NEQ3 mount

[Mr G]

Hi, I’m a new bee here and to astronomy. I’ve just purchased the skywatcher NEQ3 mount with the SynScan and I’m having problems with getting it alinement correct. I’m trying this during the day on the show coast of the uk, and I have made sure that the time, gps and that the mount and telescope are polar aligned. The scope will go back to the parked position. The problem is when I ask the synscan to do a two star alinement it slews in the opposite direction. Does anyone have any thoughts please. 

[Cornelius Varley]

Hello and welcome to SGL. The problem could be a number of things:

1. I think the DEC axis drive should be on the other side of the mount. Remove the telescope and rotate the head by 180 degrees.
2. Check your time / time zone, date and location are in the correct format, also DST should be applied for now. The centre of your location (Ferndown) is 001 54 W , 50 48 N, so your coordinates should be similar, including all the leading zeros. If you have an android phone download SynscanInit2 which will give you all the correct information for your handset.

[malc-c]

I've been comparing the images with those on retailers sites and it would seem that the DEC could be in the correct position.  In your image the scope is facing left and the DIN sockets are on the far side, which corresponds to the images on FLO's site where the scope is facing right and the DIN sockets are on the side facing the camera.   But it would be worth checking.

Its been a while since I set up the handset but I seem to remember that the date information needs to be entered in US format, ie mm/dd/yyyy

[Cornelius Varley]

5 hours ago, malc-c said:

I've been comparing the images with those on retailers sites and it would seem that the DEC could be in the correct position.  In your image the scope is facing left and the DIN sockets are on the far side, which corresponds to the images on FLO's site where the scope is facing right and the DIN sockets are on the side facing the camera.   But it would be worth checking.

The DEC axis motor should be on the right hand side of the mount (looking from the rear). The mcb is on the rh side, as is the RA motor, the cable from the RA box to the DEC drive should be on the same side so that cable to the DEC drive doesn't get tangled.

EQ3 synscan upgrade kit manual 164.pdf (opticalvision.co.uk)

[malc-c]

Peter, I agree, the DEC is 180 degrees out.  In the PDF the DIN socket is at the front of the mount, pointing Northwards, where in the first image of the OP the DIN is pointing towards the ground