Tripod setup.

[michaellxv]

Are there any secret tips on what not to do when setting up your tripod?

I know I don't have the best mount in town but it's what I have and want to get the best out of it I can.

I have fallen into the habit of fully extending the legs at setup, mainly cos it puts the EP at the right height range for viewing. I am guessing this may not be the best for stability.

What is your preferred surface? I have a choice of lawn (oh ok, weeds) or pavers.

Any other tips to make your average supplied cheap tripod more stable:question:

Michael.

[multiweb]

Make sure you have a leg pointing south and not one leg pointing north so it takes the whole weight of the counter shaft without any risk of tipping over. Having it level helps if you need to polar align. Keeping it lower to the ground will help reduce unwanted vibrations. I have countersunk 3 bricks in the grass, then I have 3 matching rubber pads for the tripod legs.

[michaellxv]

You used the counterweight word. Don't have one of those. :)

Maybe I need to be a little more specific.

Mine is an alt/az mount. One armed Nexstar.

Michael

[multiweb]

Ha..sorry, I though we were talking about an EQ mount. :doh:I had one of these - gave it away for the Kiddies scope thing. If you stick a sand bag in the middle on the tray in the midle of the legs it helps with stability.

[mill]

I have a EQ6 pro with the one leg pointing north and it has never ever tipped over (not even in the recent storms in VIC with the cover on).

This way i can image M42 etc without doing a meridian flip.

I have the legs as short as possible to reduce vibrations but when you extend the legs all the way, it will be a more stable setup because the legs are further apart.

One of the best tips i can give you and you will remember this for the rest of your life if you ever have felt the counter weight shaft ram your "shaft" :P As i have had once :mad2:

So alway's fit the counter weight's first and then the scope/scopes.

As for the stability of a fully extended tripod you could make an spreader that sits almost at the bottom of the tripod, that will make it very steady.

[mill]

Oh bugger that makes my post just about pointless :P
Only the legspreader part applies then lol.

[multiweb]

You're a lucky man Martin. I've seen soo many mount taking a dive forward with the front legs spread. :lol: And the operators weren't even pissed yet. .. oh, correction: there were shortly afterwards. :D