Jasonb

Or a collimation shop you could just drop your scope off to!

See, I didn't even know that! Yeah, it's a bit confusing, and I also struggle with telling the different between the Cheshire cross-hairs and the spider vanes, though I think the crosshairs tend to be blurred.

Yeah, sorry, that's what I get for trying to squeeze in a couple of question while getting my daughter ready for bed! I *think* I'm fine about the primary screws now, thanks for clarifying that, and it's also good to know that it's fine to rest the Telescope on them! As for the secondary, yep, I think that's what's meant @Pixies, equally tightening the tilt screws a smidge to stop them slipping. the astrobaby guide calls them tilt screws, but they're basically the three allen key adjustment screws on the secondary mirror (not the main screw, which is used for adjusting the depth of the mirror in the OTA, and also the rotation of it). I agree with you Heather, I do think the Astrobaby guide isn't always clear, it's quite long and I've tried to read it slowly bit by bit, but still get a little lost. There are some little typos in it (like referring to a pic as both a slow and fast scope example) which adds to the confusion. I'll have a look at that other guide, thanks!

Thanks John! I understand exactly what you mean about the primary mirror screws, but I should have explained, that I've read about tightening the tilt screws with regard to the secondary adjustment (in the Astrobaby guide). To my mind any adjustment on those screws moves the mirror, so I don't see how tightening them after getting it perfect doesn't just ruin it again?

Hi all... I just got a Skywatcher Explorer 150P, which means I now have a Reflector with an adjustable primary mirror, and I have a couple of quick questions.... 1. I presume if I'm going to stand the OTA on its end, I should stand it on the end that has the aperture cover on it, as otherwise I'm standing it on the primary mirror screws, which isn't a good idea? 2. Which of the screws are the adjusting screws, and which are the lock screws? 3. I kept reading 'get the collimation right, and then lightly tighten the tilt screws'. Am I wrong in thinking that if I tighten them, the adjust the tilt? Surely tightening them and loosening them adjusts the tilt, and if you get it right you leave them alone, not then tighten them? Thanks!

Parts 2 and 3 of my mid-life crisis arrived today, a lovely AZ5 mount (thanks @Dean Hale!) and a new 150P Explorer. Unfortunately the shop didn't ship the EPs, Finder and Barlow with the Scope, so I'm waiting to hear back from them about that! But still, my master plan is taking shape! Next up is a bolt to connect my Meade Field Tripod to the AZ5...

Yep @Philip R, that's basically my plan. A 3/8 bolt and an AZ5 mount on top of the tripod, all going well.

Only catching up now, sorry. Yep, tripod comes with a 1/2" centre bolt. Thankfully the tripod itself isn't threaded and the bolt just slides out. A friendly SGL member has sent me another bolt, that in a perfect world, will be 3/8 at one end, we'll see. Otherwise I'll be looking at some sort of adapter alright.

I will if I can get it to connect to the tripod!

Thanks for your replies. I've found a used tripod online which is easily going to meet my needs (check out the Postman thread for pictures!) and I have a (barely) used AZ5 on its way, so I'm slowly but surely (actually, quite quickly) upgrading my setup to a far more stable tripod and mount. Now I just need to get out and use it!

Funny woman, I've *no* idea what you're talking about...

Part 1 of my recent 'mid-life crisis' purchases arrived today. It's a second (or 3rd/4th) hand Meade Field Tripod I found for sale here in Ireland. It's a beast, the top plate that comes with it is huge (I don't have small hands!) but thankfully it also comes off. I swapped some email with Meade in the UK and then the US, and they say this tripod is able to take up to 30Kg. So it should be fine for my 130P! For the price I got it for, I couldn't resist, it should be a tripod for life. And quite a bit more stable than the aluminium SkyWatcher tripod I currently have. The fun part is connecting it to my mount, but that's another day's work. Thanks to everyone on here who helped with my questions about this tripod before I pulled the trigger and bought it!

"Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light..." He needs to wait for his telescope to cool down a bit.

Well excellent, I'll send you a PM, thanks!

Excellent, thanks! The seller has confirmed that both the top plate and the vaguely triangular shaped spreader are not threaded, so it really does look like replacing the centre bolt will work just fine, fingers crossed!

That's very generous of you, thanks! I'm in Ireland though, so I'll definitely pay you something as postage probably won't be cheap, it probably has a bit of weight to it?

