Follow up to OAG question

[bartman (Bart)]

So after reading the replies to my post:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=62535

I have decided not to go the OAG route. ( maybe later when I get less amateur)

Reading some searches on piggyback or SBS in the forums I have another couple of Questions....

1) Will the weight of a 254 SW + ED80 + Dslr piggybacked or SBS be too heavy for the NEQ6? I have the 2x5kg weights from SW plus bought 2x2.5 and 1x1.25 kg weights in addition. I believe the mount is rated at 18-25kg ( depending which ad you read). Is that figure the weight of the scope/s alone or scope/s AND counterweights?

2) Will they ( my scopes) fit SBS? what size saddle will I need?

3) If I go SBS what do you recommend, product wise ? I have seen HOughy's and seen a few other on overseas websites.
Prices vary and some are ( I think ) quite expensive for what they are!!!

4) If I go piggy back, what size guide scope rings do I need? |ED80 SW|.
And will it/they fit on top of my SW 254 clam shell tube ring threads? AND see Q 1....

I'm going to try and fit and balance the piggy back setup now inside the house with a re-drilled ( for balancing purposes) spare dove tail that came with the ed80. No Guide scope rings....just the clam shell rings around the ed80.

cheers
Bartman

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

I have exactly the same set-up. 254 SW dob SW ED80 mounted in the piggy back set-up. i recommend this configuration mainly for the ease of balancing it works very well and you can be balanced in a matter of minutes. you will need aproximately 20kgs to balance the whole kit off, but don't be afraid, i have had the 10" on the top for close to a year and a half, and a few months back i pulled the EQ6 apart for a service and there was no noticeable ware! But to remember conditions have to be dead still for good images to prevail!

[bartman (Bart)]

Hey Brendan, I was going to mention you in my post too..... but got lost in my train of thought!
I have read your remarks in some posts regarding piggy backing, and I do like the idea. And now that you have confirmed the EQ6 can hold that weight, I'll give it a go.
As a matter of fact i gave it a go tonight.
[ No luck again with the web cam. even though I adjusted it to work on the ED80. I have tried adjusting the gamma/exposure/brightness etc etc etc. to no avail....]
Balancing seemed ok but I might need that extra 1.25KG to make it 20 kg counter weight. As I have read on other posts that it needs to be a little bit east heavy ( as read also from some of your posts).

I had a hard time aligning the scopes, but then again I wasn't really in the mood, so I was a bit slap happy.

Cheers Brendan and all
Bartman

[Tandum (Robin)]

There is no need to align your guide scope to the imaging scope if that is what you are trying to do.
So long as the guider can see a star it will work.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

Indeed it will hold the weight, things that you need to be 100% sure of is that there is no backlash in your mount. backlash ='s nastiness! Ive added a photo for you that has backlash in the Dec axis, I recently rebuilt the EQ6 full strip down and clean out and I am still just tweaking it so that it is perfect! but i didn't catch the backlash oh well.

With your guide camera you will always have tears and frustration because its just not made for the job, its not sensitive enough to pick faint stars.
What robin said is right though with the alignment of the scopes, but on a personal level I like to have them aligned up for the sole reason that i use the ED 80 with its large FOV as a finder scope as such.

One last thing, if there is any wind around, forget using the 10" combo! it will not work it is too heavy and the old eq6 struggles to keep it still! just drop the ED 80 on it with a finder guider and take wide field happy snaps!