97 replies to this topic

[PFJs Customs]

Hello all, with this newly unveiled updated we have now received equatorial mode!

In preparation for this rumored new feature I have been looking into what wedge to purchase to use with my Seestar. It seems that the most common one is the Skywatcher one with the knob modification and to be honest might be the one I go with. But before that wanted to get other users feedback on their wedge and their experience with it, the pros and cons. 

 

I figure this would help myself and others make the best informed decision when it comes to purchasing a wedge. 

Feel free to chime in and share your experience and thoughts! 

[bradhaak]

My iOptron wedge is roughy the same price, has less wiggle, and the stock knob can still be used. I have both and will find a good home for the Skywatcher wedge. I’m sure someone in the club will want it.

[PFJs Customs]

My iOptron wedge is roughy the same price, has less wiggle, and the stock knob can still be used. I have both and will find a good home for the Skywatcher wedge. I’m sure someone in the club will want it.

 

Thanks for your input, what exact iOptron wedge are you using? I see that there is a couple of models.

[rydberg]

I am not sure if the Original poster meant THIS WEDGE but it is the only Ioptron wedge thatt I can find  that has the same rough cost as the Sky-Watcher one.

[bradhaak]

I am not sure if the Original poster meant THIS WEDGE but it is the only Ioptron wedge thatt I can find  that has the same rough cost as the Sky-Watcher one.

That's the one. You still need to buy a plate for it, but that's true with the Skywatcher wedge too, because the Seestar EQ alignment process requires the scope to have a specific orientation to the wedge at the beginning of the process, and the plates like the Skywatcher wedge comes with, where you screw the Seestar on until it's tight, don't give control over the final orientation. 

 

You need a plate like this one, where the screw is separate from the plate: https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title . I used the iOptron wedge with this plate last night and outside of me stumbling a little while learning the process, it worked great. It works with the Skywatcher wedge, too.

 

Good luck!

[PFJs Customs]

All great information!

[rydberg]

I have the Sky-watcher wedge and I have a long bolt which will let me use the standard plate with the Seestar.  If that does not work, I'll dig up my old Manfrotto 3063 tilt-pan head. I used it many years ago with a 100mm binoculars (about 25 lb).  I think it'll handle the seestar easily if needs be.

[SteveFour86]

That's the one. You still need to buy a plate for it, but that's true with the Skywatcher wedge too, because the Seestar EQ alignment process requires the scope to have a specific orientation to the wedge at the beginning of the process, and the plates like the Skywatcher wedge comes with, where you screw the Seestar on until it's tight, don't give control over the final orientation.

You need a plate like this one, where the screw is separate from the plate: https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title . I used the iOptron wedge with this plate last night and outside of me stumbling a little while learning the process, it worked great. It works with the Skywatcher wedge, too.

Good luck!

Thanks for the tips on getting IOptron wedge. I purchased the wedge and the dovetail/plate.

Edited by SteveFour86, 08 April 2025 - 10:31 PM.

[CraigR]

Sky-Watcher here with the eq balance arm from Peterson Engineering. They also sell an easy-to-use wedge that simplifies polar alignment.

[snakehelah]

I am not sure if the Original poster meant THIS WEDGE but it is the only Ioptron wedge thatt I can find  that has the same rough cost as the Sky-Watcher one.

Would this work with the tripod that comes with the seestar s50? Also, I cannot find this for sale on amazon EU sites, is there any alternatives you suggest?
https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title

[LDW47]

I'm goin' to wait for whatever ZWO comes out with, eh.

[buster313]

I have a very nice vintage Vivatar aluminum Tripod with fluid Head on it. I always do a technique that I call preloading the tripod. I use a simple weight like a small boat anchor or weight that I place on the ground under legs of tripod in center. I then use a turn buckle between the center of tri pod and weight to connect them. The idea is to transfer some of the anchor weight into the bottom of the tripod to create downward force. This makes the tripod rock solid. I don't suspend the weight... I just adjust it with enough turns on the turn buckle to put a good down word pull. I've done this quite often, some others use a weight bag, but by putting the anchor on the ground it like creating a pier effect. I'll take pictures another time to help illustrate.

