iOptron CEM70G User manual

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
Quick Start Guide
CEM70™ Center-balanced GoTo Equatorial Mount
Models: CEM70, CEM70G, CEM70W, CEM70EC, CEM70EC2 & CEM70-NUC
PACKAGE CONTENTS1
CEM70 mount with internal iPolarTM electronic Polar Scope
Hand Controller (HC) –Go2Nova® 8410
Counterweight –21 lbs (9.5 kg)
Stainless steel counterweight shaft
Built-in GPS module
Hand controller coiled cables
USB cable
AC adapter –100/240V (DC output 12V/5A, indoor use only)
Hard case
Quick Start Guide (this document)
ONLINE RESOURCES (at www.iOptron.com, under Support)
User’s Manual
Hand controller and mount firmware upgrades (check online for the latest version)
ASCOM and Commander for computer control
Discount coupon code for TheSkyTM Imaging Edition
1The design, contents and packaging may change from time to time without notice. Tri-pier not included
Ver 3.0 Nov. 2022

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
STOP!!! Carefully read this Guide BEFORE setting up and using the equipment!
Worm/gear damages due to improper uses are not covered by warranty.
WARNING: Never disengage Gear Switches without holding the mount firmly! Fail to do so
may result in personal injuries and/or equipment damages.
1. Remove mount head from package: The RA axle is
locked by an Allen wrench. Make sure it is inserted
all the way in. Check the R.A. and DEC Gear
Switches and make sure they are at the unlock
position before removing it from the box.
2. Attach the mount: The mount has a 152mm base,
which can be mounted onto an iOptron tri-pier,
LiteRoc tripod, or your own tripod/pier with two M8
threaded mounting holes separated 130mm in
diameter
Hold mount head while remove the Allen wrench
from the RA yoke. Turn the RA gear switch to
locking position to prevent RA free swing.
Two mounting screws are installed on the base.
Rotate the mount to align the screws to the tripod
mounting holes. Insert the wrench into the holes on
the base where azimuth locking screws are located.
Store the wrench inside the base. The wrench size is
6mm.
Level the mount by adjusting the tripod legs. Use
the build-in Bubble Level Indicator or an external
level for this purpose.
3. Adjust latitude: Without any payload, loosen the
Latitude Locking Clamps about a quarter (1/4) turn
with the Allen wrench.
Turn the Latitude Adjustment Knob until the arrow
points to your current latitude on the Latitude
Scale. There are fine scales on the Knob, as shown
in the photo. Tighten the Latitude Locking Clamps
when done.

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
4. Install counterweight (CW) shaft: The CW shaft
system is a two part configuration. It comes with
preinstalled top part of the shaft. Just simply
thread the CW shaft onto it.
[TIP: If you latitudes is lower than 10°, please refer
to the full online manual to adjust the
counterweight shaft position to avoid CW bumping
into tripod leg.]
5. Install counterweight(s): Before putting on CW,
make sure the mount is at its zero position, i.e., CW
shaft points to the ground. Disengage the R.A.
Gear Switch to set the R.A. axis free before loading
the CW. Remove the CW Safety Cap at the end of
CW Shaft. Glide the CW over the shaft with the
larger hole opening facing down. Place the Safety
Cap back onto the shaft. Move the CW to the
bottom of the shaft and tighten the CW locking
Screw.
You may need more CW for heavier payloads, or a
smaller CW for lighter scopes.
6. Install telescope: CEM70 is equipped with a
Vixen/Losmandy-D dual saddle. It can receive either
a Vixen or a Losmandy-D plate. Release the dovetail
saddle locking knobs and slide the telescope
dovetail plate into the saddle. Tighten the saddle
locking knobs.
7. Balancing the payload: After attaching the scope
and accessories, the mount head assembly must be
balanced in both DEC and RA axes to ensure
minimum stresses on the mount driving
mechanism.
CAUTION: The telescope may swing freely when
the R.A. or DEC Gear Switch is disengaged. Always
hold on to the mount and/or telescope assembly
before releasing the Gear Switches to prevent it
from swinging, which can cause personal injuries
and/or equipment damages.
Set the mount at Zero Position. Disengage both RA
and DEC gear switches and move the mount to
horizontal position to check balance. Return to
Zero Position for balance adjustment. Balance the
DEC axis by moving the scope with accessories back
and forth in the mount saddle or within the scope
mounting rings. Balance the assembly in R.A. axis
by moving CW along its shaft. Repeat the process
until both DEC and RA axes are balanced.
CAUTION: The balancing process MUST be done
with Gear Switch at the total disengaged position!
Otherwise it might damage the worm system.
Return the mount to Zero Position after balancing
and engage gear switches.
8. Connecting cables: Plug in a 12V DC power supply
to the DC12V power socket (size 5.5mm/2.5mm).

