Re: G11 survival kit
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Hi Deric, Glad you caught your scope before it crashed... when excited to set up, it's easy to forget to put the counterweights on first! When running your balanced mount, it's very unlikely you will have any mechanical trouble for a long long time.? But...software idiosyncrasies can crop up for new users.? Here is one: The Gemini system defaults (maybe) to doing a meridian flip as soon as the mount crosses the meridian.? When imaging this is not what I want!? I want the scope to often continue some degrees past the meridian.? For this reason, I try to start imaging if possible with my scope on the East side of the mount, pointing so it will end up following my target across to the West (since I'm north of the equator).?? There are a set of (somewhat hidden) limits in one of the Gemini.net sub pages...I think it's in the Advanced page. The setting is hidden in with the RA limits in a collapsed header area.? Please follow the attached PDF on how to set these limits up so you will not get a meridian flip until XXX degrees past the meridian.? It also explains how to set up the RA safety limits so your scope will not crash into the mount (if you happen to sleep!). Very best, Michael On Wed, Jan 8, 2020, 5:28 PM Deric Caselli <JethroStCyr@...> wrote: Macdonjh, thank you I did not think of those screws. Michael Herman gave me a good list. I planned to buy two extra Motors soon plus two Oldham couplers. I will use Pelican cases to travel with but things can happen. The other night I did not tighten down the RA to the tripod well enough and when I put the counter weight on the mount head fell forward, I was LUCKY enough to catch it. I will not make that error again. My FIeld kit includes wire crimping multi tool, micro torch soldering iron, couplers and a multi meter.pretty much every thing I can need to fix stuff in the field. It would be a stupid shame to travel several hours and your whole Star Party ruined because of something simple but necessary. Clear Skies to you. |
Michael Herman