EQ5 Adaptor for SLT and SkyWatcher Alt-Az mount

[johninderby]

EQ5 Adaptor for SLT and SkyWatcher Alt-Az mount

As everyone knows the weak point of the Celestron SLT and SkyWatcher Alt-Az mounts is the light-weight tripod. However it's actually quite a simple and inexpensive job to make up an adaptor to allow you to mount them on an EQ5/CG5 type tripod.

I found these very inexpensive (£3.00 delivered !) aluminium disks on eBay. They also do a 20mm thick one.You'll also need two M5 bolts (25mm long)

ALUMINIUM ROUND BAR BILLET DIAMETER 82.5mm BY 10mm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280883985387&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160

Step one:

Remove the small plate in the middle of the bottom of the mount by removing the two screws.

Step two:

Mark the positions on the three little pips on the bottom of the mount.Just hold the ali disk against the mount and mark edge of the disk. Drill three small holes just barely clear of the edge of the disk and then saw through the edge into the holes and file the openings smooth.

Step three:

Mark the centre of the disk and drill a 9mm hole and then tap to M10. Hopefully someone you know will have the M10 taps or a garage or machine shop could do it for you in a minute or two. (Bribery by free pint may be appropriate here)

Step four:

Take the small plate you removed from the mount and place it on the ali disk. One side of the plate has a raised centre that will fit into the M10 hole and hold the plate central. Mark the position of the two outer holes. Drill two 5.5mm or 6mm holes and then use a 9mm or 10mm drill to to enlarge the small holes, but only go about halfway through the disk. It only has to be deep enough to to allow the bolt heads to sit below the surface.

A couple of other points. Make sure that the M10 bolt that holds the mount down in the EQ5 tripod protrudes above the top of the tripod a little bit so that it will engage the adaptor plate. Also unscrew the North locating pin from the tripod.

John

[StevieDvd]

Ooh nice.

There should be no sharp edges from this seller as his Ebay name is D.Burr1

[spaceboy]

You sure are the KING of mods John. Another job well done!