Hi. Im a proud owner of a AM3. I like it a lot. However I cant get it to stay constant and not spiking periodically. I have followed all the forum advice and calculated my step sizes via the periodic sheet provided with the mount.

detail - Image scale 1.23 (80mm triplet at 600 fl) total weight 5kg includes all cam filter wheel etc.
RA and DEc ms set at 80 each
Ra aggression 45 Dec aggression 35
guide duration 1 sec (tried 0.5 sec but was worse)
Calibrated at correct location in sky and uses the correct step size calculated on my guide scope FL and um

Im using OAG with a ZWO 220 mm guide cam

I get about 0.4 to 0.6 consistent well below 1 rms But at regularity intervals it will spike to 1.2 or 1.8 rms

any help appreciated

    coolhandjo recently the skies have been very bad so it depends on how often you get spikes and an image of the spikes may help diagnose better. 80ms on Ra and Dec may be a bit low but that depends on your calculations. Each mount is different and these mounts need good guide stars. There are lots of variables from oversaturated guide stars to also not enough camera gain when using an OAG. What does your guide graph look like when it spikes? More info needed.

      4 months later

      I posted this message in the ZWO forum with no response. I need assistance please.
      I purchased the AM3 last year August 23, 2024 from Highpoint Scientific. my order number 1000571395
      I have an issue with my AM3 mount - The mount is not overloaded, my rig is well below the weight limit, Rig 10.7 lbs. total. While imaging in NINA, meridian sequence starts, the mount starts to move, but stops and makes a grinding noise and beeps twice. I have never had this issue till lately. I have upgraded the firmware since. However, I have not tried to recreate another meridian flip. However, last night, when I was taking my calibration frames Darks,Flats,Biases in NINA, when finished, I gave the mount the command in NINA to go to it's HOME position. Same thing happened as described above when meridian flip sequence failed, it stopped and made a grinding noise, and beeped twice. Eventually I was able to send the mount/scope back to it's home position.
      Can anyone help or had this similar problem?
      ZWO support team, please help.
      Thanks
      Roy

        MIXON how cold was it last night? Your belts may be a bit tight in the cold. Have you tried running it in low temperature mode. If you cannot find the setting in Ascom then just reduce the slew rate to the 2nd highest speed as that is basically what it does. If you have the same issue in warm climates then the belts probably need adjusting. Also check that the power to the mount is not much below 12v consistantly.

          4 days later

          Have you resolved this, I also have spikes randomly.

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