Lunt white light wedge

[jaygpoo]

Help out there please. Having spent so long observing the clouds I decided to go 24hrs and give the sun a chance to please me. I chose to buy a 2" lunt wedge to go with my ED 80mm APO scope . When it arrived I was excited and took all the right steps in setting up. I took my first look through a 25mm EP with a blue filter and started to adjust the focus only to find that in order to get a sharp image I needed to move the focus tube in but it was already at the STOP !! . If you place any other EP to enlarge the image you need to move the tube in not out. So have I got the only 80mm scope that will not focus a solar wedge of am I not doing something right?  Any ideas please before I return it with disappointment

[Stu]

I have heard of a similar problem with a Baader Wedge/TV85 combination. I'm not sure what the solution is, perhaps a Barlow after the Wedge to push the focal point out?

[moriniboy]

Return it and get a 1.25" version if possible (assuming you bought new)

[Tonynexevo925]

The solution with the baader wedge was to change to the 1 1/4" clamp T2 part 8 and T2 adaptor 27. This gave appx 35mm extra travel. Not sure if similar options exist with the Lunt setup.

Also consider bino viewer and a Barlow as suggested by Stu.

Not sure if there are other solutions that'll permit 2" EPs - will watch this thread and see what other relies you get.

[Mark at Beaufort]

Have you used a standard 2" star diagonal in the past and if so have you gained focus?

I use Binoviewers on my 4" frac and 1`25" Lunt HW and to gain focus I need a barlow. I use this one which is quite cheap - http://www.astroboot.co.uk/AstroBoot/telescope-and-astronomy-stuff.html- AC555

[bob1957]

I had the same problem using a 1.25" EP's in a 2" Lunt wedge with a 102mm wide field refractor. The result was I had insufficient back focus with the 1.25" EP's because too much travel was lost using the 2"/1.25" adaptors. My solution was to use a 28mm 2" Skywatcher long relief EP. You can get low profile adaptors and that may give you sufficient back focus, but if you want to use the 2" wedge then you may need to use 2" EP's. Alternatively, if you want to use 1.25" EP's than as Moriniboy has suggested return it and get the 1.25" wedge instead.

[jaygpoo]

I have 2" diagonals in both my 80mm and 9.25 scope. I did place a barlow minus the lens thinking that would give me a little more length but no . Are you suggesting that I use a x2 barlow complete ?

[Stu]

I have 2" diagonals in both my 80mm and 9.25 scope. I did place a barlow minus the lens thinking that would give me a little more length but no . Are you suggesting that I use a x2 barlow complete ?

Yes, you need the lens element to push the focus point out further, otherwise the empty tube is just making the situation worse.

Make sure you only use it after the Wedge, otherwise you risk frying it! You could try the lens element of the Barlow just screwed into the barrel of the eyepiece, that may give you enough.

Tony's suggestion of changing to a 1.25" adaptor may also be worth exploring.

[jaygpoo]

I fear I have not made it clear that although I am using a 2" diagonal I am using 1.25 EP's.

[Moonshane]

In all honesty, there's no need for a 2" Lunt wedge unless you really want to use 2" eyepieces. I Use my 1.25" happily on my 120mm ED and although it does get a bit hot/very warm on sunny days when we get them, it's not an issue. Could you try a low profile adapter? Something like this maybe? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/567620-REG/JMI_Telescopes_ADPT2_1_25_2_to_1_25_Eyepiece.html How much in focus do you need? Another option is to establish which of your eyepieces focus furthest out and if suitable use those?