10" collapsible skywatcher on an equatorial mount

[trent_julie]

Hey all,

Big question....
Does anyone out there know how to mount a 10" collapsible skywatcher on a motorised equatorial mount or even if this is in fact a possibility?

Its been suggested by some noted shops that at this stage it is not possible and to start again with a solid tube with goto included

HELP!!!

[bmitchell82]

well it depends on how handy you are, but thats the same as what i was looking at. The thing is to get the mount to marry up with the tube, isn't easy because its not straight. If you want to go into imaging just start of with something thats easy to use aka, 80mm ED wide field.

[iceman]

hmm any sort of truss or collapsible newt is not going to be mounted easily on an EQ mount.

If you want tracking, you can get an EQ platform.

If you want to do imaging, an EQ mount is best but you need to solidly hold the tube on the mount using rings. If there's a way to do this on the skywatcher, then I guess it's possible.

You'll need to consider the balance points too.

[rmcpb]

Not really possible without major modifications. I have see a truss setup for an equatorial mount BUT it had a square solid section in the middle with two truss setups at each end. Very specialised.

If you really want to set it up on an EQ then its either a LOT of work or look for a secondhand solid tube model for your photography.

[davewaldo]

I'm just thinking out loud here but.... What if you were to mount using normal tube rings towards the bottom of the tube (where it is solid) and then all you need to do is build some sort of balancing bar to extend out the rear of the scope to balance it. Or just put a bit of wieght behind the mirror to balance. The Skywatcher truss dobs seem to have a lot more solid tube at the bottom than the Lightbridges. So maybe this method would work????

If you were using an eq6 or something larger the extra weight may not be a problem. If it was a 12" scope you'd never get away with it....

Only downside other than the extra weight would be that the tube wouldn't collapse with the rings attached.

:)

[erick]

Better buy a really tall ladder first!

[bmitchell82]

Keep the truss the way it was inteded for. :D portability! bite the bullet and either get a good cataditropic or refractor! the results will speak for themself.!