chicot
member
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 17
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Hi everyone.
I've been thinking of piggybacking a smallish refractor on my 10-inch LX200 and I was wondering what size of instrument was suitable. I was originally thinking of a Tak TSA-102N but the dealer I contacted steered me away from that (too large) so I'm now considering a Williams Optics 90mm megrez. Assuming it's balanced correctly, would the motors be able to handle this setup ok? I should add that I use the scope in alt-az for visual work and short-exposure imaging and have no plans to add a wedge at present.
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LLEEGE
Running out of Oxygen
Reged: 03/03/05
Posts: 6772
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
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I wouldn't go any bigger then a 90mm.
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AP900,LXD75
AP140EDF, TSA102, ZS80EDII
SN6-OTA, C8-OTA
Canon 20D, 350Hutech
PST, Lunt LD60T/DS (on order)
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imjeffp
Senior Space Cadet
Reged: 09/30/03
Posts: 4411
Loc: Cedar Park, Texas
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I've used my AT80EDT on top of mine, but it usually carries a short tube 80. I like the mini-dovetail from ADM for mounting.
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Blog
ST80 • AT80EDT/LXD650
ETX-90/DS-2000 • 10" LX200 Classic ("The Quarter-Meter Telescope at the Heritage Park Observatory")
SPC900NC • DMK21AF04 • Digital Rebel XT
  
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nytecam
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/20/05
Posts: 4779
Loc: London UK
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my 12" LX200 supports a piggyback 70mm f/5 ETX-70 on a homemade rail + rings and is a fine astrograph  My DS 2090 90mm OTA proved ok but maybe stressed the system - see link below 
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Nytecam 51N 0.1W
Meade 30cm LX200+ETX-70+DS-2090+C8+Ha+CaK PSTs SBIG SGS+homebuilt spectrographs
Starlight SXVF_M9/Lodestar/Canon 300D DSLR/Fuji E550
My observatory build-ETX-70 imaging-spectro page
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dwitek
member
Reged: 07/03/08
Posts: 83
Loc: White Lake, Michigan
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I have a SV 80ED NHNG piggybacked on my 10" classic with no ill effects. From looking at the power usage meter it looks like it only added about 1/2 bar. It used to vary between 3 and 4 bars no it's a solid 4. That indicates to me that there's a lot more it can handle.
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10" LX200 EMC Classic
Peterson Eye-Opener system
2" Dielectric Diagonal
JMI NGF Crayford focuser
Meade DSI Pro III
Piggybacked Stellarvue 80mm NHNG
I need an autoguider but don't want to tell my wife
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Kolenka
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/01/08
Posts: 593
Loc: Seattle Area, WA, USA
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Quote:
I have a SV 80ED NHNG piggybacked on my 10" classic with no ill effects. From looking at the power usage meter it looks like it only added about 1/2 bar. It used to vary between 3 and 4 bars no it's a solid 4. That indicates to me that there's a lot more it can handle.
Power consumption isn't always a good indicator of what it can handle. Mechanical stress can cause a break and failure without driving up the current all that much. Usually the first indicator will actually be a mechanical whine of the motors straining under the weight and slower than usual slews.
That said, you may still be right that there is wiggle room in this case.
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Meade 10" LX200R
Orion 80ED
Nagler 7T6, 9T6, 13T6, 17T4, 26T5
Canon XSi, TIS DMK 31AF03
Northwest Astro Photoblog
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dwitek
member
Reged: 07/03/08
Posts: 83
Loc: White Lake, Michigan
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What I also do is slow down the slew rate to be sure. I usually use 3-5 in most cases instead of the standard 8.
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10" LX200 EMC Classic
Peterson Eye-Opener system
2" Dielectric Diagonal
JMI NGF Crayford focuser
Meade DSI Pro III
Piggybacked Stellarvue 80mm NHNG
I need an autoguider but don't want to tell my wife
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chicot
member
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 17
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Thanks for the replies everyone.
As I said, I was thinking of going with a Williams Optics Megrez 90mm. However, after looking at the WO website I'm sorely tempted by the new carbon fiber FLT 98 triplet. The lightweight tube means the increase in weight from the 90 is slight (3.5kg as opposed to 3.42kg). Whichever option I go with, I know I'll be pushing it a bit so I'll definitely reduce the slew speed and keep an eye on the current indicator.
I've heard good things about the ADM dovetail system - it seems to be quite low weight which I will need if I am going to be loading up with the piggybacked telescope. For the weight system, I would go with the tried and tested Losmandy system but there doesn't seem to be a dealer here in the UK so I'll probably have to shop around for an alternative.
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Kolenka
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/01/08
Posts: 593
Loc: Seattle Area, WA, USA
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ADM has a counterweight system as well. I haven't tried it personally, but I do have the ADM rail system and it is very solid. The counterweight system should be just as good.
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Meade 10" LX200R
Orion 80ED
Nagler 7T6, 9T6, 13T6, 17T4, 26T5
Canon XSi, TIS DMK 31AF03
Northwest Astro Photoblog
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dwitek
member
Reged: 07/03/08
Posts: 83
Loc: White Lake, Michigan
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I use both the ADM piggyback and weight system. I am very pleased. I'm sure that the Losmandy system would have been great, too, but I bought both nearly new on AM together as a package and saved a bunch of $.
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10" LX200 EMC Classic
Peterson Eye-Opener system
2" Dielectric Diagonal
JMI NGF Crayford focuser
Meade DSI Pro III
Piggybacked Stellarvue 80mm NHNG
I need an autoguider but don't want to tell my wife
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dobbie
member
Reged: 08/24/08
Posts: 13
Loc: Texas USA
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I installed a Meade Series 5000 80mm on my LX200 not long ago and it handles it great. Can't even notice any difference in "load" on telescope. ADM mounts are great. I have the piggyback rail and the counterweight system. Can't go wrong with it. Plus the price is good.
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12" Meade LX200ACF
Meade 80mm ED APO Piggyback
ADM Mount/Rings, Counterweight setup
Televue, Meade 5000, and Zhumell eyepieces
Meade DSI Pro III
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