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Balancing the equatorial mount
1. The telescope must be balanced along the RA-axis and the
DEC-axis. Get familiar with the clamps for both axes. The
clamp for the RA-axis is further back on the mount, while the
clamp for the DEC-axis is at the front, closer to the telescope
saddle.
2. It is recommended to start the balancing process with the
RA-axis. Make sure that the clamp for the DEC-axis is
tightened and the telescope can
’
t move around this axis.
Loosen the Clamp for the RA-axis and rotate the telescope
until the counterweight bar is horizontal. Hold onto the
telescope. If the RA-axis is unbalanced, it will not be able to
stay in this horizontal position without you holding it there.
Unscrew the clamp for the counterweight and carefully move
it along the horizontal counterweight bar until the telescope
is balanced and can stay horizontal without your support.
The RA-axis is now balanced. Make sure to re-tighten the
counterweight in this position.
If a balance along this axis is not possible, you might need an
additional counterweight.
3. Close the clamps of the RA-axis with the counterweight
bar in horizontal position. Loosen the clamp for the DEC-axis.
Rotate the telescope towards the horizon and hold onto it. If
the DEC-axis is unbalanced, it will not be able to stay in this
horizontal position without your support.
Carefully loosen the saddle knob that clamps against the
telescope
’
s dovetail bar. Make sure to not let the telescope
drop out of the saddle and hold onto it. Slide the Telescope
along the dovetail bar left or right and carefully test the
balance. Tighten the saddle knob again. The telescope should
now be able to stay horizontal without you holding onto it.
Loosen the telescope saddle knob and readjust the position
of the dovetail bar if necessary.
After the telescope is balanced along the DEC-axis, make
sure to re-tighten the saddle knob again. Tighten the saddle
security screw for additional stability.
4. If both the RA-axis and the DEC-axis are balance, you should be able to open the clamps of both axes. The telescope
should then be freely movable to any position and i
t should stay balanced in any position. If this isn’t the case, repeat the
balancing process from the beginning.
