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How much load do you put on your AVX?

Celestron Advanced VX Equipment Equatorial Mount Guiding
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D. Jung avatar
D. Jung avatar
I'm quite happy with my AVX, though I wonder how much load it can handle.
I can do 10 minute subs with my C5 or my 6 inch f4 and guiding error is usually just under 1arcsec.

Especially with my newt, it's loaded with around 6kg and I notice that balancing gets a real pita. If it's not perfect, Dec guiding becomes a hit and miss and DEC backlash gets worse making dithering a real nightmare.

Anyone had success putting an 8 inch newt on it? With camera and guide this will probably go upwards 10kg.
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jolind avatar
jolind avatar
I have a 6 inch newt on my AVX sometimes and if I add my camera and guiding stuff it seems that the AVX is near it's upper limit. I share that experience, perfect balance is crucial then and it's harder to get the guiding accurate. That's the main reason I've not upgraded to 8 inch yet. It works perfectly with my small 70mm APO, no issues and an error under 1 arcsec, like yours.
David Redwine avatar
David Redwine avatar
At one point I had my 8" Edge and my 60ED on my AVX, with an OAG and a guide scope, for a total of 28 lbs.  It was still capable of guiding just a bit better than 2".
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Donovan avatar
Donovan avatar
Yup! 8" F5 newt. Usually around 0.17 Total RMS.  The better days it's under 0.10
D. Jung avatar
D. Jung avatar
Donovan:
Yup! 8" F5 newt. Usually around 0.17 Total RMS.  The better days it's under 0.10


0.1 arcsec RMS with a 50mm guide scope?
Did you mod your AVX or do anything else with it?
What's the total weight of your setup?
David Redwine avatar
David Redwine avatar
Donovan:
Yup! 8" F5 newt. Usually around 0.17 Total RMS.  The better days it's under 0.10

Donovan,  I think your guidance data is in pixel units, can you convert that to arcseconds for us?
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IronCoreStudio avatar
IronCoreStudio avatar
Weighed my scope 17lbs. Set it on top of container, turned around and it rolled off two feet and hit the ground.  Hit the front edge and dented the aluminum around the front glass.  It’s an 80’s 8” celestron so the lead paint probably absorbed most of the impact.  Guiding is not horrible as long as I balance each time I remount it.