A Good quality side by Side mount for EQ6 Mount

[anthony.tony]

Hello there can anyone suggest a good quality Side by Side Mount for an EQ6 standard Skywatcher mount....I want to mount a GS 200x800 reflector imaging scope and along side it a ED 80mm guide scope.Reguard's Tony

[Terry B]

This is what I use.
http://www.starstuff.com.au/eqsbskits.html

[TrevorW]

Cheaper to get the one From ADM Accessories

http://admaccessories.com/V_Series_SBS.htm

[[1ponders]]

And https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=7821

[peter_4059]

2 votes for the Starstuff version. Very rigid - flexure is something you dont want.

[Bassnut]

Forget about side by side for imaging/guideing, more weight/expense/grief than its worth(been there done that, WHAT a disaster). Mount the ED80 on the OTA. Better still, buy/mount on the OTA an ST80 (SOO cheap) for guiding, WAY lighter/easier/less flex.

[anthony.tony]

Many thanks for the Input -The star stuff is Aussie made looks good quality-Lee Andrews is now supplying ADM mounts at Andrews Communications.Losmandy is quality gear too.I have been imaging with Guide scope attached by tube rings to 200mm reflector but not happy with setup.--Reguard's Tony

[Bassnut]

Why?

[Terry B]

I had the opposite experience. I use much less counterweight with the 2 scopes side by side compared to piggy backed. Admittedly the guide scope is currently my 127mmAPO :P and weighs almost as much as my VC200L.
Each to their own I suppose. I can swap the roles of the scopes much easier with the side by side config.

[anthony.tony]

I seem to be having Balance problems -Probably need to look at another setup to Judge-Tony

[Brundah1]

Agree with Terry B, ADM SBS well mounted actually reduces your moment arm
for some configs and should eliminate flexure.

Its also great where the main scope is more than 2/3 of the load.

That said balancing and cable routing is more complicated.

Another KISS config is a chin mounted Qfinder below the front end of
the main scope ADM D bar.

David

[TrevorW]

Side by side can be a PITA unless you can easily move the scopes in the saddle in both axis, balancing is the issue, I gave up on my home built one in favour of a fixed system (no rings) one atop the other, remember that the guider does not need to point exactly in the same direction as the main scope

[gbeal]

Another vote for flagging the side by side, get a finder guider, and mount it securely under the saddle or on top of the imaging scope. Smaller, lighter, and works just as good.
Gary

[avandonk]

I have found the Starstuff side by side works extremely well. No flexure and easy to balance.

Here are a couple of pictures. I have had 90 pounds on on the EQ6 without any problems. Just slew it slow!


Bert

[TrevorW]

Bert you've seriously loaded that EQ6 did I counted 5 weights (nearly 25kg in counter weight) on that (sorry hijacked thread)

[bartman]

WHOOOAAA Bert that's some cabling you got going there in the third pic:eyepop:
How do you keep the wires from getting caught up in the drive belts????!!!!
Bartman

[anthony.tony]

Hello Bert how long is the spacer bar that supports the scopes. reguard's Tony

[anthony.tony]

Looking at Berts set up is Testament to Star Stuff-I went back to their website now I have got an idea what the Eq6 Head unit will Support-a 420mm bar.for separation.It Lowers the centre of gravity at the Pivot piont.Rather than stacking a guide scope up hihgher and needing more wieght to balance it.---Tony

[gbeal]

I'll buy into your concept Tony, but add that the side by side I had was solid, very, and it needs to be. Now being solid adds weight, and in my case, lots of it.
So while your C of G is closer to the pivot, your weight is greater, so maybe it isn't the answer to any and all. Certainly wasn't with my setup anyway.
Gary

[anthony.tony]

Thank's for the input keeps me thinking-Tony

[peter_4059]

I did the COG sums for my setup in SBS mode vs missionary position. I found the SBS did result in more counterweight required however it also provides a lot of flexibility in changing scope positions and balancing with the starstuff SBS bar is quite simple as you can move both scopes independently in x and y directions.

[anthony.tony]

The Star Stuff is good buying for the money as well as the quality.--Tony

[Tandum]

What focal lenght are you using? I use the ADM SBS losmandy bar cos it's half the price of others and I shoot under a meter of FL, but if you want to do long FL, 2meters +, I wouldn't use a SBS bar.

[ballaratdragons]

Forget about the side-by-side plate.

Just go for the 'Bert' wiring method :lol:

Scroll to the bottom of Berts image and check out the spaghetti factory :rofl:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=88093

plus his new freezer connections make for what looks like 20 octopi dancing :P

[anthony.tony]

Hello my imaging scope is GS 800X200 reflector-My guide scope is Ed80 Skywatcher.They are both on the short side of things-Reguard's Tony