HEQ5 half pillar extension - any users?

[MortonH]

Just wondering if anyone has used this extension and would like to share their experiences with it?

I've read some good reports but also some saying it wobbles a bit.

https://myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-030N

[PhilTas]

I bought this awhile ago for my EQ3-2.

Darwin latitude is 12S. This causes both the counterweight and counterweight bar to hit the tripod leg.

The pier extension solves this problem, but i reckoned it made the mount look quite ungainly. I didn't have any vibration problems with it, but then I only use smaller scopes with the EQ3.

So I bought a length of steel tube and cut 200mm from it. I used the top and bottom mount inserts from the purchased extension and I now have the minimum extension needed for the counterweight to clear the tripod leg.

Of course if you have a pier you will not have this problem.

The extension is very well made. The top and bottom inserts fit properly into the short section. One mod I would recommend (regardless of whether you use the original extension or not) is to cut three 25 or 32mm holes to allow tightening of the top mounting bolt after polar alignment.
The pcb tubes are to keep cables tidy.

[MortonH]

Thanks Phil. Yeah, 16" is much longer than necessary. I think half that would be fine.

[Merlin66]

I've used the 200mm NEQ6 mount extension for the past ten years....
Initially on the tripod and later on a fixed observatory pier.
No issues, no drama works well for me and a C11....

[AstroApprentice]

Hi Morton,
I bought the Orion branded one and really like it with my Ed120. Mostly use for visual with AltAz mount, but also use EQ5 for planetary vids on occasion. I have no wobbles or worries about hitting tripod either way. I did add nylon washers to the 6 hex bolts and do them up very tightly to make sure all is rigid.

[LewisM]

I used one on my vixen GPD - it's a HEAVY tube!

Some notes: I'd paint it internally, unless they changed that. Mine was bare metal inside, and that is going to rust.

It was a lot cheaper for me than the Vixen half-pillar, but it is not as secure IMHO. I sold mine a while back.

[Nikolas]

I have the neq6 version never had an issue with it

[LewisM]

The NEQ6 version is totally different: larger diameter and much shorter.

[that_guy]

Just a note, not sure if this applies for the heq5 pier extension, but i just bought the eq6 version and immediately had issues with it slipping and turning. Its designed so that the the bottom attachment to the tripod is only secured by the centre bolt without the azimuth bolt to sort of secure it in place. This means that if the centre bolt isnt deathly tightened on the extension, your polar alignment is most likely to slip.

[MortonH]

Kinda going off the idea now. Too big and heavy. I like my gear as lightweight and compact as possible.

[Merlin66]

A couple of texta marks will give you the alignment. Works for me.