Hello AP Folks,

My last post was mentioning adding a refractor  to my AP 1100 to go along with my 14 in Meade LX850 67 lb SCT. After adding up all the  additional weights of the refractor and side by side configuration from the ADM  rails and saddles, it will put my  total weight at about 110 #'s give or take a couple  depending on eyepieces..

Will this be ok, as in not affect  my guiding and  such  as long as it is all balanced out  correctly? I use and off axis guider when  doing  any photography. 

Thank you for your advice!

David

I think it will be fine as a fun experiment. It won't be as rigid as it was before, but that's to be expected. And if you don't like the setup enough to make it a permanent solution,  you can always easily revert back to your previous configuration and you will have the tandem setup that could be re-deployed in just a few minutes.

Quite often I use 2-scope and even 3-scope tandem bars when doing solar outreach. Makes it a lot of fun to compare white-light filters with h-alpha and calcium-k views, for example. Or monocular views with binoviews.

When setting up a tandem scope config, I use a pencil on the floor to find the balance points of the various equipment combinations and assemblies and then mark them with a small bit of tape or an adhesive dot that I can use for a reference when mounting stuff up on the mount.

-Christopher Erickson
Observatory engineer
Waikoloa, HI 96738
www.summitkinetics.com
   

On Thu, Dec 3, 2020, 11:16 AM David Enck <davidenck@...> wrote:

Hello AP Folks,

My last post was mentioning adding a refractor  to my AP 1100 to go along with my 14 in Meade LX850 67 lb SCT. After adding up all the  additional weights of the refractor and side by side configuration from the ADM  rails and saddles, it will put my  total weight at about 110 #'s give or take a couple  depending on eyepieces..

Will this be ok, as in not affect  my guiding and  such  as long as it is all balanced out  correctly? I use and off axis guider when  doing  any photography. 

Thank you for your advice!

David

Chris

The only 3-way tandem bar I am aware of is Robin Casaday's Triad which is no longer made.  Do you have another with which you have good experience?

THANKS!

Bryan

I have a Celestron Edge11 HD  with an Orion 80mm ED refractor piggybacked on a 900GTO for imaging and never a problem with tracking or balance.

Best wishes, Michael

On Sunday, December 6, 2020, 06:06:05 AM EST, Dan Purjes <dan@...> wrote:

I have had an AP 10" Mak, a TEC 180 refractor, a Tak 90 II, and an AT-72 all on an AP1100 at the same time.
No problem, though this configuration is only for viewing, not imaging. 
This mount never ceases to amaze me with its capabilities and smooth performance.
This is not a permanent configuration in my observatory, but one that I mount occasionally.
I like the different width of field, visual views provided by each scope on a target. Adds context to the views, so to speak.
The two larger scopes are mounted on a dual saddle bar. Each of the smaller scopes is mounted on a bar on top of the bigger scope.

Dan

The 1100 could probably track fine with a Ford F150 mounted on it. 😉 

---

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Jeff B <mnebula946@...>
Sent: Sunday, December 6, 2020 7:13 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Capacity check on AP 1100

 

"I have had an AP 10" Mak, a TEC 180 refractor, a Tak 90 II, and an AT-72 all on an AP1100 at the same time."

Boy, I'd like to see a picture of that!.

Jeff

On Sun, Dec 6, 2020 at 9:36 AM Michael Hamburg via groups.io <michael_hamburg44=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

I have a Celestron Edge11 HD  with an Orion 80mm ED refractor piggybacked on a 900GTO for imaging and never a problem with tracking or balance.

Best wishes, Michael

On Sunday, December 6, 2020, 06:06:05 AM EST, Dan Purjes <dan@...> wrote:

I have had an AP 10" Mak, a TEC 180 refractor, a Tak 90 II, and an AT-72 all on an AP1100 at the same time.
No problem, though this configuration is only for viewing, not imaging. 
This mount never ceases to amaze me with its capabilities and smooth performance.
This is not a permanent configuration in my observatory, but one that I mount occasionally.
I like the different width of field, visual views provided by each scope on a target. Adds context to the views, so to speak.
The two larger scopes are mounted on a dual saddle bar. Each of the smaller scopes is mounted on a bar on top of the bigger scope.

Dan

The 1100 could probably track fine with a Ford F150 mounted on it. 😉 

---

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Jeff B <mnebula946@...>
Sent: Sunday, December 6, 2020 7:13 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Capacity check on AP 1100

 

"I have had an AP 10" Mak, a TEC 180 refractor, a Tak 90 II, and an AT-72 all on an AP1100 at the same time."

Boy, I'd like to see a picture of that!.

Jeff

On Sun, Dec 6, 2020 at 9:36 AM Michael Hamburg via groups.io <michael_hamburg44=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

I have a Celestron Edge11 HD  with an Orion 80mm ED refractor piggybacked on a 900GTO for imaging and never a problem with tracking or balance.

Best wishes, Michael

On Sunday, December 6, 2020, 06:06:05 AM EST, Dan Purjes <dan@...> wrote:

I have had an AP 10" Mak, a TEC 180 refractor, a Tak 90 II, and an AT-72 all on an AP1100 at the same time.
No problem, though this configuration is only for viewing, not imaging. 
This mount never ceases to amaze me with its capabilities and smooth performance.
This is not a permanent configuration in my observatory, but one that I mount occasionally.
I like the different width of field, visual views provided by each scope on a target. Adds context to the views, so to speak.
The two larger scopes are mounted on a dual saddle bar. Each of the smaller scopes is mounted on a bar on top of the bigger scope.

Dan

I am using a side-by-side arrangement on my AP 1100: a 130mm GTX and a 300mm CFF Cassegrain. With all attachments and the AP-supplied dovetail bars, saddles, etc., I estimate total weight at about 100-105 lbs.

The mount works fine. I'm still doing 3m unguided imaging with pinpoint stars.  (I don't really need to go more than 3 minutes with my ZWO camera.)

I do notice more "shake" when touching the focuser and looking through the 300mm f/15 Cassegrain. This doesn't surprise me and is probably a function of the side-by-side arrangement.

However, my experiment is coming to an end. As soon as my Mach2 arrives (couple of weeks?) and my ExploraDome arrives (two weeks?) I'll break down the setup and each telescope will have its own mount.