Digital inclinometer?

[Cumbrian]

I've 'pimped my scope' a bit with 30" increments arount the base. I'd like to add an inclinometer and after a bit of thought I came to the conclusion that attaching a digital inclinometer to the scope tube, rather than hanging something off the side, as I think it will look and work better.

I'd like something again that's has, at least, 30" accuracy. Have any fellow boarders got anything similar? I'm wanting something cheapish but I'd pay say up to $100 if need be.

I wa going to post a couple of pics but I'm not sure how and I'm hoping to have a look outside at the Jewel Box. Priorities!


Thanks in advance.

P.S. I shamelessly stole the idea of the RA angles around the base off somoene on here, although I did recreate mine from scratch using Autocad. If anyone wants a copy of the file feel free to ask and you can have a copy.

[allan gould]

Just bought a digital inclinometer from Hong Kong. $30 delivered and arrived in a week. Excellent service and I love it. Used eBay.

[Barrykgerdes]

I just ordered one too for about the same price from China?I expect to see it next week sometime.

Check them out on ebay. There are dozens of suppliers awaiting you order!

Barry

[Ausrock]

I picked one up from a local surveyors supply store.........no where near as cheap as o/seas but I didn't have to wait when I needed it.

[rogerco]

I have one of the two button "bevel box" ones available on eBay for around $24. They are only relative measures. You need to set them to zero level using a known level first. I don't know I would count on the sub degree accuracy thought mine wanders about a bit.

Maybe you are talking about something different.

[sheeny]

30"!!! That's 0.5' or 0.0083°!

Are you sure you don't mean 30'?

You won't get an inclinometer with 30" accuracy for $100!

Al.

[Cumbrian]

You're right Al I meant 30'. That would be some amount of lines on the base!





Chris, Is what you got any good? I'm more leaning towards a kind of long digital spirit level than one of these ebay boxes that you have to pre level. Any chance you have a link to show what you got?

[dannat]

I have an astro fix with built in compass which is good for 0.5 deg accuracy & better, it gives you both alt/az, when leveled really well gets to 0.2-.3 deg accurate

[sheeny]

I bought a digital inclinometer from Bunnings a couple of years ago. Reads to 0.1° but would certainly be accurate to 0.5°. I can't remember exactly how much I paid for it - about $30 I think.

I use it to set my mount to park position.

Al.

[Steffen]

I am super tempted to get the RRS case and mounting clamp (see below) for my iPhone and using it as clinometer. The iPhone has worked really well for me hand-held with the Clinometer app, but a rigid mounting system like that would make it much nicer.

http://vimeo.com/61375696

Cheers
Steffen.

[2stroke]

Have you checked it against a real level, when alex used his the other day at mpas the dam thing was way off, they don't like metallic things near them lol, free hand there fine. Also had the same issue with the iphone 5 and 4 and metal things like tripods and alt check against counter weight rods.

[Steffen]

Jay, the clinometer is not affected by metallic things, you're probably thinking of the compass.

The clinometer uses the accelerometer chip and can be easily calibrated in all three directions, all you need is a solid (non-moving) surface. Once calibrated the readings are very repeatable, within 0.1 to 0.2 degrees or better.

Cheers
Steffen.

[2stroke]

cheers for the info will have a play around, what app are you using with it?

[Steffen]

The one I'm using is called Clinometer, but there seem to be several others.

Cheers
Steffen.

[Ausrock]

This is the same as the unit I purchased locally.........: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Digital-Inclinometer-Bevel-Box-Level-Angle-Gauge-Protractor-0-360-Spirit-Level-/270982499767?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item3f17d0cdb7

..........cost me around $70 but I chose (this time) to support local.

Is it any good?........Well, I believe it's as good as the user;). I'd previously been battling with accurate alignment even after borrowing an analogue "dial type" inclinometer, the first time I used the new unit was in conjunction with two seperate spirit levels to ensure my tripod was level, ie; I was comfortable that when "zeroed" it was in close agreement with the levels, when I mounted the 'scope I reset the latitude scale according to the inclinometer.........the following two nights were the most succesful I've had using GoTo, etc., so I'm happy.

[axle01]

Ok have to ask why do you use an inclinometer.

[Octane]

To get the polar axis as close as to the south celestial pole, as possible.

H

[Shano592]

I use an android app called GPS Status. Free App (with paid option).

The free app gives Magnetic north/south, True north/south, Pitch (1 Deg), Roll (1 Deg), Heading, Orientation, Magnetic Field Strength (uT), Acceleration, and Brightness (Lux).

It also downloads assisted GPS data, to help get a quick fix.


EDIT: No affiliation at all with this app, except for usage.

[Barrykgerdes]

My digital "protractor" arrived today. I ordered it on line last Tuesday. Came from Hong Kong of course $A24 + freight.

Seems to work OK. Readout .1 degree.
Accuracy?

Barry

[asimov]

I use an Ipod.

[AndrewJ]

If you use a wedge, you can set the latitude plate pretty accurately thus removing a lot of setup time, and no need for base levelling etc.
If you go to a star party or someones place that has a permanent setup, you can go to someone who is already aligned.
Put the inclinometer on their wedge and zero it.
Go back to your wedge and adjust your latitude plate until it reads zero.
Very quick way to get yr alignment very close before drifting etc.

Andrew

[axle01]

Thanks Andrew, my scope is still sitting in the box it came in, I'm waiting for the EQ mount and some other gear to arrive before i can get to use it.

Alan