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®
® TM
SmartStar iEQ45
TM
With Go2Nova 8407 Hand Controller
Instruction Manual
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Table of Content Table of Content.................................................................................................................................................2 TM 1. iEQ45 Overview.........................................................................................................................................4 TM 2. iEQ45 Assembly........................................................................................................................................
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5.6. PEC Option............................................................................................................................................29 5.6.1. PEC Playback .................................................................................................................................29 5.6.2. Record PEC ....................................................................................................................................29 5.6.3. System Self-Test...........
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TM 1. iEQ45 Overview The iEQ45 is one of the new breed of premium astro-imaging equatorial mounts from iOptron. The iEQ45 offers the next generation GOTO technology from iOptron. The mount is made of the highest quality materials to ensure stability and durability. With a payload of 45 lb (20 kg) balanced – it comes standard with a calibrated dark field illumination polar scope and a sturdy 2-inch stainless steel tripod. It also fits both Vixen and Losmandy-type mounting plates. Its ligh
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TM 2. iEQ45 Assembly 2.1. Parts List There are two shipping boxes for a regular tripod version. One box contains an EQ mount, an 8407 hand controller, a Vixen-type dovetail saddle (attached to the mount) and a Losmandy-D dovetail saddle. One box contains a tripod, two 11lb (5kg) counterweights and accessories. Figure 1. EQ mount box 1 Other parts included in the package : • 2 RJ11 coiled controller cables • Dark field illuminating LED with cable • AC adapter (100V~240V) • 12V D
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2.2. Assembly Terms DEC Clutch Handle Dovetail Saddle DEC Unit R.A. Clutch Screw Polar Axis Cover R.A. unit DEC Axis Main Control Unit Polar Scope Cover CW Shaft Counterweight (CW) CW Locking Screw Lat. Locking Screw Lat. Adjust. Knob CW Safety Screw Azi. Locking Screw Azi. Adjust Knob Bubble Level Indicator Alignment Peg Tripod Head Tripod Spreader Tripod Lock Tripod Leg Leg Lock Screw Figure 2. iEQ45 assembly terms (mount and tripod) 6
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2.3. iEQ45 Ports Ports on Main Control Unit LED LED Switc Switch h Figure 3. Ports on main control unit • Dec: For connecting to DEC driver unit • iOptron port: For connecting to other iOptron accessories, such as an electronic focuser, a laser pointer, or a planetary dome control • HBX (Hand Box): For connecting to the 8407 Hand Controller • Reticle: Power supply for the Polar Scope dark field illumination LED • Power DC 12V: AC adapter power plug • ON/OFF Switch: Power switch •
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mount. Equatorial mounts require alignment of the mount components as well as star alignments for accurate OTA tracking. In order to provide the required Polar Axis alignment, equatorial mounts use a combination of both mount types described above. The adjustable part of the mount moves in the Alt-Az mode in order to align the R.A. axis, also known as the mount’s Polar Axis, with the CNP. These Polar Axis adjustments do not involve any rotations of the OTA about the R.A. or DEC axes and c
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STEP 2. Set Latitude Adjustment Knob Carefully remove the mount from the shipping box and familiarize yourself with the components shown in Figure 2. Unlock the four (4) R.A. Clutch Screws and rotate the mount 180º around the R.A. axis to move the dovetail saddle face topside to the highest vertical position as shown in Figure 5. Tighten the R.A. Clutch Screws. Dovetail Saddle R.A. Axis Polar Axis R.A. Clutch Screw (4) (a) Rotating the mount (b) Upright p
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STEP 3. Attach the iEQ45 Mount Locate the Azimuth Adjustment Knobs (next to the Bubble Level Indicator) and retract them to allow enough clearance for the mount to fit on the tripod head. Unscrew the three (3) Azimuth Locking Screws shown in Figure 8 and be careful not to lose the plastic washers; they will be needed to secure the mount. Place the mount onto the Tripod Head with the Bubble Level Indicator on top of the Alignment Peg as shown in Figure 9. Place the Teflon washers and the th
