ED80 and 450D Dec Balance on an EQ6

[Benno85]

Morning All,

I seem to be having a bit of a problem achieving balance on the Dec axis using the SWED80 with Canon 450D attached. The problem is once the extension tube and camera are on the rig becomes very "back-heavy" (due to the weight of the camera), and I have no more room to slide either the OTA forward in the rings OR the dovetail forward on the mount.

Any and all responses welcome, the cheaper the better :D

[Marke]

You will most likely need to add a small counter weight to the dovetail
up the front to allow you to keep balance. Losmandy and ADM make
these along with several other companies.

[Benno85]

Thanks Mark, am I right in saying that the dovetail counterweights are simply smaller versions of the standard counterweights and are attached to the unused mounting holes on the front of the rail?

Perhaps I could knock up something instead of paying for them (I keep getting letters from someone named Bill!!!)

[Omaroo]

One of the things that I used to do Ben, was to buy a slab of small (1" sq.) lead weights with the sticky backing - ala what they use in car tyre places for wheel weights. Then, get some sticky (i.e. stick-on) Velcro and stick appropriately-sized squares of the hairy side onto the back to the lead weights.

Then - Wrap a strip of non-sticky hook Velcro around your OTA near the end or your dew shield. Simply apply as few weights under the OTA as required for balance.

[Marke]

Yep they are much smaller usually have a little clamp on them, but
easy to knock up something yourself. Try sports store for some small
ankle weight or similar and try attaching those.

[iceman]

I like this idea.
I imagine it would work better than my strip of velcro which tentatively holds a 1.25kg dumbbell weight in place :)

[troypiggo]

I had the same problem and almost the same gear as you. I bought a dovetail mount from Bintel (https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=7842)and use this to connect the guidescope to the imaging scope. That way I can slide the guidescope up and down to get the correct balance.

[Benno85]

Thanks a million Chris, I'll be walking next door to Mitre 10 on my lunch break today!! :thumbsup:

Troy, cheers for that link for the mount, do you bolt that mount to another dovetail in place of adjustable guidescope rings? :)

[troypiggo]

I have a bar that the guide rings are connected to. The mount plate is bolted to that, facing down. On top of the imaging scope is a dovetail bar as well, and that's what the plate clamps onto. Does that make sense?