Digital inclinometer (protractor, angle finder)

that_guy (Tony) · #1 07-04-2017, 01:00 PM

hey guys, I'm looking for where I can get a digital inclinometer. I know you can buy them on ebay but most of them are either overpriced or imported from china (hella long shipping time). I saw a couple of posts saying bunnings used to sell them but now i cant find them anywhere. Anyone know where I can get one either online or in shops based in australia?

LewisM · #2 07-04-2017, 01:14 PM

Apps.

I use an inclinometer app (Android and iPhone), and in comparison to me traditional analogue inclinometer, they are within a bee's dingle of each other.

If you can live with the ads too, they are free.

Just make sure you use the flat side of the phone without any power buttons, volume buttons etc. I also use it to level the mount, as nearly all the inclinomter apps flip to bubble level if held horizontal.

that_guy (Tony) · #3 07-04-2017, 01:20 PM

Ill be using the inclinometer with a setting circle on my dob, do you reckon the app would be accurate enough for finding objects?

LewisM · #4 07-04-2017, 01:35 PM

No idea with dobs - I've only used it with an equatorial mount for astrophotography. Give it a try - can't see why not.

Mosc_007 (Charles) · #5 07-04-2017, 01:44 PM

I bought about a 200mm Digital Level. But you do need to find the right one. I will have to check the model number and were I bought it. It is a high accuracy one. From memory it is 0.05 degrees near horizonal and verticle and 0.1 Degrees at other angles. The Phone ones are pretty hit an miss. Depends how accuratly the IC is placed on the curcuit board.

that_guy (Tony) · #6 07-04-2017, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewisM

No idea with dobs - I've only used it with an equatorial mount for astrophotography. Give it a try - can't see why not.

did you use it for polar alignment? how accurate was it? if its accurate enough for polar alignment, id assume it'll be accurate enough for a dob.

Allan_L (Allan) · #7 07-04-2017, 04:32 PM

i bought my digital inclinometer from Bunnings about 5 years ago. $25 plus or minus.
I used it with setting circles on my 10 Sw DOB to locate objects and it was extremely accurate. And being magnetic, sat nicely atop the Dob.
But I am not sure that they still stock them.
Worth an enquiry.

Edit:
Cant see any on bunnings site.
But mine looked pretty much like this one:

https://www.mydeal.com.au/digital-in...utm_medium=cpc

that_guy (Tony) · #8 07-04-2017, 04:51 PM

yeah, the dob i got came with a setting circle and a stand for a magnetic inclinometer like the one you linked. dont know why bunnings would stop stocking them. one would think its a tool used enough to warrant them stocking it.

that_guy (Tony) · #9 07-04-2017, 05:01 PM

just gave the local bunnings a ring, they dont stock them anymore. they didnt even know what an inclinometer was

skysurfer · #10 07-04-2017, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewisM

Apps.

I use an inclinometer app (Android and iPhone), and in comparison to me traditional analogue inclinometer, they are within a bee's dingle of each other.

If you can live with the ads too, they are free.

Just make sure you use the flat side of the phone without any power buttons, volume buttons etc. I also use it to level the mount, as nearly all the inclinomter apps flip to bubble level if held horizontal.

These apps are very inaccurate. Get a real one which costs about $30-$50, I have one which measures to 0.1 degree and use it for my Dobson.

issdaol (Phil) · #11 07-04-2017, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skysurfer

These apps are very inaccurate. Get a real one which costs about $30-$50, I have one which measures to 0.1 degree and use it for my Dobson.

I have a professional dedicated one and I also use a couple of apps on my iPhone.

The iPhone apps when compared with polar alignment using pole-master were so close it was negligible.

Where I was out with the iPhone was the true-south compass direction not inclination.

So I would give the free app try first as well.

But as dedicated inclinometer should in theory be better......

LewisM · #12 07-04-2017, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skysurfer

These apps are very inaccurate. Get a real one which costs about $30-$50, I have one which measures to 0.1 degree and use it for my Dobson.

I do 20 minute or 30 minute guided subs for astrophotography, so I suspect these apps are pretty darned good thanks. That was pre-using Sharpcap, so I was "aiming blind" per se. Now with Sharpcap, things can only get better (maybe 1 hr subs...lol)

I also have a very high quality analogue inclinometer, and the degree of error, as Phil stated, is absolutely inconsequential - in fact the app is more accurate.

LewisM · #13 07-04-2017, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issdaol

I have a professional dedicated one and I also use a couple of apps on my iPhone.

The iPhone apps when compared with polar alignment using pole-master were so close it was negligible.

Where I was out with the iPhone was the true-south compass direction not inclination.

So I would give the free app try first as well.

But as dedicated inclinometer should in theory be better......

There is an app simply called "Compass", and it allows you to set either true or magnetic - it retrieves the declination from GPS. If I use the old wooden 4x2 on the ground trick, so that I orient it to point south, and then put the mount on top using 2 plumb bobs (one north end, one south end), I find I don't have to adjust azimuth.

I mean, you and I must have something right Phil - I had the mount up and running pointing true south in 5 minutes last week with you, and it tracked targets without fault (we left it for 2 hours at one point, and it was still there on Omega Cent. later, NOT guided). Well, that is until the battery pack karked it in the cold...

Exfso (Peter) · #14 07-04-2017, 06:36 PM

I got one of these a couple of years ago, brilliant.

http://www.trick-tools.com/Wixey_Dig...auge_WR300_360

beren · #15 07-04-2017, 07:23 PM

Yeah Peter that one is good

aus supplier

http://www.woodworksupplies.com.au/d...e-wa-backlight

AussieBill (Bill) · #16 07-04-2017, 08:57 PM

Try Timbecon or Carbatec or Hare & Forbes web sites they have 2 sorts the "rotating ruler type" and the "little box type"

Also try googling Wixey. http://www.wixey.com/

that_guy (Tony) · #17 08-04-2017, 03:10 PM

I ordered one off ebay for $42. I originally bought a $33 one from a different ebay seller but it got lost in transit or something, currently looking for a refund with paypal dispute. Why do stores advertise that they have local stock when they actually ship them directly from china? THIS IS WHY I HAVE TRUST ISSUES.

Star Hunter · #18 08-04-2017, 06:29 PM

I'm lucky. I have a Taylor & Hobson WW1 bubble type Motar gun inclinometer, 0 - 90 deg elev. with 1 deg. increments and a sliding bubble in minutes. Bought in from Direct Disposal in Brisbane in 1980 for $20. It's made of bass and very accurate. Hare and Forbes in Brissy have digital inclo's and are very good.

LewisM · #19 08-04-2017, 07:16 PM

Bunnings in Fyshwick, ACT have both the Empire brand (USA made) analogue inclinometer (which I what I have had for a few years) as well as the split ruler type digital inclinometer (which is cheaper than the Empire analogue one!).

Sydney Tools around the corner probably have proper digital ones for saw tables/machinists.

sil (Steve) · #20 11-04-2017, 01:08 PM

A Stanley Digital Spirit level might suit your needs. I used one to set up my EQ mount "starting position" so I could assemble and setup everytime and it would be polar aligned. Its worth paying the extra for accurate measuring tools instead of cheaper "it looks ok" from ebay stuff. With astronomy any tiny variance quickly multiplies out to misalignment.