Date
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Balance: what happens at Meridian flip?
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Tom Blahovici
Hi
I have read that best practice is to have the balance heavier on the counterweight side when imaging to the east. Ok, makes sense. However what happens at Meridian flip? It's now completely wrong. Explanation? Tom
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Roland Christen
For Astro-Physics mounts best practice is to balance. Our mounts have spring loaded worms, so do not need to be unbalanced.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Blahovici <tom.va2fsq@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Fri, Aug 6, 2021 1:52 pm Subject: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? Hi
I have read that best practice is to have the balance heavier on the counterweight side when imaging to the east. Ok, makes sense.
However what happens at Meridian flip? It's now completely wrong. Explanation? Tom -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Jeff B
Roland, does that include the older mounts like the 900/1200 and Mach 1? Jeff
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Roland Christen
Yes, even the 900/1200 had spring action in the gearbox mounting. Mach1 also.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff B <mnebula946@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Fri, Aug 6, 2021 2:19 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? Roland, does that include the older mounts like the 900/1200 and Mach 1?
Jeff
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Worsel
Tom
This question comes up over in general imaging forums. Some 'interesting approaches arise. See https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/408507-mount-balance-meridian-flip-and-automation/ Thank you, Roland and A-P, for a more elegant solution!! "Our mounts have spring loaded worms, so do not need to be unbalanced." Bryan
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Jeff B
👍
Tom
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Nick Iversen
But doesn't the manual (for the Mach1) say to balance slightly counterweight heavy?
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Roland Christen
The manual might be a bit out of date - something we will have to fix. Balance the axes for best performance.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Iversen <inoddy@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, Aug 7, 2021 5:57 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? But doesn't the manual (for the Mach1) say to balance slightly counterweight heavy?
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Nick Iversen
What about dec balance? The manual says to balance camera heavy. I used to achieve counterweight heavy and camera heavy by balancing with the lens cap on. But after a while I figured that the lens cap was too heavy to do this and manual finessing was better.
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Roland Christen
With our spring loaded mounts balance both axes, especially Dec.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Iversen <inoddy@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sun, Aug 8, 2021 7:21 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? What about dec balance? The manual says to balance camera heavy. I used to achieve counterweight heavy and camera heavy by balancing with the lens cap on. But after a while I figured that the lens cap was too heavy to do this and manual finessing was better.
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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This true for the older 2008 900GOTO? Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 09:48:48 a.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
With our spring loaded mounts balance both axes, especially Dec.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Iversen <inoddy@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sun, Aug 8, 2021 7:21 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? What about dec balance? The manual says to balance camera heavy. I used to achieve counterweight heavy and camera heavy by balancing with the lens cap on. But after a while I figured that the lens cap was too heavy to do this and manual finessing was better.
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Roland Christen
The 900/1200 mounts have spring action built into the motor mounting bracket. They require meshing the teeth properly in order to take advantage of the spring action. The very early and oldest mounts had fixed brackets with no spring, and they would require careful mesh. So, it depends what vintage mount you have.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Anderson via groups.io <jockey_ca@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Mon, Aug 9, 2021 2:01 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? This true for the older 2008 900GOTO?
Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 09:48:48 a.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
With our spring loaded mounts balance both axes, especially Dec.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Iversen <inoddy@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sun, Aug 8, 2021 7:21 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? What about dec balance? The manual says to balance camera heavy. I used to achieve counterweight heavy and camera heavy by balancing with the lens cap on. But after a while I figured that the lens cap was too heavy to do this and manual finessing was better.
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Mine is a 2008 vintage S/N:900712 Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 02:04:56 p.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
The 900/1200 mounts have spring action built into the motor mounting bracket. They require meshing the teeth properly in order to take advantage of the spring action. The very early and oldest mounts had fixed brackets with no spring, and they would require careful mesh. So, it depends what vintage mount you have.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Anderson via groups.io <jockey_ca@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Mon, Aug 9, 2021 2:01 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? This true for the older 2008 900GOTO?
Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 09:48:48 a.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
With our spring loaded mounts balance both axes, especially Dec.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Iversen <inoddy@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sun, Aug 8, 2021 7:21 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? What about dec balance? The manual says to balance camera heavy. I used to achieve counterweight heavy and camera heavy by balancing with the lens cap on. But after a while I figured that the lens cap was too heavy to do this and manual finessing was better.
