Tri-Pier Compatibility w/AM5N

My configuration includes an Askar 107PHQ (a few cm's shorter than your 130) on the AM5 with the ZWO TC40 tripod and the PE200 pier extension. I operate from a hi-rise apartment balcony and travel to an observatory site 45km distant… so this configuration works well for me. 

The AM5 will  cetrtainly manage the Askar 130PHQ however you will most likely need the PE200 pier extension; I need it with my OTA and ASI2600MC-P attached - without the pier extension, my OTA/cam would hit the tripod leg while imaging higher altitude targets…. also allows for comfortable vertical slew to take my flats calibration frames. 

There have been incidents reported on other forums of tripod-OTA collisions without using the pier - be safe-not sorry…. and enjoy your 130PHQ.

I second what rbr27 just wrote. I have almost the same combo 107PHQ+TC40+2600MC Duo and PE160. With an 130PHQ I’d most certainly put it on a PE200.

Guys, please read the post carefully because you are providing wrong advice. This is my advice based on actually dealing with both the starfield and an ioptron tripier

- if you get the starfield, get the 3/8 plate, goes directly into the AM5n, do NOT get a PE200, will be too tall and unnecessary

- if you get an ioptron tripier, those do need the PE200 to adapt to the AM5n

- you could get away with the large refractor in a TC40 + PE200 as others point out. I did for a while. However got a lot better guiding once I moved into the tripier.

I'd have to agree with Dompe's replies. The Tri-Pier's legs are so far down from the mount that you'd have to have an exceptionally long bit of gear to have it foul them. If you like to think of it this way: the Tri-Pier already has its own extension built in.

I use an AM5 on a TC40 tripod, and I use ZWO's PE200 extension simply to ensure that my longer refractors + imaging train don't foul the tripod legs. I also use the counterweight shaft and a weight (or two) for my bigger imaging rigs. When I am using my PHQ107, I add 1 x 5kg as a precaution, but the AM5 (and even more so, the AM5N) really doesn't need it - I'm afraid I'm a bit of old school, and I think it pays to reduce the load the mount has to contend with, and provides improved stability especially when the OTA is well off axis. This arrangement has not been a problem for me, and the AM5 copes quite well, and also with heavier rigs + 2 x 5kg counterweights.

If I were you, I'd put my money into an extension bar + counterweight, rather than the PE200, if you are buying the Tri-Pier 1000.

I hope this helps,
Paul.

BTW: I've refrained from including a photo of my kit as it differs in only minor detail from the gallery of photos already displayed here. If you think it would help, I could do this, though.

Scotty, very nice set up.  I already have the P200 extension, if I bought an Ioptron 360, what additional adapters would I need to mount my P200 on the Ioptron 360?  Thank you. Jeff

Scotty, thank you for the information.  3D printing is outside my wheelhouse, but it looks like an amazing technology.  Ill get back with you if I pull the trigger on a new Iopton pier.

Here are some pictures of my WO Mortar 1000. I dont know why WO stopped making these. I can only assume that the timming was off in terms of marketing since the AM5 had not yet been released. I actually picked mine up at a discount. Picture below with my RASA 8 and ES127 FCD100.

Solid mount. I also have an Ioptron tripier that i use with my new AM5N and Edge 11.

One of the nice things about these forums is that you can end up learning a lot. In my case, I have a couple of long refractors (with imaging gear attached) that foul my tripod legs near zenith. This discussion has alerted me to what was available to get around this problem, and by inference, people's experiences with them. The upshot is that I have now ordered a TS-Optics Tri-Pier with EQ6 adapter plate (see: https://www.teleskop-express.de/en/mounts-tripods-rings-rails-power-supply-14/tripods-piers-polar-wedges-80/ts-optics-tri-pier-tripod-height-950-mm-weight-only-8-kg-13985).

So, thank you all for your inspirational inputs. I, for one, have benefitted.

Paul.