Skywarcher EQ mount lattitude adjustment

[stinky]

Just got a new toy to play with a Skywatcher EQ 4/5 (both seem to be the same mount). But for the life of me can not figure out how to set the lattitude correctly for polar alignment.

I just can't get the lattitude below 30 degrees. As the mount tilts down the bracket holding the lattitude adjustment screw stops the mount. Maximum is also limited to about 70 degrees (surely a problem at Mawson but not for me at 26 )

Am i missing something obvious or is this just a pain of a mount? Will 4 degrees of misalignment make a hige difference to keeping objects in the FOV?Attached piccy shows the scale and bracket limiting 'dip'.

Any thoughts appreciated - frustrated.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Not much you can do about it stinky. From what I understand the older EQ 4/5s didn't come standard with drives and they were add ons. unfortunately that is one of the problems with them, not being about to get your lat below about 30 deg. Ok if your in Sydney but not for Brissie.

Yes you will still get drift in the fov, but unless you want to do imagine it shouldn't be too much of an issue for just visual work. I'll mean you'll need to adjust your Dec occasionally that's all.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

That's as far as it will go I'm afraid. My EQ5 goes down to about 26 going by the very precise scale on the side (the same as the one in your photo). I guess Synta does not have many customers in the tropics. People in Hong Kong must all buy Japanese mounts. You'll just have to make up the last few degrees by shortening one or two legs of the tripod. Just make sure the scope+mount are still well balanced so the thing is not likely to tip over.

[asimov (John)]

I assume the 'box' that will come into contact with the locking screw if you go much lower is the RA motor cover? Can you take it off? Just had a look at my EQ5 & it's a similar design but I could get to zero if I wanted to even with the motor cover attached.

That suggests to me an EQ4 is not the same as an EQ5.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

BTW, you have a scope to go on that mount yet?

[stinky]

Gee - you guys are fast! So it's not just me after all! What a strange piece of engineering - that's going to get 'fixed' by the bench grinder. Great idea about the scope legs - why didn't I think of that?

I'll try modding the bracket first though as I'm about to set 3 concrete pads with bits of gal' tibe to locate the mount legs.

It's not actually the RA motor cover that is stopping anything - it's the bracket that mounts the lattitude adjusting screw - self defeating.

And hey Janos - I got a scope!!!!!

Skywatcher 1200 x 150. Had a ball playing with it last night even though the mount was far from setup, clouds kept drifting into the FOV, so we just picked another object that was in the clear. Despite clouds the atmosphere seemed quite still. More on that to come!

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

I would leave that grinder out of it. You are seriously going to jeopardise the resale value of the mount (up to $300 if it's an EQ5 in good nick).

f8 6", that will be a nice planetary scope whether it's a reflector or refractor?

[stinky]

Refract - and Saturn was looking good!

[westsky]

Use the grinder take off some metal at 45 degrees, it wont hurt the mount but will allow you to get the Lat you need. I had to do this to both of my EQ5's the mount is useless if you can't get the right Lat.
you will also find that by loosening the bolts that hold the plate on there is a small amount of play and you can adjust the plate a little bit this may give you enough clearence for your Lat, try this before using the grinder.
cheers
david

[stinky]

As the mount will be effectively locked here (not traveelling wth it) I'll try loosening the plate - I reckon you are right - there should be enough slack just to sneak it in. Saves making the mount looking 'home made' even though I'm sere the mod would be quite easy. Thanks all for the great ideas.

Now where did I put he Allen keys?

[westsky]

If you decide to use the grinder, give it a nice neat clean grind and it will look as if it was made that way, you can't notice the grind area all that much as it is hidden quite well.
Mine don't look homemade they look factory finished.

cheers
David.

[asimov (John)]

Looking forward to hearing how the 6" refractor goes. I have one too & love it.

[Satchmo]

Originally Posted by stinky

Refract - and Saturn was looking good!

Saturn looks particularly good in the current crop of Chinese 6" F8 Refractors as the most aesthetic cure for Chromatic Aberration is a light yellow filter and Saturn is allready fairly yellow. The sight of Saturn sitting at the meridian at sunset twilight ( about three months time ) is also not to be missed as the blue purple fringe will merge with the blue sky. Short focus achromats can give great planetary images despite their waves of spherochromatism.

I have two 6" F8 Skywatcher tubes now, and hope to make a binocular with them sometime ( a pair of 2" 30mm 80 degree UWA eyepieces will make a great deep sky bino )

Mark

[Helmann (Brett)]

As I have just purchased the same mount, I have the same problem.
Being at 27 degree, my mount will only reach down to 30 degree.
My solution was to make a new bracket instead of grinding the original.
Works well now and I haven't damaged my mount in any way.

Brett.

BTW. I puchased the ED80 EQ5 special from myastroshop.
Nothing but Praise for Steve.

[mick pinner]

if your latitude is -27 degrees then shouldn't you set your latitude to 63 degrees?

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Nope. Latitude is measured from the equator not the poles (I often make that mistake too).

[mick pinner]

if the equator is 90 degrees and you are -27 from the equator then you should be at 63 from the pole or am l missing something?

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Measured from the equator. So equator is 0 degree, -27 deg latitude is 27 deg south of the equator. The only diff between north and south hemispheres is that in this half of the world you point your EQ polar axis at the south instead of the north celestial pole.

[mick pinner]

thank you Steve, lesson complete.