Project:
HEQ5 as portable mount

Contents:

1. Introduction
2. EQDIRECT from D-sub to RJ45
3. Power terminal of HEQ5 changed
4. Installing the 300 mm lens on HEQ5
5. Rewiring the electric cables
6. Connecting the Raspberry
7. Setup GPSD
8. Setup GPS NMEA
9. Power consumption
10. Battery power cables
11. Tweaking auto guiding parameters
12. Rowan Belt Modification Kit
13. Making the tripod to a low rider
14. Redesign of mount head details
15. Raspberry Pi4 bracket
16. Brackets: temperature sensor, spirit level and stepper motor
17. Transport box
18. EQDirect cable
19. Brackets reinforced and adapt it to EQ6
20. Cut the length of the GPS cable
21. HEQ5 and TS130 refractor ?
22. To be continued

Related projects:

1. HEQ5 as portable mount
2. Pentax 645 300 mm ED IF f/4 lens
3. KStars / EKOS and Raspberry Pi4

Note:
I take no responsibility or liability for what are written here, you use the information on your own risk!

3: Power terminal of HEQ5 changed

The power terminal of the HEQ5 mount is as bad as it's on the EQ6 mount. It can very easily drop out of its socket, then the mount loses its power and you have to calibrate the position again. And that when you are ready to a start batch of photographing sequences in one of the few clear sky you get.

The power connector and the two screws that hold the lid. The lid is made of plastic.

Open it up and localize the power terminals points on the circuit board. My plan is to solder cables here and have an external cable with a contact with a lock.

The polarity must be correct, if not the mount is gone! On this terminal the tip is the positive, 12 Volt. To the right is the red power indicator.

Use a multi instrument to check where it's connected.

Solder two new cable of area 0.65 mm². Made a knot on the cable to lock it in position.

Drilled a hole in the chassi to let the cable out, placed a rubber ring to save the cable from wear.

Twin the cable and crimp / solder two male connectors.

Install the cable pin connecter in its house with its lock mechanism. Now it's ready for use and I can still use the old power terminal.