ZWO AM5N Harmonic Mount - Guiding You Have to See to Believe!

[@AstroBlender]

NOTE: ZWO has sent me an email explaining that the saddle power output is 12V, 5A, not 3A as stated in the video. They said that the "3A" is the input that is required, but the output is 5A, so it should be able to power your typical setup without issue.

[@chenjack4766]

Thanks for that! I have the similar setup with you. Just wondering what main camera you are using for RASA 8.

[@Thunder_Dome45]

Interesting. I can see the confusion but I am more confused now. Is there an amp step up in the Dec plate or something? I'm looking for a manual I can't see all the menu on their site on my phone.

[@pzellerphoto]

I`ve just received my AM5N today and what`s most amazing to me is the dramatically reduced periodic error. Per definition, they came down from +/- 20 to +/-10 and mine is - regarding to the report - below 5" with an average total of 7,5" - Thanks for your wonderful and conclusive review. Can`t wait for the next CS!

[@cheems418]

I'm a newbie at astrophotography and got the AM5N as my first mount. I have no frame of reference but I think its awesome

[@Thunder_Dome45]

I get mine in a few days. Forecast partly cloudy and windy, followed later in the week by thunderstorms. Typical. I got a 10lbs counter weight setup too, mostly for the 115edt refractor. It can be heavy with guide scope, and all the other stuff on there.

[@DavidsStars]

Nice! What type of tripod are you using?

[@WiseOldOwl3]

Cody, what do you do with the finished images? Print or create something?

[@derekbaker3279]

Thanks for another authentic & helpful review! My only disappointment is that the power from the saddle is limited to 12V and 3A. What would it have taken for ZWO to offer 5A from the saddle output? Otherwise, the improvements seem good.

[@AstroBlender]

I just got an email from ZWO that the max output of the saddle is 5A. They state the "3A" is the input but the output is 5A for the saddle.

[@jimwaters304]

@@AstroBlender Still confusing.

[@DavidMcCullough-yg8xr]

Interesting. I'm getting the same RMS with an AM5 (not N) that I purchased a few months ago. Periodic error is also below 10. Guides the same with a light load or up to 28 lbs. I too was shocked to see the RMS run consistently in the .2-.4 range. I wonder if the very recent AM5's have the same internal specs of the AM5N but with the older case? No matter because I'm extremely pleased with the mount. My back is also much happier after dealing with an ancient Orion Atlas EQ-G for 15 years ;)

[@blayzer8871]

Hi, I bought my AM5 at the beginning of the year. There was an upgrade during the production and they put the arc sec error down from 20 to 15 or lower. My AM5 has a error of about max. 11-12.

[@alenpo46]

You are using usb-c male to usb-a male cable to connect mount with asiair? Because usb-c connector on asiair is just for file download? Or it can also be used for mount control?

[@ProfessorMarkLewis]

I have the same question. As I understand it, that USB-C connection is for PC download of files saved in the emmc, or for 5V power in for the ASIAIR.

[@Othman1992on]

Is that Meade telescope the 10" f4 one? Would love to see the guiding performance on that particular scope without and with the counterweight. That would be interesting.

[@tomb9420]

Thats pretty cool !

[@Mike-mr8ui]

What is that tripod you are using? Thanks.

[@sjpp71]

Great review! How noisy is this mount compared to an Eq6r-pro? Thanks.

[@SKYST0RY]

With harmonic drive mounts, are you supposed to keep your load to half the weight limit, like with GEM mounts?

[@blayzer8871]

Great video! I own the "old" AM5 and Im realy happy with it. I have 2 setups at the moment and also some scopes for visual/planetary imaging. (115mm Lzos with IMX533, FRA300 with IMX571 both for photo and a Intes 180mm Mak and a 80mm Apo for visual/planetary) All of the scopes are handels well by the mount. Because I want to image with both setups at the same time or want to image with one and do visual/planatery with the other one I want to buy a second mount. at the moment Im thinking of the AM3 or a second AM5(N). The AM3 is nice because its smaller and even more light weight, but aslo the AM5 isnt that big and the new N can handle even more. What do you think? AM5N or AM3?

[@AstroBlender]

Tough choice. The AM3 is quite a bit cheaper, so if it suits all your needs I’d probably go with that. However the integrated cable management on the AM5N is really nice to have, and having 2 AM5’s would not be a bad thing!

[@jimwaters304]

What's the backlash like? How is dithering on the AM5N?

[@area51xi]

But can it park. I benched my AM5 due to inability to park properly in a way that allows my ROR to close.

[@robertgrenader858]

is that a Celestron tripod modified to hold an AM5N? How did you do it?

[@AstroBlender]

Yes, it’s very stable with the AM5. I have a video here: How to Mount the ZWO AM5 to a Celestron AVX Tripod kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH_ZqmSCnJZgZ9U

[@KJRitch]

The ZWO PE200 pier has an adapter for the AVX mount.

[@AstroBlender]

It does indeed, which will be my next purchase for the AM5N.

[@Vantage79]

What tripod are you using with the new AM5N??

[@AstroBlender]

It’s a Celestron Advanced VX tripod. I have an older video on how to attach it as well as a new video on attaching it here: How to Mount the ZWO AM5 to a Celestron AVX Tripod - Part II kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJbbcmaci9aBr6s

[@srikanthmeg]

What was the wind speed when the guiding graph was shown? How does the mount perform when the wind speed is b/w 15 and 20 kmph? 20kmph is the max I usually take photos using my eq6-r

[@monteroder2708]

Would you be willing to share the kind of tripod you are using and any adapters necessary for it. Also the type of guide scope and guide camera? Thanks

[@anthonyrobida]

It looks like a Celestron AVX tripod, use to have one.

