JoelTN
member
Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 76
Loc: Gallatin, TN
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Well I am in receipt of a used 12" LX-200 OTA. I have a Atlas EQ-G mount with ADM Losmandy style saddle. With 22 lbs of counter weights, it is not even close to being balanced. I have ordered 22 lbs more. I guess I can fill up the whole counter weight shaft, but my basic question is can this mount carry this scope with any kind of ability (goto, accesories, or otherwise)?
I know I will be pushing things, but does anyone have any advice or experience?
Thanks,
Joel
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Joel
Edited by JoelTN (08/05/08 06:16 PM)
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rmollise
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 1564
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Quote:
Well I am in receipt of a used 12" LX-200 OTA. I have a Atlas EQ-G mount with ADM Losmandy style saddle. With 22 lbs of counter weights, it is not even close to being balanced. I have ordered 22 lbs more. I guess I can fill up the whole counter weight shaft, but my basic question is can this mount carry this scope with any kind of ability (goto, accesories, or otherwise)?
I know I will be pushing things, but does anyone have any advice or experience?
Thanks,
Joel
People have had pretty good visual results. HOWEVER...I stongly recommend you look into a counteweight extension/new counterweight (several dealers have them) rather than just piling on weight!
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Uncle Rod
Watch for Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using the New CATs--coming soon!
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JoelTN
member
Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 76
Loc: Gallatin, TN
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That's what I like about these forums, quick and clear advice from folks who know a lot more than me. I am impressed that the well published Uncle Rod replied so quickly.
Only one more question, is this extension just a screw in deal on the bottom? I found one place where I had to take the mount apart and the "dec nut" had to be drilled an tapped for a new shaft. It is all I can do to close the mailbox, and taking the mount apart is intimidating to say the least!
Thanks,
Joel
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Joel
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RAKing
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 803
Loc: Virginia
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Three 11 pound weights easily balance my C11 OTA w/Minirail, etc. (about 33 pounds RTV) about an inch from the bottom. I don't know how heavy the Meade is, but I figure you can either try three weights with an extension, or add just a bit more weight to the regular arm. Forty four pounds sounds a bit much. The mount might be able to handle it; I don't know if I could. 
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
"Hi Def" TV-102
C925-CF SCT "Time Machine II"
Orion XT10i / Moonlite CR2
GM-8 GEM / A-P Portable Pier
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jason_milani
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 1445
Loc: Northeast Ohio
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The Meade 12" is about as heavy as a C-14. I have an Atlas and when i eventually get it on a pier i wouldn't mind slapping a C-14 on it. I had a Meade 14" (70 lbs. on my scale) on a CGE and it was still pretty stable but that was on a pier also. I think the Tripod is the weak link with the Atlas although it's not terrible, it's not anywhere near as beefy as the CGE tripod.
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Antares 1529 6" Refractor
William Optics FLT 110mm LV Refractor
Orion EON 72mm Refractor
Orion Atlas mount with EQ MOD
William Optics EZtouch mount
Mallincam Hyper Color Plus
Celestron Neximage
Canon 350D
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MikeS
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/06/04
Posts: 912
Loc: Quakertown Pennsylvania
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The OTA specs state that the weight 36 lbs.
The Atlas EQ-G is rated at 40lbs.
If you add EP, finder, maybe binoviewer... 
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Mike Snisky
8" F5 Newtonian/Moonlite CR2
Orion Sirius EQ-G Mount
Orion 100mm F6 Achro on SVP w Intelliscope
Orion 100mm ED on LXD55 Mount
Denkmeier Standards
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Lee Jay
sage
Reged: 02/27/08
Posts: 412
Loc: Westminster, CO
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Quote:
The Meade 12" is about as heavy as a C-14.
36 pounds and 45 pounds are about the same?
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22365
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Quote:
The Meade 12" is about as heavy as a C-14./quote]
36 pounds and 45 pounds are about the same?
While my old orange-tube C14 probably went 45 pounds, a modern C14 will be less than 40 pounds.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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David Pavlich
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 6502
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA 30.38 X 90....
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The last 12"R I had weighed 38lbs, weighed on a digital scale. My C14 purchased new in '07 weighed in at 45lbs on the same digital scale.
David
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A few scopes and mounts.
Proud Member; PAS NOLA,
Life expectancies would go WAY up if green vegetables smelled like bacon...
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jason_milani
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 1445
Loc: Northeast Ohio
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Quote:
Quote:
The Meade 12" is about as heavy as a C-14.
36 pounds and 45 pounds are about the same?
