This strong German equatorial mount with GoTo capabilities, has two body parts which you can split for easy carrying and assembly. It uses exclusive 10Micron HPS technology in the absolute axis-encoders and high performances motor drives. The mount has an amazing payload capacity of up to a huge 50 kg (110-pounds).
Evolving perfection.
The GM2000 HPS II Combi mount, is built for the demanding imager using photographic instruments weighing up to 50 kg (110-pounds), before the counterweights.
Two servo motors
Movements are driven by two servo brushless motor with timing belt reduction and having zero backlash. Both axes feature a classic worm to wormwheel pairing. The wormwheels are made of bronze (B14), with a diameter of 172 mm and 215 teeth, while the worms are made of alloy steel with a diameter of 24 mm. The axes themselves are made of 50 mm diameter alloy steel, for maximum rigidity. This mount is basically a GM2000 HPS II Ultraport (splittable into two parts) with an additional locking system.
Beside the quick locking system, which is very useful carrying and assembling the mount in the field, the designers added a further locking system. This second set of locks are for customers who have the mount permanently installed in an observatory. This will ensure great, long-term stability, comparable to a GM2000 HPS II Monolith. You can easily revert the mount in a portable/ splittable version simply by removing the locking screws. In this way, you can have both the advantages of the previous models in a single mount.
New combined mount
The new GM2000 HPSII Combi replaces both the Monolit and Ultraport models. The technical specifications, size, and weight of the new GM2000 HPSII Combi are exactly the same as those of the GM2000 HPS II.
Electronics and control
The electronics is housed in an independent control box, easily removable. The connections of the mount and the keypad feature security lock screws. The mount can be controlled using the included keypad, without connecting an external PC. The keypad was designed to maintain the maximum readability in all lighting conditions. Both the display and the ergonomic keys allow for the use of gloves and feature a red back-light. A heater keeps the display warm, for usage in below freezing temperatures.
The mount can be controlled using the most common software packages: by connecting it to a PC with the RS-232 serial port or the Ethernet connection; via the 10Micron ASCOM driver; or the Meade compatible command protocol. Furthermore, dedicated software (also included with the mount) can be used to create a virtual keypad, replicating exactly the functions of the physical keypad. The RS-232 port can also be used to control an external dome. This flexibility makes the GM2000HPS an ideal mount for local observatories and remote observing sites.
Database and pointing accuracy
The object database contains many star catalogs and deep-sky objects up to the 16th magnitude. Solar system objects can be tracked so that their motion is compensated with respect to the stars. You may load orbital elements of comets, asteroids and artificial satellites into the mount, so that these objects can be tracked directly using the keypad (without any external PC).
Pointing is made accurate through the usage of a model containing up to 100 stars, which allows for the correction of the classical polar alignment and conic errors, and also of the most important flexure terms of the optical tube. In this way, it is possible to obtain pointing accuracies of the order of 20 arcseconds RMS. The same model can be used to obtain the maximum tracking accuracy, compensating also for the atmospheric refraction (depending on the local atmospheric pressure and temperature).
A series of auxiliary functions is provided to help the user for quick mount alignment to the celestial pole. You may also save and recover the alignment data of different observing sessions. This function is very useful if you have many instruments in different setups, each one requiring different flexure corrections. Tracking through the meridian, a typical problem with German mounts, is solved allowing for tracking for up to 30° past the meridian (configurable), in both directions. In this way, any object can be tracked for at least four hours. The tracking accuracy makes autoguiding unnecessary for many uses. The absolute encoders on both axes allow you to obtain a typical tracking error of less than 1 arcsecond.
Autoguiding and other functions
It is also possible to autoguide if you choose. This is easily done using the ST4-compatible port or through the serial/Ethernet connection, with a guide rate configurable from 0.1x to 1x. The guide rate can be automatically corrected for the declination of the target, so that there is no need to recalibrate the autoguide when observing at different declinations.
Among the other functions, you will find the Electronically-assisted Balance and the ability of Parking the mount in different user-defined positions.
Ultra-portable
Designed for field use, the ultra-portable version is easily divided into two parts. All electrical connections are made automatically when assembling the mount. The biggest piece has a weight of only 15 kg (33-pounds), and in combination with the Centaurus II at 21 kg (46-pounds) you will obtain a winning combination for the mobile observer.
The GM2000 can be supplied also in a special version for very low temperature operations: ask our team if interested.
Specifications Chart:
Please call OPT for assistance with this item. We also have full accessory packages with tripod, weights, dovetail plate, and professional PLB transport resin cases available.
GM2000 HPS II Mount with built-in precision absolute axis-encoders.
Control box with onboard-intelligence (Linux-processor).
V. 2 – HPS version firmware.
Stand alone system (no PC required) professional hand control unit with graphic display and temperature control.
10M5030 cables.
Counterweight bar.
Strong transport carton-box with shaped foam.
10M2066 WiFi option.
Product Reviews
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