Accuracy of EQ6 Dec Scale

peeb61 (Paul) · #1 02-04-2011, 10:11 AM

Hi All,
Being a newbie EQ6 owner I was wondering how accurate the dec scale was on the side of the mount was. For instance if my latitude is 34.5 deg S and if I set this to reflect my position would it be close enough to start as a base to drift align?

Just wondering.

Many thanks in advance.

Paul

steve000 (Steve) · #2 02-04-2011, 12:07 PM

I 2 am interested in this.. I own an eq6 but have always been curious

Tandum (Robin) · #3 02-04-2011, 01:09 PM

It might depend on the mount but I'm at 27deg and the scale says 23 and a bit after alignment.
I've seen a lot of people using inclinometers they got from bunnings to get it close.

peeb61 (Paul) · #4 03-04-2011, 06:54 AM

Hi Robin,
That's interesting to know, your dec scale is out by around 4 deg. This sort of makes sense as I was drift aligning Friday night and all of my adjustments were pointing to around 30 deg on my scale, I though my observatory was on the tilt. This inclinometer from Bunnings might be the go.

If there is anybody out there with an Skywatcher EQ mount could you please give us your reading from your dec scale and what your true dec should be. Just curious and might be interesting to find an error margin.

This could be interesting.

Paul

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #5 03-04-2011, 11:24 AM

Hi,

My EQ5 is about 7 degrees out in Sydney, and I heard of one that was 9 degrees out (but hearsay). Don't know why they can't get it right.

I use a bubble level with a thick plywood triangle carefully cut to the latitude of the location (I'm cheap

).

I think this was one reason I had immense trouble with alignment when I started using this mount with a Syscan go-to.

Cheers

mithrandir (Andrew) · #6 04-04-2011, 08:24 AM

If Skywatcher are as good at installing their bubble level as Celestron are, don't believe it for an yoctosecond (ie 0.000000000000000000000001 sec).

Check yours with a straight level or digital gauge which can be flipped end-for-end to eliminate any error in the level. You may find when the tripod top plate is level the bubble is not even inside the centre circle.

You could mark the proper location with an ink spot.

Also, the radius of curvature of the glass/plastic top of the level means it takes a fair amount of change to make the bubble move. Compare that with the two straight levels on a G11 which have a much greater radius in them. Adjust one of the legs by a millimetre and the bubbles move.

Andrew

OzRob (Rob) · #7 04-04-2011, 09:38 AM

Mine would be between 1 and 2 degrees out.

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #8 05-04-2011, 03:22 PM

As you asked Paul, yes it should be enough to get you started on drift aligning. Once you have done your drift you will then know how far out you are.

xcoupeb · #9 05-04-2011, 03:38 PM

mine is about 2 degrees out and when its level the bubble is hard up on one side

madwayne (Wayne) · #10 05-04-2011, 04:45 PM

I must have a good one, mine is within 1/2 degree. The bubble level is so far out I have never even looked at it.

As an option too there is an inclinometer app for your I-phone. I haven't tested mine but will one day when the weather clears and my motivation is above zero.

Wayne

M_Lewis (Mark) · #11 05-04-2011, 07:27 PM

Ironically, my bubble on the NEQ6 is spot on, the dec gauge is as useful as a fart in a bum factory. I bought a digital inclinometre from hare n forbes for ~$60, accurate to 2 decimal places to make sure I have a good starting point before drift alignments, as I couldn't get hold of a decent non-digital inclinometre.

peeb61 (Paul) · #12 06-04-2011, 07:29 PM

Thanks all for taking the time to reply to this post, amazing to see the difference between mounts, also Trevor, this will be my starting point to refine my drift. All's I need now is some clear skies.

Paul

peeb61 (Paul) · #13 10-04-2011, 01:13 PM

Time to report back,
After the initial drift align mine is set at 36 deg so it is a deg and a half out going from my location.

Paul

White Rabbit · #14 15-04-2011, 06:06 PM

My heq 5 is out by about 3 deg. I use an inclinometer from bunnings as well, can't argue with gravity.

RobF (Rob) · #15 15-04-2011, 06:48 PM

My HEQ5 reads about 29.5 deg for this latitude, so out by about 2 degrees. I mark the tiles the mount goes on and the legs as well for extension and don't normally need to drift align much if at all when plonk it down outside my house.

At dark sky sites I usually just drift align with a camera to get it in, even though I do have a digital inclinometer. A final quick run with PolarAlignMax usually puts the icing on the cake, but that's a whole different adventure in its own right.

Drift aligning with a CCD or webcam should only take 20mins or so once you've had some practice.