Telescope Reviews: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount

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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

Pages: 1

Domerman
Just Lucky, I Guess.

Reged: 07/21/07

Loc: PA

Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount
#2945020 - 02/23/09 03:04 PM

How do people here deal with the burden of carrying the weight of their Atlas or CGEM mounts? I've read that both weigh about 75lbs and this amount could be quite back breaking for such an oddly shaped object. How easy are these mounts to break down and set back up? Is this feasible to do each night out?

Post Extras:

DonR
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/15/06

Loc: Georgia, USA

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: Domerman]
#2945067 - 02/23/09 03:48 PM

The weight stated for the Atlas mount on Orion's website (76 lbs.) includes the two 11 pound counterweights. Without the counterweighs, the mount and tripod weighs about 54 lbs., and the tripod accounts for roughly 10 lbs. So the mount itself is 40 to 45 lbs., more or less.

I don't try to carry it fully assembled, though I have on occasion moved it a few inches without removing the counterweights. The spread of the tripod legs makes it dificult to maneuver through doorways, so if your moving it outside to set up or inside to put away, fully disassembling it is the way to go.

It's a little awkward for me carrying the disassembled mount, but not really a back breaker. If you have to go a long distance, a case with wheels would be nice.

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TheMenace
sage

Reged: 10/21/08

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: DonR]
#2945138 - 02/23/09 04:20 PM

The mount head is the only part to be concerned with.
Not that difficult unless you add a mount extension,and extend the tripod fully before mounting the head on the tripod.

The atlas takes the same amount of trips outside than my smaller eq mounts,and is well worth the extra effort for the rock stable images it provides me.

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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: Domerman]
#2945397 - 02/23/09 06:43 PM

The mount is manageable in little pieces. The counterweights are separable from the counterweight shaft. The mount head is separable from the tripod. The head alone is a hefty but manageable 45#. The other components are even lighter. I find the Atlas to be a VERY easy mount to transport. I'm toying with the idea of a G-11 sized or larger mount. I'm expecting that mount to be a beast to haul compared to the Atlas.

Regards,

Jim

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Trebor777
Hazy

Reged: 01/04/08

Loc: Connecticut - U.S.

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: Domerman]
#2945432 - 02/23/09 07:02 PM

Quote:

How do people here deal with the burden of carrying the weight of their Atlas or CGEM mounts? I've read that both weigh about 75lbs and this amount could be quite back breaking for such an oddly shaped object. How easy are these mounts to break down and set back up? Is this feasible to do each night out?

I set up and break down everytime I observe.

Everything breaks down into managable pieces.

Takes me about a 1/2 hour to set up (including alignment procedure) and about 15 minutes to break down. And that's with putting 40lbs of counterweights and the SN10 and piggy-backed 80mm

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Agnotio
sage

Reged: 08/29/08

Loc: Ottawa, Canada

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: Trebor777]
#2945576 - 02/23/09 08:24 PM

Quote:

I set up and break down everytime I observe.

Everything breaks down into managable pieces.

Takes me about a 1/2 hour to set up (including alignment procedure) and about 15 minutes to break down. And that's with putting 40lbs of counterweights and the SN10 and piggy-backed 80mm

I have the same concerns as domerman000, and these comments are very helpful, thank you.

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wrather1
AstroBear

Reged: 10/25/05

Loc: Dallas, Texas

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: Agnotio]
#2958876 - 03/02/09 12:45 PM

I leave mine all put together on its tripod and it stands on a JMI "wheelie-bar" trolley. I just wheel it out of the garage whenever I want to use it - setup for polar alignment is very quick.

DW

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Jeffrey Sugden
professor emeritus

Reged: 05/04/05

Loc: Akron, OH

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: wrather1]
#2962325 - 03/04/09 12:25 AM

To minimize the number of trips and to reduce walking, I often use the cart behind my lawn tractor. I hand carry OTAs, but the rest is two trips with the cart. That includes chair and a 6 foot folding table.

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RAKing
Postmaster

Reged: 12/28/07

Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: Jeffrey Sugden]
#2962675 - 03/04/09 08:08 AM Attachment (54 downloads)

My Atlas weighed 36 pounds. I learned that it balanced well with a 2 inch nylon strap under it and I could manage it okay.

I would carry it out and set it in a PVC pipe holder while I carried the tripod out. Then I could lift it with the strap and go from there.

Necessity is always the mother of invention when we are working with astro gear.

Ron

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alanon
Nobody tells me anything

Reged: 06/29/07

Loc: Las Vegas

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: RAKing]
#2962994 - 03/04/09 11:12 AM

That is a a very cool stand you made there, Ron. The strap idea is also an interesting solution for not having to bend while picking it back up. Nice work!

Edited by alanon (03/04/09 11:14 AM)

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: alanon]
#2963071 - 03/04/09 11:46 AM

Quote: "My Atlas weighed 36 pounds."

I assume that includes the counterweight bar which is retracted in your picture. I had no idea the Atlas was lighter than the CGEM. I weighed my CGEM head at 38 lbs without the counterweight bar attached. I was under the impression that the Atlas was suppose to be close to 45 lbs based on other posts I have seen.

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RAKing
Postmaster

Reged: 12/28/07

Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: Lane]
#2963653 - 03/04/09 04:38 PM

Quote:

Quote: "My Atlas weighed 36 pounds."

I assume that includes the counterweight bar which is retracted in your picture. I had no idea the Atlas was lighter than the CGEM. I weighed my CGEM head at 38 lbs without the counterweight bar attached. I was under the impression that the Atlas was suppose to be close to 45 lbs based on other posts I have seen.

Yes, that does include the retracted CW bar.

I don't know where that 45 pound figure comes from. The Orion web page lists the fully assembled unit at 76 pounds. This includes 2 - 11 pound counterweights, a tripod, and the mount. So if we do the assumptions, you've got 22 pounds of counterweights, an 18 pound tripod, and a 36 pound mount. That equals 76 pounds, I think.

BTW - I tossed mine on a scale to be sure.

Dan, Thanks for the compliment. The little stand is nothing more than a piece of 6 inch PVC bolted to that platform. I designed it so I could carry out the mount and set it in that stand while I carried out the 6 inch A-P pier. That's my custom pier adapter on the bottom of the mount. It worked like a charm.

Ron

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alanon
Nobody tells me anything

Reged: 06/29/07

Loc: Las Vegas

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: RAKing]
#2963828 - 03/04/09 05:58 PM

It is always the simple, and inexpensive inovations that work the best in my opinion!

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dpastern
super member

Reged: 01/01/09

Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Re: Weight of Atlas EQ-G Mount new

[Re: alanon]
#2971007 - 03/08/09 04:42 AM

I have a SkyWatcher EQ6PRO (same as the Atlas variant, apart from the name) - I'd say the mount is not that difficult to handle. I usually set the tripod up first, then bring the mount out. A single male person *can* handle it imho. Without being sexist, it'd be too heavy for a woman imho, at least to handle it comfortably.

Dave

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