Thanks for that info, good.to have another potential option. Could you tell me how long that centre bolt is @wookie1965? And how much would you want for it? I actually just found out from the seller that the top plate isn't actually threaded, which means replacing the centre bar might be a solution, and by far the easiest one.

Just to resurrect a relatively old thread, something occurred to me. Why do EQ mounts have counter weights and AZ mounts don't, or is that an accurate statement? Also, reading back over this thread, £139 for the AZ5 and £109 for the tripod has changed in the last three weeks, they're £175 and £129 now! I've spent a bit of time looking at tripods and mounts, and man it'd be a lot easier if they actually all fit each other!

Thanks for all your replies everyone, I'll do my best to respond. I've read a few threads on CN about this tripod. Apparently the centre bar is 1/2 13 (which I'm pretty sure is diameter and number of threads per set length). The centre bar is threaded through the spreader and top plate and is designed like that to add tension and stability. Thanks for those different mount sizes @John, it seems crazy to me that there are so many different sizes, you'd think a standard size would be a good idea? Though the EQ6 using M12 does give a possible solution. @Davey-TThanks for the pic, I think your tripod is one of the heavier Meade ones (they have versions like Field Tripod, Giant Field Tripod etc.) hence the thicker legs. The fact this tripod seems to be rock steady and can take a lot of weight is why I'm spending time looking into this. The very wide top plate being removable is a plus too, it would possiby be in the way. I emailed Maede's supplier in the UK with pics and they said that tripod could be up to 30 years old and that they don't have any adapters. They also said their current version of that tripod can take 30kg, but the older one might take more. @wookie1965Thanks for the offer and for taking the time to look, I appreciate it, and what you find might add to my options. So I have a couple of potential options. Firstly, one of the threads on CN showed this tripod with a tubular mount adapter on it. Someone asked about it, and the owner said he got it from Universal Astronomics (he uses their mounts) as it went from 1/2 13 to what the mount needed (I don't know the second measurement). So I checked out Universal Astronomics, and they're out of business but still selling off accessories, so I emailed them to see what the adapter changes the 1/2 13 to, if the have any left, what cost etc. The second line of enquiry will be with FLO. @Johnmentioned the EQ6 being M12. FLO have an adapter for an EQ6 tripod to fit 3/8 (https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tripods/astro-essentials-3-8-photo-adapter-for-eq6-tripod.html) and 1/2 and M12 are very close in size, so I'm going to see if FLO might know if they're interchangeable. Of course, all these might not work, and they add extra cost on top of the tripod. So I'll just have to see how viable they are! Fun and games, eh?

Hi all... A very basic, simple question about this mount! I've done some searching and haven't been successful, can anyone tell me the diameter of the bolt that connects the mount to the tripod? Is it a 'standard' 3/8 or something different? Thanks...

Andromeda was my first Galaxy (all of 2 months ago) and I loved seeing it, so congrats and that's a big tick! Route 2 works for me and I can do it fairly quickly now. Can't wait to see it in all its glory if I get to some dark skies.

I was wondering that, but the top plate is threaded, and I think the spreader is threaded, so if I replace the 1/2 bolt then neither of them are tight anymore, which I assume would cause an issue?

Yep, my understanding is the long threaded bar screws up through the hole in the bottom of the top plate, and the top of that bar pokes up through the hole and connects to the bottom of the mount. The vaguely triangular shape is a spreader that pushes a little against each leg, adding stability. I've checked and the hole in the top plate appears to be threaded, so it needs a 1/2 bar to go through it. Realistically, I think any adjustment would need to be made to the part of the bar that sticks up over the top plate, basically putting something on top of it that can accept 1/2 from below, and has a 3/8 bolt on top, or something like that.

So I've found out that the central bolt in this tripod is basically a 1/2 bolt, and obviously the mounts I'd be looking at are 3/8. Anyone any tips/advice on how to do a simple conversion? I think the bolt is used to help give the tripod some of it's stability, so not sure if a 'simple' bolt replacement would work...

Thanks @icenfire66 My plan would be to get a new mount as well, I'm still deciding between something like an EQ5 or an AZ5, depending on which I want to go with (I've another thread about that!). I know it's probably not an easy question, especially as it's second hand, but any idea how much the tripod might be worth? Or how much this kind would cost new? Thanks...