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Roland Christen
Unfortunately doesn't tell me anything.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Anderson via groups.io <jockey_ca@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Mon, Aug 9, 2021 5:19 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? Mine is a 2008 vintage S/N:900712
Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 02:04:56 p.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
The 900/1200 mounts have spring action built into the motor mounting bracket. They require meshing the teeth properly in order to take advantage of the spring action. The very early and oldest mounts had fixed brackets with no spring, and they would require careful mesh. So, it depends what vintage mount you have.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Anderson via groups.io <jockey_ca@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Mon, Aug 9, 2021 2:01 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? This true for the older 2008 900GOTO?
Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 09:48:48 a.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
With our spring loaded mounts balance both axes, especially Dec.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Iversen <inoddy@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sun, Aug 8, 2021 7:21 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? What about dec balance? The manual says to balance camera heavy. I used to achieve counterweight heavy and camera heavy by balancing with the lens cap on. But after a while I figured that the lens cap was too heavy to do this and manual finessing was better.
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Sorry Its an AP900GOTO purchased in May 2008. Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 04:58:02 p.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
Unfortunately doesn't tell me anything.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Anderson via groups.io <jockey_ca@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Mon, Aug 9, 2021 5:19 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? Mine is a 2008 vintage S/N:900712
Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 02:04:56 p.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
The 900/1200 mounts have spring action built into the motor mounting bracket. They require meshing the teeth properly in order to take advantage of the spring action. The very early and oldest mounts had fixed brackets with no spring, and they would require careful mesh. So, it depends what vintage mount you have.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Anderson via groups.io <jockey_ca@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Mon, Aug 9, 2021 2:01 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? This true for the older 2008 900GOTO?
Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 09:48:48 a.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
With our spring loaded mounts balance both axes, especially Dec.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Iversen <inoddy@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sun, Aug 8, 2021 7:21 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? What about dec balance? The manual says to balance camera heavy. I used to achieve counterweight heavy and camera heavy by balancing with the lens cap on. But after a while I figured that the lens cap was too heavy to do this and manual finessing was better.
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Roland Christen
That still doesn't tell me what kind of motor mount it has.
In any case, how long have you had the mount - since 1998 perhaps?
Does it work for you?
If so, then what you are doing must be good.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Anderson via groups.io <jockey_ca@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Mon, Aug 9, 2021 8:28 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? Sorry
Its an AP900GOTO purchased in May 2008.
Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 04:58:02 p.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
Unfortunately doesn't tell me anything.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Anderson via groups.io <jockey_ca@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Mon, Aug 9, 2021 5:19 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? Mine is a 2008 vintage S/N:900712
Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 02:04:56 p.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
The 900/1200 mounts have spring action built into the motor mounting bracket. They require meshing the teeth properly in order to take advantage of the spring action. The very early and oldest mounts had fixed brackets with no spring, and they would require careful mesh. So, it depends what vintage mount you have.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Anderson via groups.io <jockey_ca@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Mon, Aug 9, 2021 2:01 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? This true for the older 2008 900GOTO?
Don Anderson
On Monday, August 9, 2021, 09:48:48 a.m. MDT, Roland Christen via groups.io <chris1011@...> wrote:
With our spring loaded mounts balance both axes, especially Dec.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Iversen <inoddy@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sun, Aug 8, 2021 7:21 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Balance: what happens at Meridian flip? What about dec balance? The manual says to balance camera heavy. I used to achieve counterweight heavy and camera heavy by balancing with the lens cap on. But after a while I figured that the lens cap was too heavy to do this and manual finessing was better.
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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W Hilmo
On that subject, are you still planning on making the new gearboxes
with the disengagement lever available for older AP1100 and AP1600
mounts?
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
I'm currently doing declination balance for my scopes on the bench by configuring them exactly as they will be used, and then using a wooden dowel under the dovetail to find the balance point and marking it with some tape. When I mount the scope, I position the dovetail so that the tape is directly over the declination axis. I suspect that if I could disengage the worm, though, I could do better. Thanks, -Wade On 8/9/21 8:48 AM, Roland Christen via
groups.io wrote:
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Tom Blahovici
Hi,
Yes the manual on your site, says to have the counterweight side slightly heavy as well as the camera end in dec. Tom
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