EQ3-2 mount question

[mcut]

eq3 mount

new to this game i am afraid so please bear with my stupid questions.

i am having difficulty understanding RA and Dec. the RA setting circle moves around freely (as it should) but you can lock it with setscrew, i do not know why you would want to lock it with setscrew as how do you find other objects with it locked as it would not turn as the scope turns.

secondly, there is one RA "pointer" which is the colour of the mount to point to the RA setting circle. however the dec axis has one pointer in black with silver background on one side and a pointer on the other side that is the same colour as the equatorial mount, a dark grey colour and this one is raised in relief. when one pointer points to 90 i imagined the other dec pointer would also point to 90 but it does not. i am confused. which one am i supposed to use the grey one or one on the silver background.

apologies for being an eejit.

[Greg]

No problem...

The set screw is for..."When you have your target in the viewfinder or high power eyepiece and you want to use it as a refrence target...."

To make sure your RA and DEC settings do not move...

Have a look here..

http://stargazerslounge.co.uk/index.php?topic=2455.0

Greg....

Ps...Welcome to the forum..