+Graham Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 (edited) How much do you pay for an EQ 8 ???? Don't know if anyone saw the plea for help on ABS concerning an EQ8 motor. Anyway I did and offered to help. The guy sent me his dead motor down to see if there was anything I could do for it. It arrived this afternoon. After unpacking it I did a quick visual inspection and then tried to turn the motor over. Hard as I might I could not get the motor to turn, it was seized solid. That's interesting I thought. Maybe another snapped shaft like the EQ 6 one I fixed a short while back. Well I opened the motor up and was amazed to find water pouring out of it all over my nice clean work space. From the amount of water that came out I would estimate it must have been a third full. Long story short I cleaned all the rust off everything and then rebuilt it to see if it would turn over. Success one functioning stepper motor. I have stripped it down again and left all the parts on the heater to try and dry it out especially the coils. Tomorrow it will be rebuilt and I can pop it back in the post to the Guy. Which kind of brings me back to my first statement. How much do you pay for an EQ 8 ???? Between £3000.00 for the basic mount up to £5000.00 for the full kit. Somehow I would expect it to be better protected against water. Still there you go At least I have help create another happy Astronomer . Edited March 27, 2020 by Graham +Streetbob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Well done buddy. +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 (edited) That's terrible Skywatcher should be ashamed of it self. Anyway well done Graham sorting I bet the owner will be over the moon. Edited March 27, 2020 by Doc +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Well done Graham, you are a true gent!....Doesn't say much for the EQ8 though does it!! 🙄 +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Well done I saw that and told chap to join here post topic and see if graham would chip in , bet he was glad you contacted him first 👍 top man Graham +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ibbo Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Did it swim here? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted March 27, 2020 Author Share Posted March 27, 2020 Thanks folks. Truly shocking isn't it. David he told me yesterday some had advised him to contact me. I did wonder who it was and now I know. Thanks for the recommendation. Steve I did ask him if he had dropped the mount in the bath 😂 Bottletopburly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 At what point would it have been an electric shock risk to the user ?? Had it been left outside on a pier and forgotten about ?? A chap over on SGL said of Skywatcher "you pay your money, and you take your chance" Any truth in that do you think ?? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 It would never become an electric shock risk as it runs on low voltage of 12volts. This is stepped up to 30 volts to power the motors on the motherboard. This mount is permanently fitted to a pier under a double layer of a branded cover. It is in regular use. Skywatcher have never had a good reputation for quality control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Strings Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 Doesn't it say more about the effectiveness of the scopes weather protection, I'm sure motors like these are not designed to be fully IP rated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 If it hasn't been jet washed then I would guess the result of a few years of repeated internal condensation. It would be difficult to make any motor airtight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 6 hours ago, Rusty Strings said: Doesn't it say more about the effectiveness of the scopes weather protection, I'm sure motors like these are not designed to be fully IP rated! Although the motor is not going to be IP rated I would expect the cover it sits behind to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 3 hours ago, Clive said: If it hasn't been jet washed then I would guess the result of a few years of repeated internal condensation. It would be difficult to make any motor airtight. As I understand it the mount is only just out of warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philjay Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Good call Graham. Makes you wonder if its a type fault or a one off. Just goes to show though, modern mounts arent as tough as the old basic mounts like the Fullerscopes or Irvings where you could leave them out all year with just a placky bag over them. +Ibbo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post +Graham Posted April 2, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 2, 2020 Update. Had an update from the owner of this mount this morning. Motor refitted to the mount and working perfectly. BAZ, +Ibbo, Bottletopburly and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentrunning Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Hi Graham, Been away from the hobby for a while due to all sorts of circumstances but nice to see you are still there doing the impossible for the community! Hope all is well with you. John +Graham and Bottletopburly 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 8 hours ago, silentrunning said: Hi Graham, Been away from the hobby for a while due to all sorts of circumstances but nice to see you are still there doing the impossible for the community! Hope all is well with you. John Thanks John. I do my best to help when I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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