Quote:
Originally Posted by bmitchell82
if you are running your equipment in a piggy back configuration ( scopes all stacked ontop of each other) this is the easiest BY FAR setup and yields the best balance system.
SBS is a Side by Side bar, this can be hard for most people as you have to think about whats happening and be very good at understanding what it is your seeing. From my understanding a SBS bar is to reduce the leaver arm. but then it spreads the weight over a large axis and you have to offset the weight anyhow....
I had a issue recently with my 10" i had to rotate the OTA so that the camera/finderguider balanced each other off and pointed them when in the Park position to the ground. this instantly made my balance work.
So my thoughts without seeing what you have actually got.
1. Make sure everything is laying in the axis of the mount and not hanging off the side.
2. you run in a piggy back arrangement.
just for a idea.
if the mount swings to a direction the largest weight will pull to the bottom via gravity (larger mass will pull more). so adjust or move the weight towards where its pointing aka, if it swings to point straight up and down, move the OTA up. retest keep going till it doesn't move
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Thanks for the tips - been out of action for a few days with work.
Glad you mention switching the focus arrangement. I now have the focuser and camera facing down towards the ground with the guidescope sitting on the opposite side which has made a difference.
What has me puzzled is that if I balance when the scope is parked ie pointing at the SCP, all is fine to the south and east close to the horizon. However, when I am pointing from the zenith to the west, it all goes haywire - judging by my graph function in PHD.
My guidescope sits mid way between front and rear of the scope while the imager is at the back. Perhaps if I shift it forwards so there is more weight directly opposite the camera on the OTA, there is less prospect of it all swinging around?
I find that the scope wants to pull the camera around towards the ground, even if well balanced when positioned on the mount ie I have slid the OTA sufficiently back to ensure that the primary and front of the scope are balanced.
Perhaps I should take some photos and post them - its hard to explain.
Pete