Losmandy G11 RA Extender Announced

dcalleja · #1 13-03-2015, 07:34 AM

Losmandy have announced an RA extender for the G11 to be able to image past the meridian. See below. There is also a video on their YouTube site

We have a new RA / Dec extender coming out in the next few week. It is a 1.5"/ 38mm RA extension and a .6"/ 15mm Dec riser (not pictured). The Dec riser lifts the saddle and moves it forward and the RA extension moves the Dec housing forward 1.5". This will allow the telescope and dovetail plate to clear the motors. We also added in to the RA extension is a way to separate the Dec from the RA. This will make moving of the motor easier and lighter.
Please Visit us on YouTube to see video of how the RA extension works

Cost is $295.00

Capricorn1(Tom) · #2 13-03-2015, 04:59 PM

What can I say........FANTASTIC

stevous67 (Steve M) · #3 13-03-2015, 05:29 PM

I already made one myself ages ago. As it was originally, what a stupid design! Really.

Bassnut (Fred) · #4 13-03-2015, 06:11 PM

How long can this image past the meridian?.

Exfso (Peter) · #5 13-03-2015, 07:02 PM

Pretty damn expensive considering the Aust Dollar. Should have come standard

stevous67 (Steve M) · #6 13-03-2015, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exfso

Pretty damn expensive considering the Aust Dollar. Should have come standard

Exactly true.

How long past meridian can it track now? Well, I suppose it depends on a number of things including the length of your scope out to end of your equipment / camera, plus the height your equipment is mounted above your dovetail, plus if you use that 30cm extension to the pier.

I have a TOA130 with STL11, high set above the dovetail (about 150mm), and I have that extension to the pier, so the if the camera is rotated at 90degrees (cable end up), about 2 hours past safely, with the cable end down, over an hour easy.

But after all that, I still flip at zenith to be safe.

Steve

Peter Ward · #7 13-03-2015, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

How long can this image past the meridian?.

Depending on the OTA orientation, it is possible to go 360 degrees in RA with the extender. They are not new, Scott had a version of them on the G11 that was sold only in Japan many years ago.

Re: price. It's not a simple one piece extender. The two piece assembly and doveclamp is quite a complex piece of machining. Very similar to what AP use on their big mounts.