Telescope Reviews: Alt-az mount warning

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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

Pages: 1

brianb11213
Postmaster

Reged: 02/25/09

Loc: 55.215N 6.554W

Alt-az mount warning
#3101833 - 05/13/09 06:59 AM

Nearly had a nasty accident with my WO FLT 110 / EZ Touch last night. I was carrying it "over my shoulder" to a better location to see an object low in the east, the tube swung round & clouted me on the head hard enough for me to see many unfamiliar constellations, in fact I was stunned for a few minutes and could easily have dropped the whole caboodle.

No damage to scope or mount, only a bump on the head which would probably have been worse if I hadn't been wearing a nice thick wollen beanie.

Must remember to check that the axes are tightened down before carrying the scope this way in the future.

Post Extras:

Chase McNiss
super member

Reged: 08/17/06

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: Alt-az mount warning new

[Re: brianb11213]
#3101859 - 05/13/09 07:37 AM

Brian,

Glad you didn't drop anything and that you are OK but wondering if you came up with any names for the constellations you saw. Thanks for the heads up.

Post Extras:

Starlighter
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/03/07

Loc: Sunny California

Re: Alt-az mount warning new

[Re: brianb11213]
#3102356 - 05/13/09 12:27 PM

The exact same thing happened to me only with my Portamount with the SV102ED mounted.
I had loosened the tension on the azimuth since that scope needed it. As I picked it up, the scope swung around and clobbered me good! I though I was seeing stars only not through the scope!

Fortunately, I was able to set the rig down before I nearly fell down. I ended up with a nice bump on my noggin.

So people, like Brian said, be careful when you pick up an AZ mount with the scope still attached, especially if it's a heavier one. Make sure the tension is secure.

Post Extras:

antilles72
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/06/07

Loc: Rhode Island

Re: Alt-az mount warning new

[Re: Starlighter]
#3102412 - 05/13/09 12:53 PM

Thanks for the heads up as well. I always keep it tightened anyway, but I am human...

Post Extras:

GShaffer
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/28/09

Loc: Bogart, Ga USA

Re: Alt-az mount warning new

[Re: antilles72]
#3102947 - 05/13/09 04:46 PM

Better yet.....remove the OTA and carry them independantly..... your noggin and perhaps ultimately your pocket book will thank you

Post Extras:

zjc26138
Loved By All

Reged: 02/24/05

Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio

Re: Alt-az mount warning new

[Re: GShaffer]
#3103120 - 05/13/09 06:09 PM

Sorry about the bump on your head, but at least your scope and mount are ok.

I did the same thing with my AR5 and Skyview Pro Alt-Az, I didn't tighten the tension while moving the set-up and the AR5 swung around and hit me in the head.

I survived and so did my equipment.

Post Extras:

Starlighter
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/03/07

Loc: Sunny California

Re: Alt-az mount warning new

[Re: GShaffer]
#3103122 - 05/13/09 06:09 PM

Well, the problem for me is I sometimes only have to move the mount several feet. That's because the object I'm viewing has gone behind the limb of a tree. To go to the effort of removing the scope each time would make it a royal pain.

Post Extras:

zjc26138
Loved By All

Reged: 02/24/05

Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio

Re: Alt-az mount warning new

[Re: Starlighter]
#3103141 - 05/13/09 06:16 PM

Quote:

Well, the problem for me is I sometimes only have to move the mount several feet. That's because the object I'm viewing has gone behind the limb of a tree. To go to the effort of removing the scope each time would make it a royal pain.

Same for me.

Post Extras:

GShaffer
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/28/09

Loc: Bogart, Ga USA

Re: Alt-az mount warning new

[Re: Starlighter]
#3103169 - 05/13/09 06:28 PM

While I understand your point..... 10 feet or 1000 feet doesnt really matter if you knock yourself out or do major damage to the equipment as a result.....but then all life is a gamble

Quote:

Well, the problem for me is I sometimes only have to move the mount several feet. That's because the object I'm viewing has gone behind the limb of a tree. To go to the effort of removing the scope each time would make it a royal pain.

Post Extras:

Jim7728
Postmaster

Reged: 04/10/05

Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC

Re: Alt-az mount warning new

[Re: brianb11213]
#3103275 - 05/13/09 07:22 PM

OUCH!

I took a good whack to the head when the 11lb weight attached to my Giro swung around while I was bringing it back into the house.

Luckily I have a thick head...luckily I have a brick head...

The bar counterweight now rests on my shoulder whenever I carry the tripod around.

Post Extras:

brianb11213
Postmaster

Reged: 02/25/09

Loc: 55.215N 6.554W

Re: Alt-az mount warning new

[Re: Chase McNiss]
#3104012 - 05/14/09 05:09 AM

Quote:

wondering if you came up with any names for the constellations you saw.

The Lumpy Head, The Wobbly Knees and The Compensation Lawyer

Seriously, though, it looks as though I'm not the only one to have had this particular accident ... if I've helped anyone else avoid similar, or worse, I'm happy.

Post Extras:

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