[SteveFour86]

Would this work with the tripod that comes with the seestar s50? Also, I cannot find this for sale on amazon EU sites, is there any alternatives you suggest?
https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title

Try this link for European sales for wedge and yes it should mount to the Seestar tripod. https://www.astrosho...r-pro/p,61991. 

[Amazed]

I am using my Celestron Evolution 8 tripod. It has three 3/8 bolts built in.
I add the red leveling adapter first to allow, then an aluminum type camera wedge I purchased as an alternate. It supports 11lbs and cost less than the popular one on back order.
https://a.co/d/bWG94PP

Edited by Amazed, 10 April 2025 - 06:59 AM.

[snakehelah]

Try this link for European sales for wedge and yes it should mount to the Seestar tripod. https://www.astrosho...r-pro/p,61991. 

Does this wedge include a plate with a screw for seestar as well or do i get that separately?

[Tom K]

I am using the skywatcher wedge with the original S50 tripod - but 3D printed a mounting plate to move the center of gravity closer to the center of the tripod.  I will say that after using this a number of times I only really use the altitude adjustment on the wedge - for azimuth I just nudge the tripod left or right.   It is pretty easy to get "near perfect" alignment - or at least what the app tells you is near perfect.

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[SteveFour86]

Does this wedge include a plate with a screw for seestar as well or do i get that separately?

Yes you will need a plate. Something like this.   https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title

[SteveFour86]

I am using the skywatcher wedge with the original S50 tripod - but 3D printed a mounting plate to move the center of gravity closer to the center of the tripod.  I will say that after using this a number of times I only really use the altitude adjustment on the wedge - for azimuth I just nudge the tripod left or right.   It is pretty easy to get "near perfect" alignment - or at least what the app tells you is near perfect.

Love that plate. Can’t afford a 3d printer. 

[Tom K]

I am confident that a similar plate could be fashioned out of some scrap plywood with basic hand tools as well.

[sanford12]

That's the one. You still need to buy a plate for it, but that's true with the Skywatcher wedge too, because the Seestar EQ alignment process requires the scope to have a specific orientation to the wedge at the beginning of the process, and the plates like the Skywatcher wedge comes with, where you screw the Seestar on until it's tight, don't give control over the final orientation. 

 

You need a plate like this one, where the screw is separate from the plate: https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title . I used the iOptron wedge with this plate last night and outside of me stumbling a little while learning the process, it worked great. It works with the Skywatcher wedge, too.

 

Good luck!

 

That's the one. You still need to buy a plate for it, but that's true with the Skywatcher wedge too, because the Seestar EQ alignment process requires the scope to have a specific orientation to the wedge at the beginning of the process, and the plates like the Skywatcher wedge comes with, where you screw the Seestar on until it's tight, don't give control over the final orientation. 

 

You need a plate like this one, where the screw is separate from the plate: https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title . I used the iOptron wedge with this plate last night and outside of me stumbling a little while learning the process, it worked great. It works with the Skywatcher wedge, too.

 

Good luck!

 

That's the one. You still need to buy a plate for it, but that's true with the Skywatcher wedge too, because the Seestar EQ alignment process requires the scope to have a specific orientation to the wedge at the beginning of the process, and the plates like the Skywatcher wedge comes with, where you screw the Seestar on until it's tight, don't give control over the final orientation. 

 

You need a plate like this one, where the screw is separate from the plate: https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title . I used the iOptron wedge with this plate last night and outside of me stumbling a little while learning the process, it worked great. It works with the Skywatcher wedge, too.

 

Good luck!

The Sky Watcher wedge I have came with a plate and have had no trouble lining it up. It's a one and done thing. Line it up with the leg and tighten. If I go back to Alt/az it will be with my heavy duty photo tripod so the EQ base stays with the Sky Watcher tripod.

