PlaneWave L-550 Direct Drive Mount The L-550 is a heavy-capacity L-Series direct-drive mount rated for 136 kg (300 lb), enough to carry a second telescope on the outside hub. Direct-drive motors give zero backlash and zero periodic error with slews of up to 50° per second. It suits the DeltaRho 500, CDK17, CDK20 (f/6.8 and f/7.7), IRDK17, IRDK20 and RC20.
Manufacturer model: PlaneWave L-550 · Specifications checked against manufacturer data on 2026-11-03
The L-550 is a heavy-capacity L-Series direct-drive mount rated for 136 kg (300 lb), enough to carry a second telescope on the outside hub. Direct-drive motors give zero backlash and zero periodic error with slews of up to 50° per second. It suits the DeltaRho 500, CDK17, CDK20 (f/6.8 and f/7.7), IRDK17, IRDK20 and RC20.
| Type | Alt-azimuth / equatorial direct-drive |
|---|---|
| Mount weight | 153 kg (338 lb) |
| Maximum load | 136 kg (300 lb) |
| Latitude range | 0–90°, both hemispheres |
| Swing-through length | 650.748 mm (25.62") from altitude axis |
| Motors | Direct-drive 3-phase axial-flux torque motors |
| Motor torque | About 20 ft-lb continuous; 50 ft-lb peak |
| Encoders | 152 mm stainless steel ring, 18,880,000 counts/rev (0.069") |
| Slew rate | 20°/s standard; 50°/s maximum |
| Power | 100–240 V AC 50/60 Hz |
| Pointing accuracy | <10" RMS with PointXP model |
|---|---|
| Pointing precision | 2" at sidereal rate |
| Tracking accuracy | 0.3" over 5 minutes at sidereal rate |
| Natural frequency | 10 Hz or greater |
| Software | PWI4 with PointXP; ASCOM |
Uses L-500/L-600 wedge and piers; RA balance L500204/L500206 optional.
| Load (kg) | 136 |
|---|---|
| Latitude | 0-90 both hemispheres |
| Swing through (mm) | 650.748 |
| Torque | 20 ft-lb cont; 50 peak |
| Pointing | <10 arcsec RMS PointXP |
| Precision | 2 arcsec |
| Tracking | 0.3 arcsec / 5 min |
| Natural freq | >=10 Hz |
Data sheet
PlaneWave L-550 Direct Drive Mount The L-550 is a heavy-capacity L-Series direct-drive mount rated for 136 kg (300 lb), enough to carry a second telescope on the outside hub. Direct-drive motors give zero backlash and zero periodic error with slews of up to 50° per second. It suits the DeltaRho 500, CDK17, CDK20 (f/6.8 and f/7.7), IRDK17, IRDK20 and RC20.
Manufacturer model: PlaneWave L-550 · Specifications checked against manufacturer data on 2026-11-03