[@jmoreno6094]

Do you know where the increased payload capacity w.r.t. AM5 comes from ? What is changed from mechanical ppint of view?. I thing they just changed the number in the brochure...

[@Tom-u9j7f]

Which tripod are you using with the AM5N review? Thx

[@AstroBlender]

It’s a Celestron Advanced VX Tripod as seen in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJbbcmaci9aBr6s

[@SonnyPruitt-q1s]

I have never owned a telescope but was wanting to capture planets AND galaxy,I was wanting to put together a setup where I could put it on my patio and let it run without me standing there all night..a set it and forget type thing,I like this mount,what telescope and other things will I need to accomplish my goal? Thank You.

[@derek7793]

How much does you lxd75 weigh?

[@KJRitch]

I have a C8 with OAG, ASI174mm mini and ASI071MC Pro. When you tested with of Edge HD 8” were you able to dither successfully? Thanks.

[@publiux]

Do you think this mount will be good enough for a C9.25 EdgeHD with an OAG, camera, etc?

[@AstroBlender]

My original AM5 worked well (see my original video if interested), but for me the AM5 had to be mounted on a sturdy tripod for the C9.25 Edge to be effective.

[@kevincraig]

I've only had one session with my Edge HD 9.25 on this mount and it went really smooth. 0.5-0.8 arc second guiding with the Antlia OAG and ASI220MM mini guide cam. Main camera is ASI2600MC

[@captaincook6666]

Hi Cody. I've just done reviews of my AM5 & askar 103 if you're interested. Over 45 hours got 0.68 RMS. Latest AM5 models had +-10 arcs periodic errors like the N version.

[@ravimalik283]

What tripod is that?

[@AstroBlender]

It’s a Celestron Advanced VX tripod.

[@whatmattersmost6725]

Hi Cody, now what testing with your SN10? I bet not as good? What about a 1200mm Refractor?

[@AstroBlender]

I have only used the SN10 visually so far because I’m afraid to run it into the mount as I don’t have a pier extension. I’d imagine it would have higher guiding numbers, but still good. That would be fun to image with it. It has a huge secondary mirror, so I l’m sure it would work well with APS-C.

[@whatmattersmost6725]

@@AstroBlender I have the sn10 and would love for you to test the AM5n auto guiding please. Also test with a 1000mm scope with the AM5n please. TY

[@AstroBlender]

I’ll probably give it a shot soon. I have a couple other videos to finish up. I think that would be a fun one to do though.

[@whatmattersmost6725]

@@AstroBlender To bad you don't also have a AM5, so we can be 100% sure the AM5n is better, certainly the marketing is! Thank you

[@AstroBlender]

The AM5N is way better than my original AM5, that I can say for sure.

[@anthonyrobida]

How does it compare with CGX?

[@AstroBlender]

There isn’t really any comparison. My AM5 is a far better mount than my CGX, and is far lighter too. The only thing I still use my CGX for is planetary work, which it works very well for.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Nice.

[@jesuschrist2284]

Looks like a lot of mass a long ways from ra axis

[@area51xi]

I've actually talked to a lot of ZWO tech support people about the parking issue. The current "park" position is nonsensical. Don't get me wrong, the AM5 was my first real mount and will always hold a special place for me. However, for an automated ROR with limited height, there's a serious issue with possible collisions due to the difficulty with parking. The workaround is to set a specific Alt/Az but it's still janky and some days just refuses to move to that spot. ZWO really needs to allow multiple park positions include one that is user defined. I ended up getting a Mach2GTO. Not a fair comparison and a totally different class of mount but Astro-Physics attention to detail is amazing. The Mach2 has 6 parking pre-sets 2 of which do exactly what I need and it also allows for a user defined park position. This seems like it should be a software solution but ZWO just doesn't seem to get it.

[@AstroBlender]

Yeah that doesn’t make much sense for the only home position to have the telescope pointing up towards a roof. I didn’t think about it, but then again, I don’t have a ROR! I haven’t noticed any other options for parking at a user defined setting though, so I don’t think there has been any changes made there from ZWO.

[@area51xi]

I’ll keep pushing them on the forum. I guess most of their users just don’t use this mount in an ROR so it’s not a high priority problem for them to solve.

[@AshA-ww8hc]

What software are you using? In nina I just set Alt 0 / AZ 270 command and it parks my reflector horizontally with no issues at the end of each sequence.

[@area51xi]

@@AshA-ww8hc I'm using Voyager. I find that it's not the software. It's the ZWO driver/mount losing it's position. If you go into the Advanced settings tab of the AM5 mount app, you can click on "clear align data" and everything works again. However, you have to do this periodically as it will eventually become unresponsive to slewing again.

[@m1thumb]

Not quite ready to get a strain wave mount, but they keep looking better.

[@AstroBlender]

I like your username. :D I’ve never tried giving myself Garand Thumb, but it would be interesting to try. That said, they’re quite amazing. For those of us without permanent observatories I get out way more often due to how light they are.

[@EugeneRu777]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@bedfordbeds]

I achieve 0.08' total when guiding using my AM5 that is just over a year old, the scope is an eight inch SCT with the ASI174mm for guiding with a WO 50 mm Uniguide scope.

[@RonMatthews-q6h]

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