount of periodic error, and secondary harmonics. These considerations vary quite a bit from one copy to the next, which will have some impact on how well a narrow field of view can be pushed on a given AM5. They also need rapid guiding corrections (e.g. 1s, and some copies as fast as 0.5s) to keep up with that error, which can add additional fuss when using an OAG. The A5N is generally a bit better with regard to the range of these numbers, but it can still be bad. I have also seen multiple claims from people about how well it performs on their SCT, and some of those cases involved an undersized guide scope (which can make guiding numbers look good when they are bad) or noticeable loss of potential resolution (sometimes missed by the imager who assumes that round stars mean good guiding). Not to imply that others aren’t getting good resolute. Again, material copy variation. But I take what some people say with a grain of salt without some degree of verification. Also, speaking to common assertions, it is a mistake to look at the weight rating alone as an endorsement of a mount’s capabilities. That the mount can carry the telescope does not mean it can carry it well, and as the field of view narrows (in step with pixels size getting smaller) the corresponding demand on the mount increases dramatically. A 20 kg 400mm focal length telescope is *far* less demanding on a mount than a 20 kg 1500mm focal length telescope. Personally, this is not the mount I would buy to carry that telescope. A good belt-driven equatorial mount is going to give more bang for the buck. But if I already had the mount, and a suitable tripod (not the TC-40), I would be happy to give it a shot. |
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I just started running a C9.25 on my AM5 (not N). I first tried guiding unweighted and the results were not good. After adding a 10lb counterweight, 600s exposures are no problem. Yup same for me and worked like charm after adding payload. |
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I mostly do Ha solar imaging with occasional animations spanning 2-3hrs where I use a guiding scope. Have not had any problems. Now, my solar telescope is a Lunt LS100MT which probably comes in at 15lbs loaded.
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I run a 20cm LX200 on an AM5, with all the related guiding and anti-dew gear and it works completely fine. Although mine is kilograms, obviously, that should not make a big difference ;-) You will want to add a counterweight to stop it falling over if you’re on the standard carbon fiber tripod it comes with and when it gets colder you probably want to flip the mount to high power mode (which halves the slew speed but bumps the torque) to keep it happy. |
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i run a Celestron 9.25 EdgeHD on an AM5 with OAG and sometime with 240 mm unguide scope ( and the same RMS rating 0.7 Rms ) with SQM16.84 My main setup Celestron 9.25 EdgeHD Primalucelab Essato 2 focuser Pegasus Rotator falcon v2 Zwo EFW ( 50mm) Zwo 6200mm Pro Zwo AM5 (gen1) WO unguide scope 240mm Zwo 174mm mini Primalucelab Eagle 5S Celestron reducer 0.7x CS Brian |
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I am using the RC 10" (20kg including camera) on the HAE43. It works well without slipping even once. However, when I used the RC 10" with AM5, it slipped and could not return to the home position while tilted at 90 degrees right ascension.
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My RC8, which is heavier and less balanced than an SCT, rides very comfortably on an AM5N, with OAG-guided RMS that's only rarely larger than 0.6. In fact it did ok with AM3, but got even better with AM5N. I found that, in general, people are too obsessed with mounts. Some years ago I used a 2800mm Mak180 with AZEQ5 and it was ok. |
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Here: - AM5N - RC8 full lenght (1624 mm) - ZWO EAF - ZWO EFW 36 - ZWO ASI2600mm - ZWO OAG-L - ZWO ASI174mm _ ZWO ASIAIR+ about 12.8 kg (28.2 pounds) Usually use a 4.5 kg counterweight but it has no effect on driving, I only put it there to avoid the risk of it tipping over. Guiding at 0.4-0.5 costantly. Before i had the AM5 and with the same setup was 0.6-0.7.   |
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Other Strain Wave mount to consider which has max payload of 34 pounds is the Skywatcher Wave 150i. I have the mount and it is carrying an Evostar 120 with 2600mc pro, Askar OAG, and guide cam and filter slider. I don’t even mess with the RA and Dec settings and guides at .5 rms.
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Hello, I'm using the am5n with my sct 9.25 @ 1440mm (starizona reducer), see my galery the latest pictures are with this setup. I'd advice to use a better tripod that the tc40. I use my az-eq6 tripod with the am5 pier adapter. I tried the tc40 and it is not stiff enough causing poor guiding. I also use a counter weight. Works very well.
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Let me thank everyone for their insights. I decided to get the HAE43, which has a higher payload than the AM5N, and works without modification on the CEM40 tripod. The new mount arrived today, along with the predicted clouds for the next five nights. Many good questions to address especially with the SCT fl, which I expect to keep me busy for awhile.
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Sounds like a good choice.
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Good luck with the allen keys.
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Michele Campini: Sounds similar to my meh15 ;) I'm amazed I have lost mine yet. |
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Jim it is always a great day when a new piece of Kit arrives for the scope(s). Congratulations! Now with the associated clouds that Scope Gods curse us all with with new equipment. I have had great luck burying an old eyepiece upside down by the Observatory. Your results may vary! I have a C11EdgeHD with a HyperStar. Running it at 540mm is not a great challenge and would like to hear your review of the IOptron. I am considering a lightweight travel solution for this OTA…. Congrats and Good Luck! CS Tim |
