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Model: 7300Brand: iOptron
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The All NEW iOptron CEM120!
An extraordinary innovation in mount design...Now with a new payload!
Recognizing the growing demand for an accurate and stable, equatorial mount with the versatility to carry larger instruments and more complex imaging arrays, we created the iOptron CEM120. It offers the benefits of our revolutionary “center balance” design: stability, accuracy, and smooth mechanical operation, while capable of carrying a payload up to 115 lbs (52 kg). The “center balance” design’s natural stability is due to its focusing the mount along with payloads weight directly over the center of the pier or tripod.
The CEM120's performance is demonstrated by its low periodic tracking error of ±3.5 arc seconds. Along with the stability aspect, the CEM120 features an advanced cable management system consisting of more ports in more locations preventing tangle ups and reducing the chance of fractured cables. It also adds some new features to the CEM family like Wi-Fi and LAN for remote operation and easy to use, reliable clutches on both axes.
Optional heavy duty Tri-Pier 360 and Permanent Pier are available for order.
FeaturesA new design, center-balanced equatorial mount (CEM) for maximum payload with natural stabilityObservatory astrophotography mount ideal for both visual and Astro-photographersPayload of 115 lbs (52 kg) with the mount weight of 57 lbs (26 kg)Easy to use and reliable gear clutchesPrecision altitude and azimuth adjustment.Precision stepper motor with 0.07 arcsec accuracy for precise GOTO and accurate trackingPolar alignment routine for those who can't see the Pole StarGo2Nova® 8407 V2 controller with Advanced GOTONOVA® GOTO Technology with built in heaterHigh precision tracking with low periodic error (PE)<±3.5 arcsecPermanent periodic error correction (PPEC)32-channel Global Positioning System (GPS)Built-in WiFi and LAN for remote operationIntegrated ST-4 autoguiding portAdvanced cable management system with more choicesSpring loaded, individual adjustable Losmandy saddle
PACKAGE CONTENTSCEM120 mount head x1Go2Nova 8407 V2 hand controller x110 kg counterweight x1 (free extra one for limited time)Counterweight shaft x1Hand controller cable x1Serial cable (#8412) x1
Mount Center-balanced Equatorial Mount (CEM)Payload 52kg (115 lbs), exclude counterweight*Mount weight 26kg (57 lbs)Payload/Mount weight ratio 2Material All metalLatitude adjustment range 0°~ 68° (0.5 arcmin division)**Azimuth adjustment range ± 5° (3 arcmin division)PE (by encoder) < ±3.5 arcsecWorm period 240 secPEC PPECRight Ascension worm wheel 934;216mm, 360 teeth, zero backlashDeclination worm wheel 934;216mm, 360 teeth, zero backlashWorm 934;26mmRight Ascension axle 934;80mm, steelDeclination axle 934;80mm, steelRight Ascension bearings 934;125mmDeclination bearings 934;125mmCounterweight shaft 934;38.1x 540 mm (SS, anti-slip, 4.5kg)Counterweight 10 kg (22 lbs)Mount base size 210 x 230 mmMotor drive Precision stepper motor w/128 micro-stepResolution 0.07 arc secondsSlew speed 4°/sec (960x) max.Hand Controller Go2Nova® 8407 V2, 8 line 21 character LCDPower requirement DC 12V, 5APower consumption 0.7A(Tracking),1.8A(GOTO)Polar Scope Optional electronic polar scopeMeridian treatment Stop (0-14° pass), auto flipZero position Automatic zero searchPark position Horizontal, vertical, current, alt/azi inputLevel indicator YESDovetail saddle Losmandy D, 17.2" (437mm)GPS YESGuiding port ST-4Communication port RS232, USB, LAN, WiFiCable management 2xDC12V (1A), DC5V(1A), 2xDC (5A), ST4, 6P6C, 4xUSB2.0, USB3.0 (powered), USB for PS, AUXPier/Tripod Optional pierWarranty Two year limited
* These are only guidelines. Some telescopes are very long or very big for their weight and may require a larger mount. Remember also that imaging requirements are more rigid than visual observation.
I'm about 2 weeks in here so these are early comments. I have some heavy Astrophotography gear that over the years has overloaded and worn down my old NEQ6 mount so going for an upgrade I wanted something with a significantly higher load. 52kg is more than enough. I had long considered the EQ8-R as my next mount right until I saw this at the IAS in 2019. Essentially it won the selection battle on having better connectivity, (Serial / USB / WiFi or LAN) built in GPS a significantly lighter "mobile pier" and what appears to be a better cable management system. Make no mistake this is an observatory class mount, unless like me, you are still fighting the neighbours over light, trees and planning permission in which case it just borders on being portable (when this is allowed again). I have this on the Tri-pier 360 pier base currently which offers a very solid and secure base for the mount. At 26 kg it's not easy to pick up and move but then again it's not designed to be moved regularly.If like me you are used to Skywatcher Synscan handsets the GoToNova display is a revelation as it displays all the info you need on the panel with no need for scrolling up and down, the menu takes a few days to get used to but is quite intuitive. Plugging into a computer is relatively easy either via the provided serial cable or USB 2 or LAN / WiFI I have not tried LAN yet, I don't have a long enough cable. Disappointingly the WiFi access does not seem to include access through to the USB hub on the cable management system, or if it does I haven't found the right combination of cables yet. The saddle houses the main cable outlets including a 4 port USB2 hub which I can run most of my gear on and a single USB3, which is OK for making a tidy connection to a camera in terms of cables, it could really do with a few more ports here, but It does everything I need it to so this is more of a niggle. The 12V 10A inlet for the power distribution system on the saddle seems to be different plug size to the one used to power the mount, probably a good thing as you don't want a a 10A supply frying the mount electronics. The saddle is a fixed Losmandy plate and very wide, it is too wide to accept the ADM Vixen Losmandy adaptor ( I was the customer that bought that, don't make my mistake). Because you have to slide plates in it won't take any plate where the fixing bolts protrude from the bottom by more than 1 or 2mm. After several rethinks and a long message exchange with Adam at Rother Valley we adapted a Geoptik Dual clamp type saddle by bolting it to a short plate (for spacing) and a long plate to secure the whole rig to the saddle, this now takes any scope I have easily. Another surprise for me is that in terms of counter weights it balances at pretty much a 1:1 ratio so if like me you have scopes weighing more than 20kg you may need to consider extra counterweights or finding a longer CW bar. Set-up is little different to other Equatorial mounts and here I would highly recommend the iPolar as it makes polar alignment a breeze if you are setting up from scratch each time. The Ascom controls / guide software is OK but needs work, you can use it to slew to objects on the inbuilt database but the commander software seems to go from a neutral pointing model, where the handset factors your pointing model error from the 3 star alignment process and seems to be more accurate. Guiding so far with a 400mm f5 guidescope is giving some very flat guide graphs so far. Backlash is not zero (it can't be from an engineering perspective) but minimal if compared to other mounts I've used, the magnetic preloading system does an awful lot to help this and is very effective in terms holding the load. The separate shaft lock and gear engagement is also quite unique but also very good, as one who has seen the friction pads on an NEQ6 slip it's a real point in favour of the mount. Still learning it's capabilities but would recommend this mount to anyone looking for a solid observatory class goto system
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