EQ6 Differences

[technofetishism (Nick)]

So I finally got around to purchasing a new mount after having to give my mate his EQ5 back, so picked up a EQ6.

Is there any traps for new players with regards to the EQ6 vs the EQ5 apart from the obvious size differences?

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

http://brendanmitchell.net/?page_id=213

The first link on there is a document I wrote in relation to setting a Synta EQ6 mount up properly.

With the legs don't go mental on tightening the extension locks you will crush the tubes which is then a abosolute p155 off to make fine adjustments.

[MattT]

Brendan,
Your set up of an EQ mount is one of the best I have seen ...should be required reading for all EQ mount users, especially noobs like me! It took me a long time to work out that you had to physically move the mount not use the hand controls to centre the first star (The manual for Synta mounts is hopeless and should come with a warning that frustration may result...) When I finally got that... the rest was sort of easy.., still on my L plates. Agree that the legs should be on bricks or pavers of some kind when setting up on grass, took a few times to realise that the legs had sunk into soft ground and aiming was a bit out. Have just got an EQ5, thanks Tony, to go with my HEQ5 Pro. Not a lot of difference ones white and ones black!
many thanks for making something easy...well easy
Cheers , Matt

[KG8]

When you setup the tripod in the field and level it, put your hands on it and transfer most of your weight down onto it to bed the legs, then check the level once more.

Check the alignment of the polar scope by centering crosshairs on a distant point in daylight and rotate the bare mount. Rotate the mount through 360° ra while observing the point. Adjust for centre carefully via the 3 grub screws in the scope, too much tension on the screws will crack the recticle inside. There are 2 sets of 3 grub screws so get the right set.

If the large locating protrusion that seats the mount into the centre of tripod had slop side to side ( a loose fit) you can shim the inside of the tripod recess with strips of thin copper foil. Slop in this joint will play havoc with a good polar alignment because as you adjust one rotating screw on a snug joint the protrusion will shift over. Not much but it's notisable on many mounts.

Removing the paint from the two mating ring surfaces between mount and tripod will alow for jerk free polar adjustment of the alt axis. Dont use a plastic shim as some suggest as this leads to slippage. Two bare aluminium surfaces are perfect, the paint is bumpy and grips irregularity.

A large builders adjustable protractor from bunnings will remove a lot of error setting initial declination and get you a lot closer to the scp. Use a small quality magnetic level and sit it horizontal on the protractor and adjust your mounts az screws till its level. Setting the protractor to your latitude first of course. The calibrations on the eq6 are rather poor imo.

Always always get those counterweights on first. I know we all know it but its the one mistake most of us make at least once, I did anit nearly cost me a c11. I was there beside it when it went luckily and caught it just in time lol.

Dont be afraid to go inside and check the meshing of the gears if you are mechanically minded. Its all robust inside and even if you dont feel like adjustment making you can check that the grease is on the gears.

I built a heater for the controller because at -5 C it can start to go haywire. Some use a sock but that didnt work for me. I built a caddy the controller slides into and on the back a half cut of polypipe so it can be clipped on and off any of the tripod legs easily. Very handy if you move fromside to side through the night.

O, watch the legs. The SS is not thebest, I rub CRC into mine after a session or a weekend to add a little protection. Obviously rubbing it off so there is no residue for next session.
kg8

[KG8]

One more little.trick. for a quick rough polar alignment level the tripod, set the mount on and run a 4 to 5 meter piece of builders string back to a compass behind the mount. At this distance the steel in the mount wont affect the accuracy. Tie a hoop in the string and loop it over the declination lock handle and turn the head so that the string runs back ocross the centre of the mount. From 4 meters away it will be obvious if the string is parrallel to the axis pointing to the scp. With the string connected to the compass ( a good orienteeing compass with fine graduations) pull the string taught and parrallel down the back othe mount, parrallel down the underside of your compass. Now all you have to do isturn the compass until thestring passes under 11° east of south ( for my longtitude ) and you will see tht the string is no longer parrallel to the back of themount. Step by step you adjust tha azmith screws until the string is parrallel to both mount and the compass body at the degree offset for your location. I use this technique every time I set up and more often than not the scp is in the finder of the polar scope.

Btw, the method of aligning mount perfectly to 90° and then doing a goto to a nearby star.and then adjusting for polar alignment on the mounts screws will only work if your OTA axis is well aligned with the axis of the mount, never the case I am afraid. You would have to have an adjustable dovetail bar for this or spend a day machining it to be well aligned. Many assume that the ota is perfectly in line down the dovetail but why should it be. Next time you get a good.polar align goto the park position and see for yourself. Without a 2 or 3 star goto alignment it will most likely be way out of the fov.

[technofetishism (Nick)]

thanks, definatly some good notes there to keep in mind.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

Your welcome Nick, I have learnt a lot about these mounts over the years, and to be honest, i can get my alignment done pretty darn quick nowadays! If you have any issues just give me a shout.

Brendan

[KG8]

I have a friend who went from well adjusted eq6 to a losmandy g11 for better accuracy with astro photography. The g11 was not as good he concluded and regreted selling theeq6. Ended up buying a $12 000 highend mount from the states. A real money pit photogaphy if you let it.

[technofetishism (Nick)]

bother, mount arrives, everything's there and fits together. aaand my powersupply has decided to not give out more than about 800mA before it freaks out and drops below 10V. And its was a 5amp psu that has served me well for awhile. Oh well. Looks like i need to go buy a new one.