ZWO AM5N - Full Setup Tutorial

The AM5N is the latest and greatest mount from ZWO. While the overall design is very similar to the original AM5, there are a few notable differences. The USB and Power Output ports have been moved to the dovetail plate of the AM5. This allows for safer cable connections. The Periodic Error has also improved, which should allow for longer exposures without star trails.

In this video I'll show you the entire setup process, from unboxing to taking your first photo. I do go a bit fast, so you may need to pause the video every so often for a breather. If you want a more succinct ASIAir tutorial, check out my 2023 or 2024 ASIAir Full Workflow videos.

You can purchase the AM5N below:

To learn more about astrophotography, check out my Deep Space Course:

00:00 - Intro
00:26 - Unboxing
02:12 - Attach AM5 to Tripod
03:37 - Pier Mount Extension
03:58 - Attach Optional Counterweight Rod
04:58 - Cable Inputs
06:21 - Azimuth Adjustment
06:57 - Altitude Adjustment
07:18 - AM5 / AM5N Differences
08:18 - Initial Setup
10:10 - AM5 App Overview
12:22 - Attach Telescope and Cables
15:04 - Test for Cable Snags
16:30 - Nighttime Setup with ASIAir
17:40 - 5 Step Program
18:00 - 1. Focus Telescope
19:02 - 2. Polar Alignment
22:18 - 3. Find Object with Sky Atlas
24:50 - 4. Begin Guiding
25:29 - Focus Auto-Guider
29:37 - 4. Begin Guiding (Continued)
31:10 - 5. Take Photos with AutoRun
33:50 - Inspect Photos and Fix Problems
35:05 - Final Thoughts

[FrankSD]

Thanks! This is going to make that first night far easier. Very thorough with no wasted time; much appreciated.

[ArthurDebert]

Made the whole setup so much easier, appreciated it!

[florafury]

This video was wonderful. Yes, so many videos out there that doesn't talk anything useful on how to use this mount. Finally, you came along!

[ElemeStudios]

For balancing, I place the entire OTA, accessories, and dovetail on a flat surface, and I use a round pencil under the dovetail to find the center of balance point. I then place the OTA keeping the center point above the center of the declination axis.

[nickatnightscope]

Awesome video! Just got the AM5N, with the pier extension and the TC40. Your instructions were clear and easy to follow. This was filled with answers to all my questions. I am keeping it handy to help with getting acclimated from AVX mount to the AM5N. The whole rig is so much more manageable and lighter. Thanks again, and keep up the great work. Clear skies!

[tommyozzy]

Thanks for the video. Get my mount today and im pretty excited. Fought with my cgem dx for way too many years and needed an upgrade. So many videos on this mount but nobody actually unboxing and setting it up.

[StevenParrisWard]

This is excellent and clear step by step guidance. Thanks Peter.

[insalatacosmica]

I got mine Am5N yesterday, thanks for the video. Cheers from Italy

[thorstenglebe]

Great video tutorial Peter!
The way I focus the guide camera using the ASIAIR is as follows: 1. select guide camera as main camera, 2. select a bright star and let ASIAIR go to and center it via plate solving. 3. use the Bahtinov mask and the Focus - Tab (not the Preview - Tab!) to shoot continuously e.g. 0.2 to 0.5 sec images (this short exposure time works well wth stars like Arktur, Vega, Deneb, ...). With these bright stars you see bright spikes from your bahtinov mask and you can seemingly adjust focus with immediate feedback as you shoot several images per second. 4. switch back to real main camera, go to again to the same bright star (in case you use an external guide scope where you have an offset in FOV between guide and main camera) and do the focus procedure with Focus-Tab + Bahtinov mask again for the main camera (in case of the Duo-Camera of course you first have to focus the main camera and second focus the guide camera).
This procedure works very well for me and is done in a few minutes.
Thanks a lot for your great videos!

[peterschmitz]

Really great video. Now to save up for the AM5N! I could have used this refresher the other night as I haven't been imaging for over a year and it took me awhile to remember all the steps. Thanks!

[nikaxstrophotography]

Good way to balance a scope is offthe mount and on a pencil/pen till you reach the balance point. this balance point will be then placed in the middle of the saddle when you place it on the mount. you can even mark that balance point on the dovetail

[jackgriffin]

Thanks very much for this--exactly what I needed with the right amount of detail (for me). This will make my THIRD night out with the AM5 and 2600MC Air a (potential) success!☺

[michaeledmonds]

Great video, Peter... very thorough. I have the original AM5 and an ASI533MC camera, so I'll make some adjustments. Thanks, Michael

[richarduk]

For determining the balance point, use a piece of doweling under the telescope’s mounting rail on a table or floor before mounting it.

[mr.harris]

My Ecoflow River 2 Max powers the AM5N fine. The two DC ports are only 3A, so I may end up using both ports to power everything. We will see. My only troubles were I did not see the power switch at first and then I learned from you that you plug the hand controller in AFTER you power up the mount. Thank you.

[williamchaerle]

To balance on the dec axis, assemble the rig, place masking tape across the dovetail and place the dovetail on a round pencil, smooth surface and move back and forth to approximate the balance point mark the spot where pencil is located, then when mounting place the mark at the center of the mounting deck. The Ra axis requires serious math so I just follow the manufacturers specs best I can.

[ijontichy]

It's easy to find balance with a pencil or a pen. Put your setup on it and mark the dovetail where the center of mass should be. Auto-guider should be step 3 when you calibrate your autoguider on an star near the celestial equator.

[TheLukaszpg]

You can find the telescope+camera combo balance point off the tripod and then mount it with that point in the middle of the AM5 to get this as close as possible.

[insalatacosmica]

the bluetooth works well, going in settings on the application, Asi mount setting, connect via bluetooth then click on the button on the mount

[BungalowBill]

Thanks Peter for another informative video, expecting my Am5 next week