Balancing telescope

[smoggy]

Hi all

I currently have a small telescope on the az Eq5 and the supplied counterweights (5kg) are too heavy to balance with the scope. Does anyone know of smaller counterweights that would fit into the shaft?

Thanks in advance

[MikeP]

Failing all else, you could hang a bag of sand (or something similar) from the shaft.

Mike

[bomberbaz]

11 minutes ago, smoggy said:

Hi all

I currently have a small telescope on the az Eq5 and the supplied counterweights (5kg) are too heavy to balance with the scope. Does anyone know of smaller counterweights that would fit into the shaft?

Thanks in advance

Don't wish to state the obvious but you have tried fully sliding the 5KG weight fully up the shaft I take it. 

[smoggy]

2 minutes ago, bomberbaz said:

Don't wish to state the obvious but you have tried fully sliding the 5KG weight fully up the shaft I take it. 

Sadly I have. It's only a measly megrez 72 it is to balance with. It's fine if a camera it attached but for visual it's just not heavy enough.

[Dinglem]

24 minutes ago, smoggy said:

Sadly I have. It's only a measly megrez 72 it is to balance with. It's fine if a camera it attached but for visual it's just not heavy enough.

Have you tried adding a bit of weight on the scope end, I have seen pictures of bolts with loads of washers attatched to dovetail bars.

[Louis D]

39 minutes ago, Dinglem said:

Have you tried adding a bit of weight on the scope end, I have seen pictures of bolts with loads of washers attatched to dovetail bars.

Probably not a bad idea to put weights on the end of a bolt sticking out 180 degrees to the eyepiece and on the other side of the pivot point.  That would keep it balanced for heavy eyepieces as the scope angles up toward the zenith.  I have something similar on my alt-az mount.

[smoggy]

I'll have to give it a go if there are no other alternatives. Thank you.

[johninderby]

There is the Bresser 2 kg counterweight.

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/bresser-counterbalance-20-kg-for-exos-1eq4.html

Edited March 23, 2020 by johninderby

[omo]

Skywatcher weights for the eq3 are 3.4kg and 1.8kg:  https://www.firstlightoptics.com/counterweights/skywatcher-counterweight.html

Edited March 23, 2020 by omo

[johninderby]

11 minutes ago, omo said:

Skywatcher weights for the eq3 are 3.4kg and 1.8kg:  https://www.firstlightoptics.com/counterweights/skywatcher-counterweight.html

But not available at the moment.

Edited March 23, 2020 by johninderby

[smoggy]

25 minutes ago, omo said:

Skywatcher weights for the eq3 are 3.4kg and 1.8kg:  https://www.firstlightoptics.com/counterweights/skywatcher-counterweight.html

I had noticed them but as the below poster pointed out I can't find them anywhere. If they do become available is the central hole the same diameter as the 5kg?

[johninderby]

Had another look around and Bresser UK is showing them as in stock. Maybe email them to check.

https://www.bresseruk.com/skywatcher-counterweights-for-eq3-2-2pcs-set-white.html

Edited March 23, 2020 by johninderby

[omo]

58 minutes ago, smoggy said:

I had noticed them but as the below poster pointed out I can't find them anywhere. If they do become available is the central hole the same diameter as the 5kg?

I used them on a Heq5Pro - 18mm shaft, i think thats the same size as the Az/Eq5 and an Altair Sabre (20mm). So would fit.

[smoggy]

Thank you all for your help

[johninderby]

Now out of stock at Bresser UK.🙁

[smoggy]

Hopefully I ordered the last one then!

[johninderby]

1 minute ago, smoggy said:

Hopefully I ordered the last one then!

Fingers crossed. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

They ship direct from Germany so takes a couple of days to arrive.

Edited March 24, 2020 by johninderby