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HEQ5 Mods

philsail1

By philsail1
in DIY Astronomer

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philsail1

philsail1

Posted
Posted

Here are several easy to do modifications I made on my HEQ5 mount:-

1. Cut off (using junior hacksaw and then medium flat file to smooth edges) the inside eyepiece holders from the tripod leg locking arm. This allows the tripod's legs to be folded in more, making the tripod easier to carry, and store.

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(click to enlarge)

2. Rounded off the ends of the above locking arms. This makes it easier to get the three arms inside the tripod's legs (This was difficult before, as the central bolt is not quite long enough to allow the arm to drop down enough).

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(click to enlarge)

3. Added a home made bubble level (facing) North and lining up with the appropriate tripod leg. This allows a quick check for mount level, and pointing North.

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(click to enlarge)

4. Put white tape around the "RA" and "Dec" locking levers. Also made white tape arrows for pointers for "RA" and "Dec" setting circles. Can now see these a lot easier in the dark.

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(click to enlarge)

5. Drilled three small depresions in my paving flags, and dabbed a bit of black paint in them. Can set mount in line with these and know it is on level ground, and pointing North.

5429_normal.jpeg

(click to enlarge)

Hope some of above might be useful to someone.

Regards,

philsail1

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MikeP

MikeP

Posted
Posted

Phil,

I thought about the "three holes idea", but wondered how easy it would be to extend the legs the correct amount so they fit in all three holes. My tripod's legs are not braced until the EQ6 head is bolted in place and the spreader plate pulled tightly against them, which seemed like it would make it awkward to adjust the lengths to get them to fit in place. Is it a simple process? Presumably, once it is in place it must be level?

Mike

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Sam

Sam

Posted
Posted

I have three marks on the concrete out the back door and it works a treat - I also don't retract the tripod - I carry it inside as is - a bit awkward but seems to work ok.

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philsail1

philsail1

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Thanks for replies fellas,

Mike.

I "spread" the tripod legs out as much as I could before marking round the tips of the legs with a thin felt pen. Drilled the holes. Put tripod back in place (with tips of legs in the holes) then levelled tripod with bubble level.

However! some months after setting this up, I decided to "shorten" the tripod main legs (not the inner ones) as my Newt was slightly too high for comfortable viewing. Cut 2" off each leg. Job was perfect. Newt's eyepiece is now at a comfortable level. When I came to set the tripod in the holes (in paving slabs) I found the shortened legs would not spread far enough!

Found out now though, that it doesn't matter about putting the legs in the holes. As long as I place the tripod as close to them as I can, the mount tracks OK for up to 1.5 hours, and will hold for astrophotography for about 25 mins without perceptible drift.

Oh! by the way, I leave the head permanently fastened fairly tightly on my mount. I only need to spread the legs using the tightening wheel under the three armed plate/spreader.

I sometimes have to gently push the legs (in turn) out with my foot as I'm tightening the spreader plate wheel. It's very easy and straightforward.

That's about all I can think of to say on the matter, but if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to drop me a line.

Regards,

philsail1

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saturn5

saturn5

Posted
Posted

I have three marks on the concrete out the back door and it works a treat - I also don't retract the tripod - I carry it inside as is - a bit awkward but seems to work ok.

Ditto,i only have to carry mine about 8ft into the summerhouse.Also painted the black arrows on the ra and dec scales silver.Phil,Good idea with the white tape on the locking levers,i painted them silver but after a couple of weeks it was starting to rub off.

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philsail1

philsail1

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Posted

Glad you guys can get your scopes' tripods indoors without having to fold the legs. I have to put mine in my shed - through a narrow door. Hence the mod I had to do.

Saturn5. I suppose you could also try relective tape on the RA and DEC locking levers.

Regards,

philsail1

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  • 3 years later...
greencorner

greencorner

Posted
Posted
Thanks for replies fellas,

Mike.

I "spread" the tripod legs out as much as I could before marking round the tips of the legs with a thin felt pen. Drilled the holes. Put tripod back in place (with tips of legs in the holes) then levelled tripod with bubble level.

However! some months after setting this up, I decided to "shorten" the tripod main legs (not the inner ones) as my Newt was slightly too high for comfortable viewing. Cut 2" off each leg. Job was perfect. Newt's eyepiece is now at a comfortable level. When I came to set the tripod in the holes (in paving slabs) I found the shortened legs would not spread far enough!

Found out now though, that it doesn't matter about putting the legs in the holes. As long as I place the tripod as close to them as I can, the mount tracks OK for up to 1.5 hours, and will hold for astrophotography for about 25 mins without perceptible drift.

Oh! by the way, I leave the head permanently fastened fairly tightly on my mount. I only need to spread the legs using the tightening wheel under the three armed plate/spreader.

I sometimes have to gently push the legs (in turn) out with my foot as I'm tightening the spreader plate wheel. It's very easy and straightforward.

That's about all I can think of to say on the matter, but if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to drop me a line.

Regards,

philsail1

Hi Phil

I've just come across your post. I have been looking at options for keeping my Sky Watcher Equinox 80/HEQ5 pro synscan permanently in my back garden to save the setting-up time. I'm looking at keeping the HEQ5 tripod (extended legs) with mount secured to it (with or without the scope mounted) in a small garden shed. I would then, like you, place the tripod legs in 3 holes drilled in slabs layed in the lawn. My question to you is: does a well-aligned scope stay aligned, in such a set-up, night after night after night? My particular interest in in imaging. Do you have to re-polar align the scope each night? I'd rather not spend time drift aligning but doing that occasionally would be OK if the scope stayed reasonably aligned. You say your setup will hold for astrophotography for about 25 mins without perceptible drift. Are you using a guiding technique?

Regards

Tony

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  • 4 weeks later...
hix

hix

Posted
Posted

One alternative to the painted levers are these little fellas

DRENNAN SUPER SPECIALIST ISOTOPE COLLARS - Specialist Fishing Tackle from Leslies of Luton Ltd.

They are isotopes used as rod tip indicators for night fishing, they are slef powered and highly visible in the dark They also last for years and years. A dab of epoxy would hold them on and you would never struggle to find the levers again.

Thinking about it, I'm going to dig some out of my fishing kit and do just this.

Hope it's of some use to some of you guys.

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