The 12" Meade OTA is 40 lbs without any accessories - not 36 lbs. Meade OTA's are significantly heavier than Celestrons of the same aperture. Like i stated my Meade 14" sct OTA weighed in at 70 lbs. The C-14 is only 64% of that weight. A C-11 is much lighter than a Meade 12" and even slightly lighter than a Meade 10" OTA.
My old Meade 10" lX200 was more of a bear to lug around than my Nexstar 11, although this is getting off topic.
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Antares 1529 6" Refractor
William Optics FLT 110mm LV Refractor
Orion EON 72mm Refractor
Orion Atlas mount with EQ MOD
William Optics EZtouch mount
Mallincam Hyper Color Plus
Celestron Neximage
Canon 350D
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Lee Jay
sage
Reged: 02/27/08
Posts: 412
Loc: Westminster, CO
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
The Meade 12" is about as heavy as a C-14.
36 pounds and 45 pounds are about the same?
While my old orange-tube C14 probably went 45 pounds, a modern C14 will be less than 40 pounds.
Celestron says it's 45 pounds, as does OPT:
http://tinyurl.com/6arzzb
http://tinyurl.com/64sk3t
David confirmed this independently above.
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22365
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Celestron says it's 45 pounds, as does OPT:
Those tubes include a Losmandy-style dovetail; better allow 4-5 pounds for that (or add that much to the Meade to make comparison possible).
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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Lee Jay
sage
Reged: 02/27/08
Posts: 412
Loc: Westminster, CO
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Ah...perhaps that explains the disparity between reported weights and some people's experiences.
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Spoonsize
Vendor/Clothing
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2150
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I used to have a 12" OTA SCT on a G-11, along with an 80mm guide scope and cameras. As I recall, I had 48 lbs of counterweight with a 30 lb-er on the end of the bar, an 11 lb-er next to it and a 7 lb-er inboard of the 7 for fine adjustments.
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Steve Durham
www.margesmonograms.com
(Marge made me do it)
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JoelTN
member
Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 76
Loc: Gallatin, TN
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Hi Steve,
I guess I should have just emailed you since it is your OTA that I am referring to. It sounds like I am going to have to bump up in mounts to carry all of the stuff that will eventually be added. I guess I can use the Atlas as paper weight.
Joel
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Joel
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Spoonsize
Vendor/Clothing
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2150
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The good thing about the Atlas is that it IS an EXCELLENT mount, and should you decide to sell it, it should not last long on the market. I certainly would have shared the above info prior to the sale, and wish I'd had the opportunity to do that for you.
If you are not in a hurry, keep your eye peeled for a G-11 or larger mount. They do come up once in awhile and are usually pretty good deals.
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Steve Durham
www.margesmonograms.com
(Marge made me do it)
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jason_milani
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 1445
Loc: Northeast Ohio
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A G-11 with Gemini just went up for sale on A-mart for $2250.00. Better jump on it as these usually run closer to 3 grand normally.
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Antares 1529 6" Refractor
William Optics FLT 110mm LV Refractor
Orion EON 72mm Refractor
Orion Atlas mount with EQ MOD
William Optics EZtouch mount
Mallincam Hyper Color Plus
Celestron Neximage
Canon 350D
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JoelTN
member
Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 76
Loc: Gallatin, TN
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Quote:
wish I'd had the opportunity to do that for you.
Well figuring this stuff out is half of the fun. Nobody said that this hobby didn't involve spending some money. At least you get some really cool toys play with. 
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Joel
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sang33ta
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/08/08
Posts: 539
Loc: UK
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Like Rmollise said try a longer bar it's going to be cheaper and less total weigth.
Didn't somone once say "give me a lever long enough and I'll move the moon"?
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Hioptic 152mm f12.5 Maksutov
Celestron Advanced CG5-GT Mount (Mr Noisy!)
Meade 4000 Super Plossl Set
Casio QV-2900UX
Got fed up of waiting for Meade ETX-150 so put this together for £500/$1000 
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MikeS
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/06/04
Posts: 912
Loc: Quakertown Pennsylvania
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Quote:
The 12" Meade OTA is 40 lbs without any accessories - not 36 lbs.
I just realized that I was quoting the specs for the 12" LX200-ACF. That may be different than the regular LX200.
Aperture: 12"
Focal Length: 3048mm
Focal Ratio: f10
Weight 36 lbs.
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Mike Snisky
8" F5 Newtonian/Moonlite CR2
Orion Sirius EQ-G Mount
Orion 100mm F6 Achro on SVP w Intelliscope
Orion 100mm ED on LXD55 Mount
Denkmeier Standards
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