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
Connect the Go2Nova®8407 Hand Controller to the
HBX port on the mount base panel.
CEM70G/CEM70W/CEM70-NUC Power and HC
connection
CEM70 Power and HC connection
Refer to the full User’s Manual on how to use the
cable management system.
9. Polar alignment: CEM70 mounts are equipped with
an iPolarTM electronic polar scope. To perform polar
alignment, please refer to CEM70 User’s Manual, or
iPolar Operation Manual from iOptron’s website, or
follow steps briefly outlined below:
Download and install iPolar Software (first
time use);
Connect a USB cable between the iPolar
port on the mount or the USB 3.0 port and
a computer, depending on a model;
Run iPolar Software and start polar
alignment by following on screen
instructions.
For the mount without polar scope, please refer to
full manual for Bright Star Alignment, or use
software to assist alignment.
10. Manual operation: The mount can now be used to
observe astronomical objects with the HC. Use
arrow keys (►, ◄, ▼,and ▲) to point the
telescope to desired objects. Use the number keys
to change the slewing speed. Press the STOP/0
button to start or stop tracking.
11. Set controller: Press the MENU button; then
Settings => Set Time and Site.
Before GPS picks up signals (before displaying GPS
OK), check for Daylight Saving Time using arrow key
to toggle between Yand N. Enter the time zone
offset to the UTC; for examples:
Boston is “UTC -300 minutes”
Los Angeles is “UTC -480 minutes”
Rome is “UTC +060 minutes”
Sydney is “UTC +600 minutes”
Waiting for the mount to pick up the GPS (you’ll
hear beep). If the GPS is “OK’d” during setup, just
power cycle the mount. Double check the HC
display and it should show correct local time.
[TIPS: All time zones in N. America are “UTC -XXX
minutes”. Latitude and longitude coordinates can
be obtained from GPS-equipped devices (navigator,
phone), or from internet and entered manually, in
case GPS cannot receive enough satellites signals
(unplug the GPS module) or GPS malfunctions.
“W/E” = western/eastern hemisphere; “N/S” =
northern/southern hemisphere. Use arrow and
number keys to enter location and time
information.]
12. Set Zero Position: The Set Zero Position command
registers the current position as zero position. So
before registering, the mount should be physically
set at Zero Position either manually or slewed by
hand controller. The Zero Position is defined as the

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
telescope being on top of the mount head and
pointing to North Pole, with CW shaft pointing to
the ground. To register, press MENU => Zero
Position => Set Zero Position. Press ENTER to
confirm. One can also use MENU => Zero Position
=> Search Zero Position to set the Zero Position.
13. Go to an object: The mount is now ready for GOTO
and tracking targets. Press MENU, select and ENTER
Select and Slew. Select a category (e.g., Solar
System), then select an object of interest (e.g.,
Moon). Press ENTER and the telescope will slew to
the object and automatically start tracking.
14. Sync to target: If the object is not in the center of
the eyepiece, use this function to center and
synchronize the object to improve local GOTO
accuracy. Press MENU and select and ENTER Sync to
Target. Follow the on-screen instruction to perform
the sync.
[TIP: After slewing to an object, a list of nearby
bright object(s) can be displayed by pressing the ?
button.]
15. Computer connection and autoguiding: Please
refer to CEM70 product page for mount computer
control.
16. Put the mount back into the package/carrying
case: It is recommended to return the mount to
Zero Position at the end of the observing session.
Lay the mount into the carrying case. Disengage the
gear system for transportation and insert the Allen
wrench into RA yoke to lock the RA axis.
CEM70-NUC and Cable Connection:
For a CEM70-NUC, the thickness of a NUC should be
less than 38mm, such as an Intel Frost Canyon with
“Slim” K chassis BXNUC10i3FNKN1.
Please contact sup[email protected]m for technical
support.
NUC
Dovetail Saddle

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iOptron Corp. | 6E Gill Street | Woburn, MA 01801 USA | [phone] | www.iOptron.com
IOPTRON TWO YEAR TELESCOPE, MOUNT, AND CONTROLLER WARRANTY
A. iOptron warrants your telescope, mount, or controller to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for two years. iOptron will
repair or replace such product or part which, upon inspection by iOptron, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship. As a
condition to the obligation of iOptron to repair or replace such product, the product must be returned to iOptron together with proof-of-
purchase satisfactory to iOptron.
B. The Proper Return Merchant Authorization Number must be obtained from iOptron in advance of return. Contact iOptron at
[email protected] to receive the RMA number to be displayed on the outside of your shipping container.
All returns must be accompanied by a written statement stating the name, address, and daytime telephone number of the owner,
together with a brief description of any claimed defects. Parts or product for which replacement is made shall become the property of
iOptron.
The customer shall be responsible for all costs, such as transportation, insurance and fees, both to and from the factory of iOptron, and
shall be required to prepay such costs.
iOptron shall use reasonable efforts to repair or replace any telescope, mount, or controller covered by this warranty within thirty days of
receipt. In the event repair or replacement shall require more than thirty days, iOptron shall notify the customer accordingly. iOptron
reserves the right to replace any product which has been discontinued from its product line with a new product of comparable value and
function.
This warranty shall be void and of no force of effect in the event a covered product has been modified in design or function, or
subjected to abuse, misuse, mishandling or unauthorized repair. Further, product malfunction or deterioration due to normal wear is not
covered by this warranty.
IOPTRON DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WHETHER OF MERCHANTABILITY OF FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR USE, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HERE. THE SOLE OBLIGATION OF IOPTRON UNDER THIS LIMITED
WARRANTY SHALL BE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE COVERED PRODUCT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS SET FORTH
HERE. IOPTRON EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY LOST PROFITS, GENERAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES WHICH MAY RESULT FROM BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY, OR ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE
ANY IOPTRON PRODUCT. ANY WARRANTIES WHICH ARE IMPLIED AND WHICH CANNOT BE DISCLAIMED SHALL BE LIMITED
IN DURATION TO A TERM OF TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASE.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or limitation on how long an implied
warranty lasts, so the above limitations and exclusions may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
iOptron reserves the right to modify or discontinue, without prior notice to you, any model or style telescope.
If warranty problems arise, or if you need assistance in using your telescope, mount, or controller contact:
iOptron Corporation
Customer Service Department
6F Gill Street
Woburn, MA 01801
www.ioptron.com
[email protected]
NOTE: This warranty is valid to U.S.A. and Canadian customers who have purchased this product from an authorized iOptron dealer in
the U.S.A. or Canada or directly from iOptron. Warranty outside the U.S.A. and Canada is valid only to customers who purchased from
an iOptron Distributor or Authorized iOptron Dealer in the specific country. Please contact them for any warranty.