Skywatcher Explorer-150P eyepieces

[bambuko]

Just got my brand new (and my first) telescope today and spent most of the afternoon putting it toghether.

Most of it was self-explanatory and not too difficult despite rather vague manual supplied with it.

But some things still puzzle me, so hopefully some kind people here will be able to help:

question1:

This is the bit that mounts in the focuser - what is the external thread for?

and the same part with eyepiece holder screwed inside:

question 2:

I am assuming that I am assembling things in the photo below correctly?

but... when I try to push Barlow lens in, like so:

it is very hard/practically impossible

Don't want to use brute force... so would appreciate advice, please.

BTW Barlow lense has the same puzzling external thread, as mentioned in question1

question3:

what is this piece for?

It fits in the focuser, but nothing that was included in the delivered package seem to fit in it?

Is this for other (not included) eyepieces?

question4:

Spec for the scope says "2x Barlow lens 1.25" (with camera adapter)"

What/where is this adapter?

Same spec says "Direct SLR Camera Connection"

Again - what am I looking for?

or... is it this mystery external thread mentioned in my earlier questions?

[wookie1965]

First i think that screw thread is for a camera, the reason you cannot get the barlow in is because you have not taken the end cap off and the last picture is for 2 inch eyepieces.

[bambuko]

Thank you!

that was quick indeed and solved my problem with Barlow straight away.

2" eyepiece holder - I guess it will become useful if I have 2" pieces, for now just store away.

That just leaves SLR mounting - you must be right about external thread (I have no SLR at the moment to check, hence my doubts)

thanks again for quick help!!

[wookie1965]

No problem i have the same scope one more thing the legs on your tripod middle leg undo screw at top take out black bung fill legs with play sand keep tapping the leg get it compacted replace bung and screw do same with all three will help with stability.

[ronin]

Spec for the scope says "2x Barlow lens 1.25" (with camera adapter)"

What/where is this adapter?

Don't have any of the bits you are asking about but I think the barlow will have a thread on it ot in it at the top. This thread is the camera adaptor. The camera they refer to is a tube that fits a webcam. This adaptor is screwed into a webccam the the other end is screwed into the barlow.

I suspect it means threaded for a camera adaptor, not that they supply a camera adaptor. Chinese-English translation.

Yes probaly the external thread mentioned earlier but would have thought it would be internal.

Same spec says "Direct SLR Camera Connection"

Again - what am I looking for?

Think this is simply the bit that makes it accept 2" eyepieces.

You take out the 2" eyepiece fit the DSLR adaptor to the DSLR and stick it in the 2" eyepiece hole.

Hate to put it this way you are looking for a 2" hole, or 2" of nothing.

By the way they say "Direct SLR Camera Connection" that does not mean that putting a DSLR in/on will actually achieve a sharp focus. Every chance from reading others posts that it won't. But technically they didn't say it would, just that you can attach one.

[JKB]

The external thread on the eyepiece holed and on the barlow is to allow you to screw a camera adaptor to it. If you are using a DSLR you can get one (commonly called a T-Ring adaptor) screws to the thread then to the camera.

You can of course buy the DSLR adaptor with a 1.25inch nosepiece that slots in as the eyepiece does.

The other option is to use a coma corrector screwed onto the T-Ring and connected to DSLR. You then place directly into the 2inch focuser hole. I have the same scope and love it. Yes instructions are vague and it took me a while to figure it out. Keep asking questions. Happy to provide pics of mine if you need any help

Cheers

Jamie

[bambuko]

Thank you guys!

good advice about filling legs - definitely will follow it.

Just set everything up in the back garden to cool it down and ... guess what it has clouded over

[Purplehayze104]

i have the same mount too, if/when/maybe you get a DSLR for imaging you need a t-ring specific to the make of camera you buy, which in turn replaces the removable lens on you camera which mounts the same way as you would do the lens, then you can screw the threaded part of your barlow, or use the 2" threaded part that fits into the focuser (without the 1.25" adapter) then mount place into focuser and tighten thumb screws.

[wookie1965]

Don't be afraid to ask any questions no matter how silly you think they are we are all learning Ive learned a lot on here and now pass knowledge on that's how this forum works we help each other its the best forum Ive ever joined no arguments everybody gets on and you get great advice.

[bambuko]

Indeed I will, no doubt, be asking many more questions.

In the meantime, I am reading books and all the beginner topics on the forum, trying to get ready for the first night when I will be able to use my new toy (sadly seems unlikely tonight...)

