North Group ED 127

[AdrianF]

For those who have bought one of these scopes I have just recieved an email from Gilman explaining the focuser is being redesigned and improved and will let me know when they become available for purchase.

Adrian
:)

[h0ughy]

good news - be great to know what they are doing

[JohnH]

Hope is has the option to be motorised....

[AdrianF]

I sent an email explaining a few things to Gilman This is the email I sent with Gilmans reply in bold.


Gilman after using this scope a few times I thought I would let you know my verdict on the ED127 I obtained from your company.

Visually I cannot fault the telescope, great views of planets etc.
Mechanically, especially the focuser, is not good. The tolerances between the focuser tube and the accessories is too great and nothing I have used (eyepieces, diagonals camera adapters etc) will stay in place without me physically holding the accessories in place. The focuser really needs to be redesigned. The ID of the focuser tube needs to be resized to actually fit the accessories properly (there is too much clearance, the focuser tube locking mechanism is a waste of time and will not lock in place.

it is ture, we are modifying it and add new screws into its structure

The only way this telescope will be properly usable will be to spend another AU$780 to buy a well built focuser making the telescope anything but economical and ½ the price I paid for the scope. I may as well bought a well built scope in Australia for $2000 at least I would have some warranty.

sorry for your inconvenient

Would I recommend the ED127 scope to anyone? NO not in its present configuration. If a redesigned good quality focuser became available, or even a resized focuser tube at a fair cost, for this scope then I might reconsider. In the meantime the scope is sat in the corner of my room still packed in the case it arrived in with 2 of the 3 latches broken and unused.

we will inform us when our new focuser is ready, it is cheap and good quality.

Adrian
*********************************** ****************************
Will be very interested in the "new improved" focuser
Adrian

[JohnH]

Owwww - that was harsh - I find my 127 completely useable with the stock focuser ... however I did have to adjust the tension and I only hang a Canon 20D or OpticStar 145m off it both via a WO 2" adpater which is a good fit and stays flush and tight to the draw tube.

I would prefer to use a direct screw coupling to the compression ring but cannot determin the thread used on the draw tube - it seems and odd size/pitch. Anyone out there got an adapter that takes that draw tube thread to a T?

The focus lock on my unit is not effective...but I do not seems to suffer from creep so it does not bother me.

[Terry B]

I'm curious that you have had such a problem with the focuser. Mine currently has a QHY guider on it using the supplied 2"diagonal and followed by the 1.25" reducer to take the guider (see attached). I use the diagonal to reduce the need to rack the focusser right out to achieve focus.
I agree that the lock on the focuser doesn't work well but it doesn't seem to move as I slew all over the sky. It keeps focus between uses when parked. This isn't testing the squareness of the camera to the image plane but still seems OK. The guider is pretty light but I have used an eyepiece in it with no problem. I haven't tried putting my reasonably heavy CCD on it yet but my 40D didn't slip.
Maybe there is a bit of variability between scopes.

[AdrianF]

it might have been a bit harsh but I am having problems keeping the supplied diagonal in the focuser. The only way to stop them moving in the focuser is to physically hold the diagonal. The latches on the box sprung apart when I tried to undo them to get the scope out to use. The supplied dovetail does not fit onto the EQ6.

Adrian

[peter_4059]

Adrian,

I got hold of the focuser from one of these ED127's from another member who upgraded to a moonlight. I was intending to retrofit the 10:1 mechanism onto my meade series 5000 ED80 which has a very similar focuser. After removing the 10:1 mechanism, it soon became apparent that the large thumbscrew at the rear of the mechanism is only holding the 10:1 mechanism in place. It does not lock the focuser position. There is no locking screw as the hole the locking screw normally occupies (toward the front of the focuser) now contains a screw that also secures the 10:1 mechanism. The hex grub screw adjusts the focuser tension. Hope this makes sense and is of assistance.

Peter

[AdrianF]

I tried to get hold of a focuser off the ED 127 and give it to the fitter at work and ask him to rebuild the focuser or at least turn me up a new focuser tube. I dont want to dismantle mine as he wont be able to get to it straight away and maybe sat on the shelf for a few weeks before he can get to it. How did the retrofit go? Did it work?

Adrian

[peter_4059]

I believe both Houghy and Allan Gould have swapped to Moonlight focusers. I know Allan is happy with his.

[h0ughy]

and I am very happy with my Moonlight focuser a quantum leap over the original:)

[AdrianF]

love a moonlight but at the present time with the $ the way it is I will have to wait. In the meantime if someone as a ed127 focused they would like to sell at a reasonable price..............

Adrian

[allan gould]

Luckily David and I purchased our Moonlight focusers when the dollar was high. My focuser was good in use but sometimes there was a 1/2 mm play in it when the 20D camera was attached unless I was very careful in locking it down. This occasionally led to some off axis aberation (star elongation) for some shots. Thats why I went for the moonlight focuser and Im soooooo glad I did. I just didnt want to fiddle around in the dark etc. Now the scope cant be faulted.