iOptron HAZ46 Counterweight Shaft & Adapter

The HAZ46 is designed to carry its payload without a conventional counterweight, and for most telescope configurations that's exactly how it should be used. The exception is the mount's top-saddle, or "bino mode," where a large binocular telescope sits above the mount rather than beside it.

That is what the iOptron #8459 Counterweight Shaft & Adapter is for. The adapter attaches to the HAZ46 and provides a 20mm counterweight shaft opposite the top-mounted load. Add an appropriate counterweight and you can offset some of the weight sitting above the mount, giving a large binocular setup a more balanced feel without changing the basic counterweight-free design of the HAZ46 for normal telescope use.

This is a specialized accessory rather than something every HAZ46 owner needs. iOptron specifically designed it for the HAZ46 with the dovetail saddle in the top-mounted binocular position. If you normally use your telescope with the saddle mounted on the side, leave the counterweight kit off and enjoy the HAZ46 the way it was designed to work.

Key Features

• Designed for HAZ46 bino mode. iOptron specifies the #8459 for the HAZ46 when the dovetail saddle is mounted on top of the mount.
• Offsets a top-mounted payload. The counterweight shaft places weight opposite the binocular telescope or other compatible top-mounted load.
• 20mm counterweight shaft. Accepts counterweights with a 20mm center bore.
• Matched to iOptron's #3006-10 counterweight. iOptron lists its 10 lb (4.5 kg) #3006-10 counterweight as the optional companion weight.
• Removable when you don't need it. The HAZ46 can continue to be used in its normal counterweight-free configuration when the balance kit is not required.
• Made specifically for the HAZ46. This is not a universal HAZ-series counterweight adapter.

Why the HAZ46 Has a Counterweight Option

At first glance, adding a counterweight to a mount designed to work without one may seem contradictory.

The difference is the way the payload is mounted.

In normal telescope use, the HAZ46 carries the optical tube beside the altitude axis. The strain-wave drives are specifically designed to operate with that unbalanced load, so there is no conventional counterweight system to set up.

For large binoculars, the HAZ46 can be reconfigured with its saddle on top of the mount. That gives a binocular telescope the geometry it needs for comfortable access to the sky, including targets near the zenith, but it also places the payload higher above the mount.

The #8459 gives you a place to add weight below and opposite that top-mounted load. It does not turn the HAZ46 into a conventional balanced equatorial mount; it simply gives the bino-mode configuration a dedicated counterweight option.

When It Makes Sense

This accessory makes the most sense when you use the HAZ46 with a substantial binocular telescope in its top-saddle configuration.

A 70mm or 82mm binocular telescope may be light enough that you never feel the need for it. Move into larger 100mm-class binoculars, heavier eyepiece pairs, finders, handles, and other accessories, and the total mass above the mount can become much more noticeable.

The counterweight kit lets you offset that top-mounted load with a weight positioned on the opposite side of the mount.

If your HAZ46 spends its life carrying a refractor, SCT, Maksutov, or other telescope in the normal side-mounted position, this is probably not an accessory you need.

Compatibility

The #8459 is made for the iOptron HAZ46.

iOptron specifies that it works only when the HAZ46 is configured in bino mode, with the dovetail saddle mounted on top of the mount.

It is not intended for normal side-saddle operation, and iOptron does not list it as an accessory for the HAZ31 or HAZ71.

About Payload Capacity

The HAZ46 itself carries a published payload rating of 44 lb (20 kg), based on iOptron's stated payload geometry.

iOptron does not publish a higher HAZ46 payload rating when the #8459 counterweight kit is installed, so we would not treat this as a capacity upgrade.

Its purpose is balance in the top-mounted binocular configuration, not permission to exceed the mount's normal payload specification.

Choosing a Counterweight

The supplied shaft is 20mm in diameter. iOptron specifically lists the 10 lb (4.5 kg) #3006-10 counterweight as the optional matching weight.

How much counterweight you actually need depends on the binocular telescope and accessories you put on the mount. The goal is not simply to hang as much weight as possible from the shaft. Use only the amount needed for the configuration and keep the counterweight securely locked in place.

What's Included

• iOptron HAZ46 counterweight adapter
• 20mm counterweight shaft
• Mounting hardware

Not included: counterweight, HAZ46 mount, tripod, or MiniPier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the HAZ46 normally need a counterweight?
No. The HAZ46 is designed to carry up to its published payload without a conventional counterweight system. The #8459 exists specifically for the top-mounted binocular configuration.

Why would I add a counterweight to a strain-wave mount?
Because bino mode places the payload above the mount rather than beside it. The #8459 provides a way to offset that top-mounted load. It is not required for normal side-mounted telescope use.

Will the #8459 work with the saddle mounted on the side?
No. iOptron specifies that the kit works only when the HAZ46 is in bino mode with the dovetail saddle mounted on top.

Does the counterweight kit increase the HAZ46 payload rating?
iOptron does not publish an increased payload rating for the HAZ46 when this accessory is installed. We would therefore treat it as a balance accessory rather than a capacity upgrade.

What size counterweight shaft does it use?
The shaft is 20mm in diameter.

Which counterweight does iOptron recommend?
iOptron lists the 10 lb (4.5 kg) #3006-10 counterweight as the optional matching weight.

Is the counterweight included?
No. The counterweight is sold separately.

Does the #8459 fit the HAZ31 or HAZ71?
iOptron lists the #8459 specifically for the HAZ46. It is not listed for the HAZ31 or HAZ71.

Accessories

iOptron 10 lb Counterweight #3006-10 (sold separately): iOptron's listed 10 lb (4.5 kg) counterweight for the #8459's 20mm shaft.

iOptron #8044 MiniPier (sold separately): current MiniPier option for the HAZ46. It adds approximately 7 inches of height and can provide additional clearance for telescope or binocular configurations.

Final Thoughts

The #8459 is not a counterweight system that every HAZ46 owner should add. In normal telescope use, one of the HAZ46's biggest advantages is that it doesn't need one.

This accessory exists for a more specific reason: large binoculars put their weight above the mount when the HAZ46 is configured in bino mode. The #8459 gives that setup a dedicated 20mm counterweight shaft and a straightforward way to offset some of that top-mounted load.

If you use your HAZ46 primarily with a telescope in the normal side-mounted position, skip it. If you bought the HAZ46 specifically to carry a substantial binocular telescope on top, this is the counterweight adapter iOptron designed for that configuration.

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