[PFJs Customs]

It seems that the most common wedge options being discussed are some sort of variation of the Skywatcher wedge.

Has anyone tried a camera style fluid head pan tilt set up similar to what is shown in the ZWO equatorial video?

Similar to this:
https://a.co/d/8j7YYfI

Thoughts? Experiences with a similar set up appreciated.

[SteveH71]

I bought this on sale a few weeks ago for $65. It works great. Very sturdy. Pan head is fluid. It's easy to level the head and has a built in bubble level. Aligning is easy with the fluid head because it's very smooth and you can adjust the tension. It's light and has a nice case. I use the Apetura level on top of the head to provide more clearance when adjusting to my latitude.

I went this route with wedge shortages and after watching Curtis' videos on YouTube where he had Pan head options.

I'm very happy with it.

https://a.co/d/0sVvSpY

[Digital Don]

It seems that the most common wedge options being discussed are some sort of variation of the Skywatcher wedge.

Has anyone tried a camera style fluid head pan tilt set up similar to what is shown in the ZWO equatorial video?

Similar to this:
https://a.co/d/8j7YYfI

Thoughts? Experiences with a similar set up appreciated.

 

 

I bought this on sale a few weeks ago for $65. It works great. Very sturdy. Pan head is fluid. It's easy to level the head and has a built in bubble level. Aligning is easy with the fluid head because it's very smooth and you can adjust the tension. It's light and has a nice case. I use the Apetura level on top of the head to provide more clearance when adjusting to my latitude.

I went this route with wedge shortages and after watching Curtis' videos on YouTube where he had Pan head options.

I'm very happy with it.

https://a.co/d/0sVvSpY

I actually purchased a similar tripod that included a very nice fluid head.  I did remove the head and replace it with a Skywatcher wedge though. 

 

The only thing I didn't like about using a pan head is it lacks the precise 'slow motion' controls the wedges have.  If I didn't already have two Skywatcher wedges, I definitely would have used the SCG tripod's fluid head.  They are certainly a viable alternative.  

 

If you have an S50, be sure to check the clearance of the quick release plate with the small rubber feet on the Seestar's base.  I wound up removing the feet on my S50 when using a previous setup because the plate would hit the feet preventing the S50 from turning in certain spots. 

 

Don

Edited by Digital Don, 15 April 2025 - 10:51 PM.

[SteveH71]

I actually purchased a similar tripod that included a very nice fluid head.  I did remove the head and replace it with a Skywatcher wedge though. 

 

The only thing I didn't like about using a pan head is it lacks the precise 'slow motion' controls the wedges have.  If I didn't already have two Skywatcher wedges, I definitely would have used the SCG tripod's fluid head.  They are certainly a viable alternative.  

 

If you have an S50, be sure to check the clearance of the quick release plate with the small rubber feet on the Seestar's base.  I wound up removing the feet on my S50 when using a previous setup because the plate would hit the feet preventing the S50 from turning in certain spots. 

 

Don

A wedge's precise control would be nice. If you tighten the tension on the panhead, you can achieve more precision. 

 

One thing I learned adjusting the panhead is to lock down one axis when adjusting. For example, if I am adjusting the altitude, you want to lock the azimuth. If not locked, I found myself accidentally moving the azimuth when trying to adjust the altitude. The head is so fluid, it's easy to make this mistake.

[carver2011]

I am using my Celestron Evolution 8 tripod. It has three 3/8 bolts built in.
I add the red leveling adapter first to allow, then an aluminum type camera wedge I purchased as an alternate. It supports 11lbs and cost less than the popular one on back order.
https://a.co/d/bWG94PP

I'm also using my Celestron Evolution mount. I use the 3/8" screw to attach a SkyWatcher wedge. It is rock solid, and raises the SeeStar to a comfortable height. EQ mode works great with this setup. If and when ZWO comes out with a Pro S50, I will use this setup.

     Ed