[wookie1965]

Turn Left at Orion will be your best friend and Sky and Telescope pocket atlas is a good book.

[Stargazer_00]

I've got this scope too (as my grab and go if you can believe it! ) it was my first scope as well and despite having had many others since, I still own it.

It's such a wonderful little gem of a scope. In my opinion it is one of the best all round scopes. Not quite as ubiquitous as the 200p but for me it is a very very close second. By far the best scope to accompany anything larger than 8" without a shadow of doubt. I've done just about everything possible with this scope so feel free to ask as many questions as you like

[bambuko]

I wanted to buy 200P as well and then had a look at it and realised that regrettably I would have nowhere to store it , so decided it will have to be 150P

I should probably change the title of this thread to something like:

"Skywatcher Explorer-150P eyepieces (and many other questions by the beginner)"

if I am going to continue... (although I do not know how to do it on this particular forum package).

One thing that I find "strange" is the mounting plate attachment, using two grub screws:

Grub screws immediately leave dents in the mounting plate and it is not at all clear from the supplied manual whether the smaller grub screw should be at the front or the back of the scope tube.

Altogether seems rather "cheap"

How is it done on more upmarket mounts?

Second question - what is the bracket with the elongated hole to the left of the mounting plate for?

[rwilkey]

Hi there, the way you have your mount set up there the small grub screw would be at the rear of the mounting plate and the larger one forward. On your second question, I have a similar mount, albeit an EQ5 and do not have this fixture, but my best guess is that it is for a mounting bracket for a camera, just a guess mind you.

[bambuko]

I took my scope to the garden to adjust the finder and I was rather surprised at how "flimsy" it all felt - while viewing I used RA and Dec controls and the view was shaking and rattling and it took some time of "leaving it alone" before the view settled nicely.

It wasn't the legs of tripod, but the mount and scope tube that were flexing and shaking while I was using control knobs. I was looking at a feature on the horizon about 20 miles away, so I wonder what it will be like looking at things in the space?

wookie1965 has already suggested making tripod legs heavier, but I doubt it would have made much difference to what I have experienced?

Any suggestions? or is it a case of "you get what you paid for"?

[Stargazer_00]

The mounts are a little wobbly and certainly an EQ3-2 is on the end of its comfortable limit with a 150p on it. It's acceptable for visual though, you're always going to have a little wobble when you move, even with the slow mo controls if the grease dries up.

Putting sand in the mount legs will help. Putting a heavy weight on the accesory tray will help alot too. It may seem like the tripod isn't flexing at all but it is. Any vibrations will travel into the legs and they will flex. with mounts it's a case of the heavier the better.

I put my 150p on an AZ4/Steel legs and it's terrific. I may end up getting a HEQ5 for it at some point as I do occasionally miss equatorial motion and slow mo controls.

Dont worry about the dovetail getting beat up. It happens, In fact it's designed this way. You want those grub screws to grip VERY tightly otherwise the whole lot might slip out and end up on the floor.

You should see the side of the dovetail on my 150p, it's been utterly hammered by the grub screws of various mount. It wears its history on its dovetail like a badge of honor. Should you wish to sell the scope on and feel the dovetail damage is offputting simply get another brand new one. They are cheap as chips.

[Astro Imp]

You should see the side of the dovetail on my 150p, it's been utterly hammered by the grub screws of various mount. It wears its history on its dovetail like a badge of honor. Should you wish to sell the scope on and feel the dovetail damage is offputting simply get another brand new one. They are cheap as chips.

When I purchased mine it came with two dovetails, one with the OTA and the other with the tripod/mount, so I have kept one as I received it and hammered the other.

[bambuko]

Sounds like I am going to have to weld up something beefy to support my 150P

In my other hobby (model engineering) interweb is full of write-ups of people taking apart machinery made in PRC to remove swarf, clean it, grease it properly and adjust it before using it, so I wouldn't be surprised if my mount wouldn't benefit from the same treatment, but I will resist the temptation until I have been using it for a while.

Yes, I have kept the spare dovetail in pristine condition.

[teleskopjo]

Yes those two grubscrews /holding bolts do mark the dovetail.. why aren't they both of the same size? The smaller one often gets bent..!

[bambuko]

I vaguely recall reading somewhere an explanation of what the smaller grub screw was for... forgot it now, but I remember distinctly that it was not really needed for what I was doing - never used it since.

[teleskopjo]

I usually do the large one first then the small one.. and then to release the dovetail the small one goes off first then the larger one... otherwise it gets bent!