© Opticstar Ltd 2013-2016
7
Mounting the Telescope
Ensure that the DEC and R.A. locking levers are tight (
3, 5
).
loosen both the large hand-wheel bolt and smaller safety thumb
screw on the mount’s saddle (
1
) so that they do not protrude into
the saddle.
Lift the optical tube and let it rest centrally on the saddle, tighten
the hand-wheel bolt. Make certain the hand-wheel and safety
thumb-screw have been firmly tightened and that the scope has
been secured before releasing.
Balancing the Telescope
It is necessary to correctly balance the mount and optical tube on the R.A. and DEC axes before proceeding. A well
balanced mount will be accurate, will extend the life of the motors, is safer and easier to use. Always hold the optical
tube firmly during all the steps of the balancing process as the tube could easily swing under its own weight.
Balancing the Optical tube round the R.A. Axis
Firmly hold the optical tube and slowly loosen the RA locking
lever (
5
). Rotate the optical tube so that the counterweight shaft is
parallel/horizontal to the ground. While holding the optical tube
unlock the counterweight locking knob (
13
) and carefully slide the
counterweight either way until the optical tube does not drift up or
down.
Once the optical tube is balanced tighten the counterweight
locking bolt, then tighten the RA locking lever in this order. Rotate
the scope round the R.A. axis so that the counterweight shaft is
pointing down and tighten the R.A. locking lever.
Balancing the Optical tube round the DEC Axis
Make certain that the counterweight shaft is pointing downwards and that the R.A. locking lever is locked before
proceeding.
While holding the optical tube so that it does not accidentally
swing freely loosen the DEC locking lever (
3
). The optical tube
will now be able to rotate freely around the DEC axis. If the
optical tube is mounted on rings loosen the ring locking knobs
that hold the optical tube in place just enough to be able to slide
the optical tube back and forth inside its own tube rings.
Slide the optical tube inside its rings to a position where the tube
is balanced. Once the optical tube is balanced tighten the ring
locking knobs and the DEC locking lever (
3
) on the mount.
Alternatively hold the optical tube and slightly loosen both the
hand-
wheel bolt and thumb screw on the mount’s saddle (
1
). You
will need to move the whole of the optical tube assembly back
and forth to a position where the optical tube is balanced. Every
time you check for balance, at least the hand-wheel bolt must
tightened to prevent the optical tube slipping off the saddle.
Once balanced rotate the tube to point the same direction as the
Polar scope. Tighten the hand-wheel bolt and thumb screw (
1
).
TIP
When dismounting the optical tube first loosen the safety thumb screw followed by the larger hand-wheel
while firmly holding the optical tube. When mounting an optical tube reverse the process, first tighten the
larger hand-wheel followed by the safety thumb-screw.
TIP
The mount is supplied with a 4.5Kg counterweight but you may need an additional counterweight for heavy
equipment. Never overload the mount beyond its maximum 13Kg payload (excludes counterweights).
5
3
13
5
13
12
1
3
