About this product
Model: cel_focus_motor_sct_edgehd
Part Number: 94155-A-CGL
Latest model with various improvements and support for 9.25" EdgeHD OTAs
The Focus Motor for SCT & EdgeHD provides electronic focusing for Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT) and EdgeHD telescope optical tubes. With the focus motor installed, you can bring celestial objects into sharp, precise focus using your telescope’s hand controller or a computer instead of using the focuser knob. A focus motor is great for visual observers who want to dial in exact focus (especially those with dexterity issues) and a must-have accessory for astroimagers. With a motorized focuser installed, an astroimager no longer needs to be physically near the telescope to focus an image. Combined with computerized control of the mount and camera, the focus motor enables the imager to gather data remotely from a backyard observatory, or even a telescope located hundreds of miles away. As an added bonus, port covers protect the ports while not in use, and the covers cannot be lost due to the tethered design.
Compatible Optical Tubes
The focus motor is compatible with all SCTs from 6” to 14” in aperturethat have been produced since the year 2006. It is not compatible with 5” SCTs or older models. It is compatible with all EdgeHD optical tubes, the 8” Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA), the 36cm RASA, and the 7” Maksutov-Cassegrain. It can also be used with the 11” RASA, but requires the Focuser Retrofit Kit for RASA 11.
Power Options
There are three options for powering your Celestron Focus Motor:
When using a Celestron computerised mount, you can power and control the focus motor through the mount using the supplied AUX cable. This allows control from the mount’s hand controller (NexStar+ or StarSense) or a computer.
If you are not using a Celestron mount, you can power and control the focus motor from a computer USB port. You will need a user supplied USB A-to-B cable.
You may also opt to use an external 12V DC power source which plugs into the motor’s power jack.
Compatible Software
Celestron offers a free Focuser Utility program for computer control. The Celestron PWI software can also control the focus motor. To use third-party focuser control software, an ASCOM driver is needed.
Specifications
Motor | DC servo motor |
Spur Gears | Brass, 1:1 gear ratio, 38mm diameter, 45 teeth |
Focuser Shaft Coupler | Aluminium clamping sleeve |
Microprocessor | NXP Kinetis series, Arm Coretex-M4 core |
AUX port power | Powered by Celestron computerized mount AUX port, connecting cable supplied |
USB port power | USB3 or USB2 providing at least 900mA |
DC jack power | 12V DC, 1A, 5.5mm/2.1mm tip positive plug |
Compatibility | All SCTs produced after 2006 except 5" SCT, all Edge HD, RASA 8", RASA 36cm, 7" Mak-Cass |
Speed rates | 8°/sec , 32°/sec , 128°/sec |
Downloads / Manuals
The following manuals and downloads are available for this product:
Manuals
Focus Motor Instruction Manual (PDF)
Focus Motor Setup Guide (PDF)
Other product files
Focus Motor Installation for the RASA 36cm (PDF)
Celestron Focuser Utility Program (.exe file)
Focuser ASCOM driver (Directory)
Customer reviews
Average Rating (9 Reviews): | |
02 March 2024 | Matthew
but this was surprisingly easy to install all the relevant drivers, software etc and works like a dream.
Make sure you install CPWI for it all to work well.
Thanks FLO. Excellent as always.
Easier to get sharp focus with this 11 September 2020 | Mark
I bought this to go with my C9.25 to alleviate wobble at the eyepiece when re-focusing. It does that very well, but I also found I'm getting sharper focus as it's a lot more accurate than my aging hands are.
It took around an hour to install, but much of that was watching you tube videos to make sure I got it right. The instructions are good, but there's a few things you need to be careful with, as that a previous reviewer pointed out. I've mounted mine sideways to give more clearance, but with the tube well forward, there's no issues with going to the zenith.
On my Evolution there's a single cable which supplies power and control to the focuser, making it easy to set up. It automatically integrates with the hand-controller, providing a new option on the menu. (If you don't see the new option on older controllers, be sure to upgrade the controller firmware with a newer version). Focus is controlled using the "scroll" buttons which are easily identified in the dark, meaning the control of both focusing and movement can be done without taking your eye away from the eyepiece.
It fits and works well with the Focal Reducer f/6.3, which requires a big change in focus position when swapping in and out. With the motor you can just tap in the position and let it get on with it.
Noise wise, it's no louder than the slewing motor, so shouldn't annoy any sleeping neighbours.
Expensive add on, but well worth it in my opinion.
Celestron Focus Motor for SCT 09 July 2020 | Richard
Excellent service as usual from FLO - I'm using the focuser on an Edge 9.25 and it fits easily and neatly on this scope and sits clear with or without the Celestron 0.7 reducer. The celestron software provided works well and no problem achieving focus with Bahtinov mask but did have difficulty with software crashing using ascom driver although only had quick try with this and probably down to me not setting it up properly.
Satisfait à tout point de vue 23 June 2020 | Patrick
1 - moins cher chez FLO qu'ailleurs
2 - livraison très rapide (2 jours) par DHL
3 - produit facile à installer
4 - mode d'emploi détaillé en Français, ce qui est rare
5 - et enfin satisfait du moteur de mise au point
30 April 2020 | Stefano
Perfetto!!
22 April 2020 | Jens
An absolutely worthwhile accessory. You should be careful when installing. The cover on the C8, which must be reinstalled, must not be too tight. Otherwise it will be difficult to adjust the mirror.
Very useful item - I love it 31 October 2019 | Ivan
Great product. Easy to install and easy to use. Allows for remote focusing. Focusing procedure can be automated in the imaging software.
From now on I think I will not be able to go without it.
Excellent addition to Celestron accessories 30 August 2019 | Robert
Particularly useful with a Celestron computerised mount BUT, whether using with a Celestron mount or other brand, it's essential that it's calibrated to your particular scope to ensure that the "Move To" a particular index point works. Installation is straightforward if you follow the instructions BUT (another one because the instructions don't mention this) ensure that your scopes focuser is set at roughly mid-way before starting the calibration routine.. This is because the motors first movement when calibrating is clockwise and if your focuser is screwed too close to its clockwise limit the focus motor can't start its calibration routine and will jam (as mine did!). Otherwise calibration is simply a case of pressing buttons and leaving the motor to do its job. Once calibrated the "Move To" routine is also straightforward and accurate, which means that, having achieved focus with different EPs, camera etc. those index positions can be noted and used when those bits of kit are to be focused again. The "Move To" facility doesn't have to be used because both the Celestron handsets and the Celestron Focuer Utility programme enable the motor to be moved in "MoveIn/MoveOut" mode in any event and which, of course, needs to be used for initial focusing to aquire index positions. The motor weighs about 15ozs so check your balance.
11 April 2019 | Gordon
Surprised how small this focuser is, set up was very easy with calibration etc.
Not had a chance to try it out yet.
Thank You First Light Optics for your Great sevice
FAQ
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