Avalon Instruments EVO-zero Instruction Manual

Belt drive system. compact equatorial mount

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EVO-zero

Belt Drive System

Compact Equatorial Mount

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Version 1.0.2 May 2022

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Page 1 INSTRUCTION MANUAL Version 1.0.2 May 2022 All the pictures and contents here included are property of Avalon Instruments. The contents cannot be reproduced, published, copied or transmitted in any way, including the internet, without the written permission of Avalon Instruments.
Page 2 SAFETY STANDARDS AND WARNINGS  Read the manual carefully before installing and using the mount.  To make the document easier to read in the field, we recommend that you to copy all documentation files from the supplied USB flash drive to a smartphone or, even better, to a computer or tablet.
Page 4: Table Of Contents
3. Initial EVO-zero Setting........................11 1.1 T-pod Mounting..........................11 3.2 Installing the Mount on the Tripod....................13 3.4 Latitude range settings........................13 3.3 StarGo and EVO-zero cabling connections..................18 4 Telescope Balancing Operations......................22 5. EVO-zero Alignment in Equatorial Mode.....................22 5.2 Azimuth adjustment.........................23 5.3 EVO-zero Polar Alignment......................24 5.3.1 Polar Kit (optional) Installation....................24...
Page 5: Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications Type Equatorial/Alt Az mount Weight 4,6 Kg Load Capacity Also without counterweights or with a small counterweight on depending on the setup specs Transmission Belt Drive System composed by four stage reducer with pulleys and timing belts. Construction Anodized aluminum, machined from single blocks with high material...
Page 6: Foreword
This manual describes the mounting, operation and correct setup of the EVO-zero single arm mount, including the proper installation of a suitable optical tube. Please read this manual carefully to guarantee that you can use the EVO-zero mount in complete safety and with the maximum satisfaction.
Page 7: Packing Content
Packing Content Open the box and take out all the contents. Remove all the components from the small cardboard box and from the mount bag side pocket, and place them on a clean, flat surface. Component List • Mount Head •...
Page 8: Mount Description
Mount Description The EVO-zero is a compact mount for travelling astronomy and light setup with a payload up to 13 kg, also without counterweights or with a small counterweight on depending on the setup specs The following drawing show the EVO-zero mount dimensional characteristics.
Page 9 The timing belts used in the EVO-zero have the structure made of special material with steel strands to avoid any deformation.
Page 11: Initial Evo-Zero Setting
• Pull the legs outward by extending the three tie-rods until they click in fully opened position. • By using the EVO-zero with a T-pod 90 or a T-pod 70, it will be possible to assemble the StarGo controller on one of the tripod legs thanks to the matching holespacing as described on the sequenced pictures below.
Page 12  Adjustment of the tripod height will depend on the type of telescope to be used with the mount. A Newtonian optical tube will require a minimum height because its eyepiece is placed at the distal end of the tube, close to eye height for a person of average stature.
Page 13: Installing The Mount On The Tripod
Installing the Mount on the Tripod The EVO-zero can be operated within a latitude range from about 0° to about 90° in both Equatorial and Alt/Az configurations. To facilitate packing it is shipped with a latitude setting of 0°.
Page 14 The illustrations below shows how to perform the raw and fine latitude adjustment. Remove the latitude range blocking screw Loose both the latitude blocking knobs placed on the left and right base mount sides. Move the mount base as long as the raw latitude Put back the latitude blocking screw without firmly as achieved, matching the latitude arrow tightening.
Page 15 Now is possible to perform a fine latitude When a fine latitude adjustment has been set, it is adjustment by using the latitude settings knob on possible to firmly tight the latitude blocking screw. the mount rear side. © All Rights reserved...
Page 17 The Azimuth adjustment is performed with the two Azimuth adjustment knobs circled in yellow in the image below. The fine adjustment procedure is explained in the 5.2 section. © All Rights reserved...
Page 18: Stargo And Evo-Zero Cabling Connections
IMPORTANT NOTE: the first cable to be connected must be the Safety Brake System power cable. This is a very important and fundamental operation. The EVO-zero is a clutchless mount and Avalon, in order to prevent accidentally collision due to sudden and unexpected power loss, specifically designed a Brake Safety System that immediately block the RA axis in case of power loss.
Page 19 The white cable should be connected from the StarGo RA connector plug to the EVO-zero RA Motor cable connector, whereas the black cable should be connected from the StarGo DEC plug connector to the EVO-zero mount DEC plug connector.
Page 20 The EVO-zero, as previously said, is a clutchless mount, furthermore, thanks to the Belt Drive system improved in its rigidity, with setup within the mount paiload capability, it is possible to work even if a fine balancement has not been performed.
Page 21 Operating Telescope type Picture Note mode Optical tubes Also with 8” telescopes up to 8” RCs 6,7 kg weight, as seen in and SCs and the illustration, Newtonians up nocounterweight are to 6” . required. In the Alt-azimuth operational The telescope in mode, the telescope setups do installed on the mount Any type of...
Page 22: Telescope Balancing Operations
4. Telescope Balancing Operations The EVO-zero is a clutchless mount that comes with an improved Belt Drive System. This features allow, on depending on the setup specs, to work even without counterweights or with the counterweight included. Even if, according to the basic astrophotography rules, the best performances come with a fine balanced setup, the EVO-zero has been designed to work with a certain amount of unbalancement.
Page 23 StarGo box from the corresponding plug, as shown in the images below. - Do not use any other cable. -Do not power on the Brake Safety System from any other external power source then the StarGo Box. NOTE: do not manually unlock the “Brake Safety System”...
Page 24: Evo-Zero Alignment In Equatorial Mode
EVO-zero Alignment in Equatorial Mode. The mount alignment in equatorial mode consists of adjusting the mount’s altitude and latitude such that its declination axis points exactly to the celestial North Pole. To perform such an adjustment, the actions necessary to set the altitude and the latitude of the mount to those of the observation site are described here.
Page 25: Azimuth Adjustment
Azimuth adjustment To adjust the mount in azimuth the two knobs (1a) and (1b) are turned to exert pressure against the pin. The adjustment is performed using both hands: When one of the knobs is rotated in one direction it is necessary to rotate the other knob in the opposite direction at the same time and in the same number (or fraction) of turns.
Page 26: Evo-Zero Polar Alignment
EVO-zero Polar Alignment Currently are available several methods, easy and accurate, that can be performed via software and without any accessory thanks to the Plate Solve function. This feature is really helpful and can works even in case the Polaris is not visible.
Page 27: Polar Alignment With A Polarscope
The picture below shows the Skywatcher polarscope reticle. For an accurate polar alignment with Avalon Instruments mounts it doesn’t matter for the constellation position. The reference point it will be the small circle that represent the Polaris position or a defined degree in the graduated circle.
Page 28 operations should be performed: Once the correct position of the small Polaris circle has been established, the following operations should be performed: 1. Slightly loosen the black knurled side knobs to allow the Latitude (altitude) movement. 2. Put the polar scope’s star diagonal in a comfortable position and tighten all knobs in this position.
Page 29: External Programs For Finding Polar Position
5.3.4 External Programs for Finding Polar Position Many apps exist to determine the position of Polaris compared to the exact position of the celestial North Pole. Only two of these apps are discussed in this section. However the same concepts described here are applicable to all other existing apps. “Polar Scope Align”...
Page 30: More Modern And Precise Approaches To Polar Alignment
This adapter is provided as an optional one among the several accessories for the mount. The Avalon Instruments has also developed a special software that, among several others functions, has a tool to perform a precise polar alignment using the “plate solving”...

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