PHD no Dec with new set up

[gajjer]

I've just moved to a new location and I'm using a new setup until I can get a pier sorted. I'm using a EQ£-2 with a LYNX ASTRO USB EQ DIRECT cable, Skywatcher 150PD, Canon 60D camera, Skywatcher Finder with a QHY5-II guider.

Now all of this setup is new to me. My new location does not have a clear view of North, so I'm running blind on that. I set it roughly using a compass and also judging the shadow at 1:00pm. Crude I know.

The first time I ran it I managed to get calibration but could see that Dec was drifting off. So adjusted the mount until it reduced and got under control. That was using PHD, which I have been using with no problem on my NEQ6 mount. Never bothered to go to PHD2. 

I got some reasonable results. The following night was a different story. I had shifted the scope round to make it easier to see the red doot finder. So there may have been a balance change. When it came to running PHD it did not seem to overcome Dec backlash for several steps, then it continued to calibrate North. The star did not appear to move, I could hear the motors doing something but could see no movement as there had been with W/E. It then started to report small movements but still no visible star movement. It got up to something like 50 step and then aborted. Then the star jumped quite significantly. It did this on several attempts. Swapped to using PHD2, that I have virtually no experience with, and it did pretty much the same.

I don't meddle with stuff if its working, so I haven't messed with PHD or PHD2 much. They just worked straight off. Ohhh the shame of it!!

Any thoughts, suggestions would be gratefully received.

cheers

gaj

[michael8554]

Shadow at 1:05pm Thursday should be a decent north, but how are you setting the mount elevation ?

Always nudge the scope north until the guidestar moves, to take up Dec Backlash BEFORE you Calibrate.

The sudden jump in Dec sounds like Stiction due to poor balance, motor was struggling.

Michael