advice/help required north side of brisbane..

[AlexN]

I'm calling on anyone in the north side brisbane area who's willing to lend, less of a hand, and more of just a technical advisers perspective on a few things with the EQ6...

I have a couple of scopes, both of which I plan to use on the mount..

I've balanced it as best as I can tell with my 6" refractor on it, (I dont have rings for my Newt just yet..) and powered it on just to have a play... but how do you know if its balanced perfectly, and what can happen if its not?

I've slewed it around a few times with the refractor on it and at the very end of the slew it made a weird sound.. not sure if its normal or not, as I've never seen another EQ6 in operation etc...

If theres anyone who'd be willing to spend a bit of time with me at some stage just to make sure I've got things right... I'd be ever so appreciative...

The last thing I want to do is end up with a $1500 paper weight...

[Davros]

I know you dont want to wait that long but are you going to astrofest? I imagine there will be others there. I cant help as i am a humble push to.

[AlexN]

yeah im heading to astrofest for 5 nights... I'd like to have the basics under control by then... then eat peoples brains for the harder bits... :D

[Dennis]

Alex

Have a look here - this might explain a few things.

http://starizona.com/acb/ccd/settingupbal.aspx

Cheers

Dennis

[Dennis]

And here's another one.

http://www.themcdonalds.net/richard/astro/writings/setupEqBalance.shtml

Cheers

Dennis

[AlexN]

Thanks dennis. Thoes guides are alot more explanatory than the EQ6 manual thats for sure.... After reading that Im confident that I've balanced the scope/camera well.. :)

Did I mention I hate the RAIN!! :D

[Tandum]

Alex, does that honking big refractor clear the tripod legs on the EQ6 when pointing at zenith or will you need an extension for the head?

[vash]

That noise at the end of a slew, is it a very low buzz kind of noise only for half a second or so? If thats the weird noise it's normal, I think it's just a little correction the mount makes to move back to where you released the button, but I could be wrong, Mine makes it often after slewing during go-to. If you looking through the scope you'll notice it moves slightly.

[AlexN]

will need an extention I think... balanced with the dslr hanging off the end of it, it comes REAL close to making the distance... but falls about 3cm short.. the camera body will hit the legs...

I was thinking of moving it 4cm forwards in the rings then adding a counterweight to the rear end of the tube to bring balance back...

[Tandum]

That's what I was doing. Wrapped a leg weight just above the focuser.

[AlexN]

yep.. thats the sound... and knowing that its normal makes me feel 110% better :)

Cheers Ashley.