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(a) (b) Figure 10 STEP 6. Attach Dovetail Adapter Both Vixen and Losmandy-D dovetail saddles are included for your convenience. Two (2) M6x20 hex head screws are used for the Vixen dovetail saddle. Additionally, four (4) M6x20 screws are provided for the Losmandy-D saddle installation. A customer-made large adapter can also be installed. The mounting-hole distribution on the mount is shown in Figure 11. Figure 11 STEP 7. Connect Cables Attach one end of an RJ11 cable
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NOTE: You may need to re-check the polar alignment after loading the OTA. As explained in the introduction, an equatorial mount must have an accurate polar axis alignment in order to track properly. With the iOptron innovative Polar Scope and Quick Polar Alignment procedure, you can do a fast and accurate polar axis alignment. Figure 12. Polar Scope Dial As indicated in Figure 12, the Polar Scope Dial has been divided into 12 hours along the angular direction with half-hour tics. Ther
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(3) Use the ▲ or ▼ button to turn the DEC axle to unblock the Polar Scope view. (4) Adjust polar scope eyepiece shown in Figure 13 to bring the polar scope dial in focus. (5) To rotate the Polar Scope to align the 12 position of the dial on the top, as shown in Figure 12, release the four R.A. clutch screws while holding the OTA, then turn the R.A. drive using HC’s ◄ or ► button (press 9 button to change the rotation speed to MAX). PLEASE remember to hold onto the OTA or it could swing. If
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NOTE: Thread the polar scope eyepiece all the way in after polar alignment, before put the Polar Scope Cover back on. Otherwise, the polar scope eyepiece could be stuck inside the Polar Scope Cover to cause R.A. axis jamming. NOTE: If you are located in southern hemisphere, Sigma Octantis will be chosen for Polar Alignment. For example, on May 20, 2010, 20:00:00 in Sydney, Australia (Lat S33º51’36” and Long E151º12’40”), 600 min ahead of UT, the Sigma Octantis Position is 1hr21.8m and
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Balance the mount in DEC axis Release the four (4) R.A. Clutch Screws and rotate the R.A. axis to place the DEC axis in the horizontal position, as shown in Figure 16(a), and then tighten the R. A. Clutch Screws. The OTA can be on either side. Then release the DEC Clutch Handle and rotate the OTA to a horizontal position as shown in Figure 16(b). If the OTA has a tendency to rotate about the DEC axis, you will have to slide the OTA forward or backward to balance it in the horizontal posi
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Figure 17. Zero position You can also use the electronic Balance Test function to check the R.A. and DEC balance (please refer to Section 5.13 for more details). 16
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TM 3. Go2Nova 8407 Hand Controller DEC+ RA- RA+ DEC- Serial HBX Port Port (RJ9) Figure 18. Go2Nova 8407 hand controller TM The Go2Nova 8407 hand controller (HC) shown in Figure 18 is one of the controllers that used for the iEQ45 mount. It has an integrated temperature controller that ensures it can be operated below 20ºC (-4ºF). It has a large LCD screen, function keys, direction keys and number keys on the front; a red LED reading light on the back; and a H
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• Serial port: connect the HC to a Computer via a RS232 to 4-wire RJ9 cable. The pin out of the serial port is shown in Figure 19. Figure 19. Serial port pin out on an 8407 hand controller 3.2. The LCD Screen The 8407 HC has a large 8-line, 21-character per line LCD screen, which displays all the information as shown in Figure 20. The user interface is simple and easy to learn. Mount Status Target Name Target Right Ascension Target Declination º GPS Status PEC Status Right Ascens
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8. Local Date and Time: display local time in a format of YY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS. 9. Mount Status: Display current operation status of the mount. • Stop: mount is not moving; • Slew: mount is moving with an arrow key is pressed; • GoTo: mount is slewing to a celestial object using “Select and Slew”; • Busy: mount is busy slewing to some predefined position, such as Zero Position. 10. GPS status: When the power is turned on, it shows “GPS ON”, which means a GPS receiver is properly connected. W
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4. Getting Started In order to experience the full GOTO capability of GOTONOVA technology it is very important to set up the mount correctly before observation. 4.1. Setup the Mount and Polar Alignment Assemble your iEQ45 mount according to Section 2.5, steps 1 ~ 7. Mount an OTA and accessories, and carefully balance the mount around the polar axis, as indicated in 2.5, step 8. Connect all cables. Turn the mount power switch on. After the GPS status change to GPS OK when the GPS receiver
