ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waning Gibbous 81.9%
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10-03-2022, 10:44 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 359
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Mini counterweight options
My telescope setup is back heavy (as most are if imaging) and the side with the EAF is a tad heavier than it's opposite and can't get perfect balance when the telescope position is at certain angles.
I have seen this counterweight which may help but I am looking for something more around the 500g mark.
https://www.testar.com.au/collection...eight-plus-1kg
I am sure people here have home-made solutions but I can't for the life of me think of what I can use to make my own counterweight, let alone attach it to the dovetail.
Any ideas?
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10-03-2022, 11:22 AM
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Ageing badly.
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cloudy, light-polluted Bribie Is.
Posts: 3,678
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I use these:
https://www.bintel.com.au/product/lo...hoC_oQQAvD_BwE
The weights are about 1 kg each but you can stack multiples s o the are pretty useful and can fit either a Losmandy bar, or a Vixen.
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10-03-2022, 12:48 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 359
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pmrid
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I remember these, used to have one years ago on an old setup.
Holy crap $125! This used to be $79 around 5-6 years ago!
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10-03-2022, 01:46 PM
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Ageing badly.
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cloudy, light-polluted Bribie Is.
Posts: 3,678
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Holy crap yes, but that PrimaLuce weight alone is $65 and that does not include the bar saddle/clamp device which would be another $50-60. So is the Losmany device really that much more expensive?
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10-03-2022, 01:51 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 359
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pmrid
Holy crap yes, but that PrimaLuce weight alone is $65 and that does not include the bar saddle/clamp device which would be another $50-60. So is the Losmany device really that much more expensive?
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Compared with the PL its good value, but I will need something like the PL as I have limited space and mounting points on the setup.
A piece of aluminium bar would be good if there was any way to mount it.
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10-03-2022, 02:00 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,054
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I have used cheap exercise ankle or wrist weights, they have straps and are easily attached to existing mounting bars (front or rear as required). I regularly attach one to the back of the open strut tube 180mm, f15 refractor, to offset the weight of objective.
You do not need overly expensive astronomy weights. Weight is weight.
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10-03-2022, 02:25 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,100
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I've used a camping chair bag filled with sand in place of a counterweight strapped in place with velcro ties and I had some amazing guiding that night!
Like Glen says, weight can be made from anything, but the benefit of things like the PLL are that they are small so don't move centre mass about too much.
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10-03-2022, 03:40 PM
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SpeakingB4Thinking
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Canberra
Posts: 829
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Depends on the aesthetics your after,
A dive weight for .5/1 kilo is about $15, all coated and weather proof etc, fix it to a board, drill the board to load onto the mounting block.
For really little adjustments, you can get the wheel balance strips up to 60grams that have self adhesive backing or clips.
as above, it just needs to be heavy, leads easy to melt if you want to cast something. Plenty of hobbies cast lead weights, fisherpeople would be one.
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10-03-2022, 04:46 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Nimbin NSW Australia
Posts: 265
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I got a Weightlifting weight, and the hole was too big so turned up an Aluminium Adaptor in the Local Mens shed. But sadly I am no longer a member -- kicked me out for relying on Natural Immunity instead of a Vaccine.
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10-03-2022, 06:38 PM
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Ageing badly.
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cloudy, light-polluted Bribie Is.
Posts: 3,678
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That flap panel looks really interesting. Thanks for pointing to it.
It would be of interest to know it it is recognised by ASiair.
Last edited by pmrid; 10-03-2022 at 07:41 PM.
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10-03-2022, 07:45 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lynbrook, Australia
Posts: 620
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Hi
Drop a line to Joshua Bunn, he might do weights as well as adapters. He has made an adapter for me, good work.
https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/...highlight=bunn
Good luck
Philip
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12-03-2022, 04:15 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Albany, Western Australia
Posts: 1,464
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Thanks Philip,
I sure do, do counterweights 
Cheers
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12-03-2022, 05:59 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lynbrook, Australia
Posts: 620
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Hi Joshua
Good news, I might want something myself in the future.
Have fun
Philip
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12-03-2022, 08:35 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 359
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joshua Bunn
Thanks Philip,
I sure do, do counterweights
Cheers |
Very good to know!
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14-03-2022, 11:28 AM
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Not even a speck of dust
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1,474
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Anywhere you can cable tie a hook? Then hang a childs bucket and you can put rocks or dirt in it, weight is weight doesnt need to be a manufactured to shape or anything special, just needs to get the job done, could be a sack of potatoes hanging from the hook. You just need to find a way to secure a hook somewhere to hang something from, a bag or bucket you can add or remove stuff from to get the weight you need, cheap sinkers or a tyre fitter garage probably has a bucket of wheel weights you can buy.
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