Meade standard wedge

[Ron]

I recieved my Meade standard wedge today and the instructions supplied weren't to clear on a few points.

When you fasten the wedge to the tripod do you use only the tripod threaded rod and the large knob with compass that came with the wedge? They mention another knob but it is too small to fit the holes in the tripod head.

Do you line the compass's N direction up as close to straight ahead as you can?

Other than the Latitude scale, there is no index mark on the tilt plate to show when you are lined up with the correct Latitude. How do you know when you are lined up with your Latitude?

Thanks for any help,

Ron

[sc02492]

Ron, I'm going from memory here, but I don't think there is any other screw for the "standard" Meade wedge-to-tripod attachment, other than the central bolt and compass screw (on the Superwedge there are a few other bolts to use).  There should be an azimuth adjustment assembly as well- would attach this too, since it will be useful for making fine adjustments to the mount during alignment.

As for the compass, you've got it right.  That's what you do, with the exception of perhaps making an adjustment based upon your magnetic declination, but I wouldn't worry about that for now.

The latitude scale provides only a rough approximation at best, and it's really not important.   Ultimately, you will adjust the mount by viewing landmarks like Polaris through the telescope, and you won't really care what the latitude control or compass actually reads.  I suggest doing two things, once you get your OTA attached to the wedge and the mount roughly aligned (using compass and latitude controls):

1.  Make sure that the tripod is level, since this will make subsequent wedge adjustments much easier.  Theoretically it doesn't have to be level, but practically speaking it saves a whole lot of frustration if it is.

2.  Use one of two methods at first, either Clay's Kochab's clock method, or (believe it or not) a simple "one star" polar alignment using the Autostar (make sure you're in polar mode).  The one star polar alignment is a great feature, because it actually forces you to mechanically polar align the mount, and it's quite accurate.  Just follow the directions exactly, once you choose the one star polar alignment feature.  Once you've done the one star polar alignment, don't move the mount, since you're now reasonably polar aligned.  After this, you could power down, restart, and do a two star polar alignment to increase the accuracy of GOTOs (two star alignment won't change the mount settings at all).

Steve

[Ron]

THANKS Steve,


You make it sound so very simple!

Now if I can only get a couple of hours of clear skies to at least practice once or twice before I head out on vacation, maybe I won't be so lost!

Now that's a thought; I always seem to get lost on vacation, or so the wife seems to think so, because I didn't listen to her.

Can I do some fake alignments during the daytime just to get a feel for the operation of the scope??

Ron

[Grizz]

Ron,

Steve has it covered.

I have 3 extra bolts for attaching the wedge to the tripod if you want them. PM me and I'll send them to you. They may not be necessary but they might make it a little sturdier.

Yes I'd do some fake aligns. This way you can see where the polar home position is and how the scope slews to its different positions. And when you can adjust the mount and when not too.

Let me know.

[Ron]

Thanks Craig,

I'll try a few fakes and let you know what happens.

Thanks for the offer on the bolts, if I don't need them I will just use the center bolt.  That will save me time in assembly and disassemble!?

Ron

[Ron]

Well,

I did my first setup and I confused!?!?.  So what else is new??

  I wasn't sure whether the handles were supposed to be on the bottom or the top during the set up for Polar Home position.  One example I saw was with the handles up and another was with the handles down.

I started with the handles down,  but after my first easy one star alignment; and a goto Jupiter, and then back to Polaris, the handles wound up on the top.

Also, during Polar Home set up should the fork arms be level?

Thanks,

Ron

[Grizz]

Ron,

The tube is upside down in the  "Polar home position" Handles down. The handles might be back on top after a return slew to Polaris or the may end up  on the side...or somewhere else. Thats what I have found while polar aligning.

Keep us posted on your progress

[Ron]

Craig,

When I did my easy one star alignment I didn't do anything initially other than; mode out of the GPS, set the telescope to Polar align,  and  the scope slewed to Polaris and ask me to adjust Polaris with the AZ and Lat. until centered.  

Now that I have gotten through the first try without to much difficultly, I do realize that the scope pointed in the wrong direction for Vega and Jupiter, after consulting my Starrynight program.  

Ron

[Grizz]

Ron,

Here is what I do.

1. Point tripod (with wedge attached) north.
2. Level tripod.
3. Install scope.
4. Re-check level
5. Put scope in a position that will get a GPS fix. I try and get the antenna as high as possible with the clearest view of the sky.
6.Power up
7. Acquire GPS fix, confirm site.
8. Put scope in polar home position (OTA upside down) (handles down) I spin the RA circle to read 0 and line up the 3 marks. That should make the fork arms pretty level.
9. Select one star align. (not EASY align)
10. The scope will rotate and stop. The autostar will ask you to put the scope in the polar home position. (its there already)
11. Hit enter
12. It will rotate around till the OTA is almost right side up (handles up) Then it will ask you to adjust the wedges latitude and azimuth controls till the pole star is centered.
13. Do that.
14. Hit enter. It will choose another alignment star and slew to it.
15. Center that star with the hand controller.
16. Hit enter. Align successful


This works for me.

Now if you do some fake aligns and set the time for AM, for whatever reason on the initial slew to polaris the OTA will not rotate all the way around. It will just rotate a small amount. If you set the time to PM then it will go almost 180deg and be facing up.

Hope this helps

[Ron]

Craig,

I'm confused about pointing the tripod!  I had my tripod, with the largest part of the wedge( over hang) and one leg pointing south.  The OTA was pointing North.

Does this sound  right?

Ron

[Grizz]

A picture is worth 1000 words



OTA is pointing north. Tripod leg is pointing north. Opening between the remaining tripod legs is pointing south.

[Ron]

Thanks Craig,

Your right about the picture, always worth a 1000 words!

I don't know what I was thinking, but my wedge can only be installed with the overhang on top of one leg.  Just the opposite of yours because my azimuth adjustment mounts to the tripod on the other side between the two legs.

I only had a chance to do that one false alignment and then the clouds moved in so I had to put the scope back in the garage.

According to your last instructions, I think I need to do some more practicing.

I at least know I can carry the whole setup back in the garage without too much difficulty.  I don't think I can carry it as far as I did before but at least I can carry it a little distance.

Ron

[dsnay]

Ron,

Your set up sounds more like mine. I have to set up with one leg pointing south. I think that makes more sense because now you'll have the overhang of the wedge hanging over that leg instead of two.

The handles up vs. down thing might be the result of your GPS setup. I know I start out with the handls up (opposite of Grizz's excellent picture). I'd say go with his and have fun with it.

Having checked out my moon calendar, I see that imaging the Milky Way really won't be fruitful for a while unless I want to go set up at my local dark site at around 3:00 AM. Not bloody likely. I still might set up tonight and play with the LPI on the moon tonight. If so, I might practice polar alignment just for the heck of it.

clear skies,
Dave

[Ray Brooks]

I think the confusion is because of the difference between the azimuth adjusters. Standard wedge has it on the north side. Super wedge has it on the south side under the tilt plate.

Ray Brooks

[Ron]

Thanks Ray,

There were no complete diagrams that came with Meades instruction to show the final setup, and thier instructions leave something to be desired!

I have a tendency to sometimes miss the simplest of things though.   Now that I'm straight on the set up, I hope, I need some more practice runs.

If only the weather would cooperate.

Ron