INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Table of Contents 1. Setting up the EQM-35 mount .................................................. 1 1.1 Setting Up the tripod ................................................................................... 1 1.2 Attaching the mount ..................................................................................... 1 1.3 Attaching the accessory tray....................................................................... 1 1.4 Installing the Counterweights ......................................
INSTRUCTION MANUAL for EQM-35 and EQM-35 PRO equatorial mount The EQM-35 mount concept is an EQuatorial mount which is very Modular. The basic manual version is the EQM-35 mount. The automatic “goto” version with Synscan controller is the EQM-35 PRO mount. Both versions can be equipped with optional accessories to obtain a light photographic traveling version and a super light photographic traveling version.
EQM-35 PRO light photographic traveling EQM-35 PRO super light photographic version traveling version Before you begin This instruction manual is applicable to several versions of the EQM-35 mount. Take a moment to find the version of your mount. Follow the instructions for your specific model in the manual. Read the entire instructions carefully before beginning. Your telescope mount should be assembled during daylight hours. Choose a large, open area to work to allow room for all parts to be unpacked.
1. Setting up the EQM-35 mount (all versions) 1.1Setting Up the tripod (fig 1) 1.1.1 Look for the north direction of your observation site, and put the tripod with its leg marked “N” towards the north. Important remark: if you observe in a country in the southern hemisphere, the “N” should point towards the south. 1.1.2 locking screw Locate the locking screw on the legs and turn counter-clockwise to unlock them to extend the tripod leg tripod legs to the desired height. 1.1.
1.4Installing the Counterweights 1.4.1 Locate the counterweight bar. 1.4.2 Screw the counterweight bar into the threaded hole on the end of the declination shaft. Tighten the locknut on the counterweight bar until it is locked against the mount (fig4). 1.4.3 Unscrew the threaded cap from the end of the counterweight bar (fig 4). 1.4.4 Locate the counterweight(s) and slide them halfway along the counterweight bar. Tighten the counterweight locking screws to secure (fig 5). 1.4.
1.6Installing electrical components(EQM-35 PRO automatic “goto” version only) (fig 8) 1.6.1 Attach the motor controller boxholder onto one tripod leg. Put the motor controller box in its holder. 1.6.2 Plug in the DEC connecting cable, one side in the DEC motor, the other side in the RA motor. 1.6.3 plug in the RA connecting cable, one side in the RA motor, the other side in the motor controller box. 1.6.
1.7Installing optional accessories to turn the EQM-35 PRO into the EQM-35 PRO light photographic traveling version (fig 9, 10, 11 and 12) 1.7.1 Loosen the 4 M6 screws with hex socket head, which hold the DEC body, and take off the DEC body. 1.7.2 Install the saddle head, and tighten with 4 M5 hex socket head screws. Pay attention to put the saddle in the direction as shown in the picture. DEC body saddle head M6 screws M5 screws Fig 10 Fig 9 1.7.
1.8Installing optional accessories to turn the EQM-35 PRO into the EQM-35 PRO super light photographic traveling version (fig 13) 1.8.1 Follow step 1 and 2 of the installation in paragraph 1.7 1.8.2 Clamp the accessory dovetail with a 3/8” screw in the saddle. This dovetail can hold a ball head for example and a camera can be put on top of the ball head (ball head and camera are not supplied).
2. Moving and balancing the EQM-35 mount (EQM-35 and EQM-35 PRO version) An equatorial mount has 2 axis, Right Ascension (RA) and DEClination (DEC). The telescope can be moved around these 2 axis to allow reaching each part of the sky. There is a rapid movement to point quickly and roughly, and a slow but precise movement to get the targeted object exactly in the field of view of your telescope or camera. You can move the mount RA and DEC axis freely by hand when the clutches (see fig. 14) are loose.
such way that a balanced situation is obtained. Lock the counterweight(s) 2.1.5. Lock the RA clutch and unlock the DEC clutch. 2.1.6. Sense the balance around the DEC axis, and slide the telescope forward or backwards in such way that a balanced situation is obtained. Important remark: moving the telescope should be done with caution by loosening the telescope clamp screw slowly and holding the telescope securely. Some telescopes also have rings to hold the telescope.
2.3Pointing the telescope with the EQM-35 mount A problem for many beginners is recognizing that a polar-aligned, equatorial mount acts like an alt-azimuth mount where the RA axis has been aligned to a celestial pole. Once aligned,the RA axis allows rotation as shown in fig 17 where it scans the “new horizon”. That scanning movement is the Right Ascension (RA) movement. Part of the new horizon is usually blocked by the Earth. This “new horizon” is called Plane of Celestial Equator.
2.3.1 Pointing to the North Celestial Pole (NCP) (fig. 18) For the following examples, it is assumed that the observing site is in the Northern Hemisphere. In the first case (Fig.18, mid position), the optical tube is pointing to the NCP. This is its probable position following the polar-alignment step. Since the telescope is pointing parallel to the polar axis, it still points to the NCP as it is rotated around that axis counter-clockwise (Fig.18, left position), or clockwise (Fig.18, right position).
Celestial Pole 1. 2. Telescope pointing East Counterweight pointing North Rotation of the DEC axis Rotation of the RA axis Telescope pointing West Counterweight pointing North Fig 19 2.3.3 Pointing to directions other than due North (fig. 20) Pointing in any direction other than due North requires a combination of R.A. and Dec positions. This can be visualized as a series of Dec arcs, each resulting from the position of rotation of the R.A. axis.
Important remark: the motorized EQM-35 PRO version will do all movements automatically or by push button on the Synscan controller keypad, using its motors. The only manual operations will be done before the starting procedure, for balancing. After that, all moves will be made by motor. Therefore, you must make sure the clutches are well tightened. 2.3.
3. Use of the polar scope for precise orienting of the mount before starting (precise polar aligning) The polar scope is optional for the EQM-35 and included with the EQM-35 PRO (this may vary, depending on the Skywatcher distribution policy in your area). latitude adjustment screw polarscope latitude adjustment screw azimuth adjustment screw Fig 22 The rough polar aligning (see 2.
3.1. Aligning procedure for the northern hemisphere: The SynScan hand control and several applications running on PCs and mobile devices can give Polaris orientation in the field of view of a polar scope depending on the observer’s position and local time. Generally, the orientations are given in time format. The reticle has a clock like engraving which is compatible with these applications. For polar alignment, rotate the R.A.
4. SPECIFICATIONS EQM-35 MOUNT TRIPOD EQM-35 MANUAL EQ MOUNT 1.75” Stainless Steel POWER MOUNT 1.75” Stainless Steel DC12V 3A TRIPOD WEIGHT 5.7kg MOUNT WEIGHT 3.63 kg COUNTER WEIGHT EQM-35PRO Automated EQ 3.4kg (2 in total) Hand controller 5.7kg 4.38 kg(Astro-Mode 3.28 kg) 3.4kg (2 in total) SynScan Payload 10kg 10kg R.A.worm gear 92.5mm diameter,180teeth 92.5mm diameter,180teeth Dec.worm gear 34.3mm diameter,65teeth 34.3mm diameter,65teeth R.A.worm drive 25.5mm diameter, steel 25.
