Paramount User Guide
101
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P a g e
Figure 58: The Paramounts in their “happy place” with the counterweight shaft oriented vertically.
Payload Imbalance Cause and Effect
When the counterweight shaft is oriented “non-vertically”
and
one or more counterweights are on the
counterweight shaft,
and
the right ascension axis is in the Track position, the extreme lateral force placed
on the worm and gear forces them to separate. At this point, the right ascension axis rotates to a
“balanced” position, and you will hear a chattering noise caused by the teeth of the precision gear
bouncing past the teeth of the precision worm gear.
Despite the gut wrenching feeling this sound brings on, damage to the worm and gear is usually minimal.
The recommended procedure is to exercise the mount (page 155) and to please try not to make this a
habit.
Balancing the Payload
After attaching the counterweights, mount your optical tube assembly, camera, and all other equipment
(focuser, filter wheel, field rotator, dew heater, etc.) to the Versa-Plate, then begin balancing each axis,
starting with right ascension. The Paramount operates best when the payload is properly balanced, which
means that, when the worm and gear are separated for a given axis, the axis does not tend to rotate in
either direction. An unbalanced payload can cause numerous problems, such as stalling or “gear
chattering” during slews.
By design, there is no clutching mechanism on the Paramount. To achieve balance, you must disengage
the worm from the gear. When balancing the right ascension axis, orient the counterweight shaft
