Posts Made By: Michael Simons

I have a C-11 built around 1987 plus or minus a year or two (black tube). Would it be more cost effective to get Celestron's CI-700 GEM for my OTA ($1,600 through Astronomics). Or, scrap the whole thing (or sell it) and buy the new Celestron Nexstar 11 GPS ($2,999)? I'm trying to balance cost vs. quality of the outcome.

I appreciate your responses!

thanks!

Is it possible to attach Lumicon digital setting circles to Celestron's CI-700 Mount? What hardware is needed?

Does anyone know if any company (or individual) makes a kit to convert the Celestron CI-700 mount into a GoTo mount?

I have a Celestron CI-700 mount. It seems that, even when I have the OTA balanced, the motors seem to be working hard to slew. The worms are much easier to turn manually with the knobs (disengaged from the motors) when the clutches are loose as compared to when the clutches are tight and engaged with the shaft/bearings/dovetail/OTA.

Are there any web sites that detail how to adjust/tune-up the mount? Or, does anyone have the info that they can post on this thread?

What are your experiences with this mount?

I am basically happy with the mount and, with it, I have enjoyed many observing sessions.

I am currently saving up for a Losmandy Gemini GoTo add-on for the mount and I am concerned that the Losmandy motors will struggle with the worms, so to speak.

-- Mike

Has anyone had any experience with how good Celestron's customer service is regarding sending the OTA in for cleaning/collimating?

I have a Celestron CI-700 mount (bought it last Christmas). It seems that,
even when I have the OTA balanced, the motors seem to be working hard to
slew. The worms are much easier to turn manually with the knobs (disengaged
from the motors) when the clutches are disengaged as compared to when the
clutches are tight and engaged with the shaft/bearings/dovetail/OTA.

Are there any web sites that detail how to adjust/tune-up the mount? Or,
does anyone have the info that they can post on this thread?

Also, it's a good thing I'm kind of "mechanical" because I have had to
tighten several of the hex (Allen wrench-type) tiny "lock bolts" that secure
the motors/knobs to their shafts. Has anyone had any experience with using
Lock-Tite compound on the screws/bolts on the mount when they loosen?

Are there any up-grades to the mount such as more "beefier" RA and DEC
clutches? It seems that, even when I have these clutches well tightened, it
is still possible to move the OTA if accidentally slightly pushed/bumped in
the dark, so to speak.

I am basically happy with the mount and, with it, I have enjoyed many
observing sessions.

What are your experiences with this mount?

I am currently saving up for a Losmandy Gemini GoTo add-on for the mount and
I am concerned that the Losmandy motors will struggle with the worms, so to
speak and that the clutches will hold tight.

-- Mike

I have a Celestron CI-700 mount (bought it last Christmas). It seems that,
even when I have the OTA balanced, the motors seem to be working hard to
slew. The worms are much easier to turn manually with the knobs (disengaged
from the motors) when the clutches are disengaged as compared to when the
clutches are tight and engaged with the shaft/bearings/dovetail/OTA.

Are there any web sites that detail how to adjust/tune-up the mount? Or,
does anyone have the info that they can post on this thread?

Also, it's a good thing I'm kind of "mechanical" because I have had to
tighten several of the hex (Allen wrench-type) tiny "lock bolts" that secure
the motors/knobs to their shafts. Has anyone had any experience with using
Lock-Tite compound on the screws/bolts on the mount when they loosen?

Are there any up-grades to the mount such as more "beefier" RA and DEC
clutches? It seems that, even when I have these clutches well tightened, it
is still possible to move the OTA if accidentally slightly pushed/bumped in
the dark, so to speak.

I am basically happy with the mount and, with it, I have enjoyed many
observing sessions.

What are your experiences with this mount?

I am currently saving up for a Losmandy Gemini GoTo add-on for the mount and
I am concerned that the Losmandy motors will struggle with the worms, so to
speak and that the clutches will hold tight.

-- Mike

On my Celestron CI-700 mount, when I have it hooked up to the 110v to 12v Celestron
power supply, the motors work fine at all speeds including 20x.

When I hook the mount up to my truck's cigarette lighter socket (and
I also tried it with my wife's car), the tracking speed seems to
work OK and also 16x speed.

However, when I try 20x (by holding one button and then the opposite
button on the hand controller) both RA and DEC motors (independently)
slow down to a crawl.

When I put my ear to each motor, 1x sidereal and 16x sound good but
at 20x the motors seem to make a "growling" sound with the car
battery -- which is not the case with the 110 power supply.

Any Ideas?

Thanks!

--Mike

Should I add a Gemini GoTo system to my Celestron CI-700 mount or should I spend more money to get the Losmandy G-11 with the Gemini system installed ($1,600 vs. $3,200)?
Of course, I would then try to sell the CI-700. My CI-700 has the encoder kit installed which apparently makes the Gemini easier to use in case the telescope is moved manually.

Thank-you for your opinions on this matter!!