How Heavy is the TOA130 ?

[Kunama]

I've seen this question about the weight of the TOA130 being bandied about for some time, turns out it is a rather heavy bit of kit........ no surprises there .....

TOA130S stripped down 8330 grams
Dewshield 1110 grams
Objective Cap 111 grams
Tube Counterweight 1600 grams
Clamshell 1785 grams
7x50 Finder&bracket 657 grams
2" Visual back 143 grams
Zeiss Prism & ClickLock 331 grams
SUBTOTAL 14,067 grams

Additional:
Robin Casady 14" Dovetail 831 grams
Average Eyepieces 300 grams

So close to 15Kg it doesn't matter

Cheers

[glend]

Hmmm, Opt Corp info says it weighs 22lbs:

http://www.optcorp.com/telescopes/refractor-telescopes/takahashi-toa-130nfb-refractor-telescope.html

must be a bit of sales deflation speak.

What mount would you be using?

I know its not a TAK but the ES ED127 APO Triplet (with Hoya glass) in carbon fibre weighs only 14lbs.

[Kunama]

22 lbs is 9.98Kg which is pretty close to the correct weight for the OTA and Dewshield with the visual back and extension tube. The tube balancing ring and clamshell add a lot.

It would be interesting to see the ES127 actually weighed on good scales.

I am only using the scope for visual and have it mounted on the T-Rex on a Berlebach Planet so about 38Kg all up. It is a definite 2-trip minimum.

[Allan]

You're right Matt, that sounds quite heavy. I would hate to see you hurt yourself carrying that around so I am more than willing to take it off your hands if you want to send it to me. It's the least I can do.

[Kunama]

Thanks Allan, so kind an offer, alas I have to decline.

I would be very interested to see actual weights of other scopes when fitted with the finder, visual back, diagonal and means of attaching to mount. I think a lot of people would get a surprise what their 'lightweights' actually weigh.

For instance the white tube ES127ED OTA is listed at 22 pounds or 9.98 Kg same as the TOA !!!

[glend]

With larger refractors the weight location is often a problem. My iStar 127 f12 has all of its weight out at the front, even after I add the diagonal and EP (the Moonlight was probably a bad idea from the standpoint of balance). On the NEQ6 most of the scope is hanging off the back, and I am sitting on the ground even with the tripod at maximum height. I need to find some counter-weights.

[MattT]

15kg's…that's a lightweight. Whatya worried about!

[LewisM]

Tak FC-100 doublet (1988 model):

This is a total imaging weight, consisting of:
OTA

6x30 finder

9x50 guidescope with custom helical focuser and Lodestar, plus custom solid rings, Vixen bar and Vixen clamp attached to Tak clamshell top

Tak clamshell with custom Tak to Vixen adapter head

SBIG St-2000XM with 5 position CFW9v2 with 5 Baader filters

Appropriate spacers (and soon to be added Tak reducer)

All up: 6.9kg

:)

[Exfso]

My TOA130F weighs a tad more than the 2.7" focuser I previously had. That was 10kg bare bones. I know it is a heavy bugger to lug around. The 4" focuser definitely adds more weight. They are also very nose heavy due to the monster slabs of glass at the front. There is no tube counteweight on the 130F either, obviously because of the added weight of the larger focuser. I know I queried this when I received it and that was Tak's response.

[glend]

Sorry Matt, correction, I was not complaining about the total weight for its size but rather the over-balance towards the front.

[Kunama]

I think the same goes for almost all triplets with standard focusers. I am hoping that with the binoviewers and 2 eyepieces I can dispense with the tube weight, otherwise I might have to give it to Allan. ;)

[Allan]

That's sweet, I can see you are starting to come around to my way of thinking.

[Camelopardalis]

See, those 'fracs all look so pretty I thought they contained some anti-gravity, but clearly not :D

My C11 HD with dovetail, diagonal and a nice heavy 2" eyepiece clocks in about the same 15kg.

[issdaol]

Hi Matt,

If its anything like my TOA150 then it's pretty hard to get a good balance without the the tube counterweight.

I though I could do the same but it just became way to hard to balance. So if I move mine, I quickly take of the tube counterweight, then move the OTA and setup then put it back on and balance.

On my TREX the tube counterweight needs to sit right at the back of the OTA but once that is done it is perfectly balanced and I can move the tube to any position with the clutches loose and it will stay in that spot unless I move it again.

I'm amazed how smooth the modded TREX is with this load :-)

If you want to take it to a dark site regularly close to Canberra feel free to call me and you are welcome to pop out to my property out of town.

Cheers