ASTRO-PHYSICS German Equatorial 1200GTO Manual
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ASTRO-PHYSICS German Equatorial 1200GTO Manual

With gtocp3 servo motor drive
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Summary of Contents for ASTRO-PHYSICS German Equatorial 1200GTO

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    ASTRO-PHYSICS 1200 GERMAN EQUATORIAL WITH GTO SERVO MOTOR DRIVE For Mounts shipped starting in July, 2007. Beginning with Serial Number 1200723 MODEL 1200GTO PARTS LIST – MODEL GTOCP3 FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Why Polar Alignment is Important ASSEMBLY DIAGRAM...
  • Page 3 N and S Switch Drainage Holes Removing the GTO Control Box From 1200 Mount GTO KEYPAD OPERATION PULSEGUIDE BY SIRIUS-IMAGING PEMPRO ASTRO-PHYSICS SPECIAL EDITION BY SIRIUS-IMAGING CABLE MANAGEMENT 1200 Motor Cables Accessory Cables Example from International Space Station – Amateur Telescope (ISS-AT) Project...

  • Page 4: Astro-Physics

    Level (TRAYSB) or Single Level (TRAYSB1) - handy to keep your eyepieces and accessories close at hand • Polar axis telescope (PASILL4 – Prior versions sold by Astro-Physics will also work.) - threads into the base of the polar axis assembly.

  • Page 5: Features And Specifications

    Capacity of mount: Approximately 140 lb. (63.6kg) scope and accessories (not including counterweights), depending on length. Will accommodate Astro-Physics and similar refractors up to 206mm f8, 16" Cassegrains and Ritchey-Chretiens. These are only guidelines. Some telescopes are very long for their weight or heavy for their size...

  • Page 6: Introduction

    PEMProAP™ is a special edition that can only be used with Astro-Physics mounts. While the native periodic error of your 1200GTO will be 5 arc seconds or less, you can reduce it even further to maximize performance without auto-guiding.

  • Page 7: Assembly Diagram

    ASSEMBLY DIAGRAM Please read all instructions before attempting to set up your 1200 mount. The Model 1200 is very rugged, however like any precision instrument, it can be damaged by improper use and handling. Please refer to the diagram below for an illustration of the mount.

  • Page 8: Before You Leave Home

    BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME Since most of us must set up our instruments in the dark, in the cold or while battling mosquitoes, a bit of pre-planning and organization is important. There are few simple things that can be accomplished in the comfort of your home before heading outside.
  • Page 9 adjuster bar, but do not tighten. Rotate the Polar (R.A.)Axis altitude adjuster bar around this pivot point Housing until the corresponding hole lines up. Consult the diagram to determine which hole of the altitude adjuster bar should be used. Be very careful since the holes Altitude Adjuster Bar marked C and D are very close to one Altitude Adjuster Bar...

  • Page 10: Attach Pier Adapter To Pier Post (Purchased Separately)

    Attach Pier Adapter to Pier Post (purchased separately) If you purchased the pier from Astro-Physics, the pier adapter of the 1200 will attach right to the top of the pier. If you are constructing your own pier or tripod, you will need to incorporate this part. Three models of the pier adapter are now available for use with the 1200 from Astro-Physics.

  • Page 11: Precision-Adjust Rotating Pier Adapter With Azimuth Bearing (1200Rpa)

    5/16-18 x 5/8 button head screws and washers. Attach to an Astro-Physics pier: Simply fit the Precision-Adjust Rotating Pier Adapter into your Astro-Physics Portable Pier just like the Standard Pier Adapter and fasten it from the side with the six screws and washers provided.

  • Page 12: Hi-Lo Latitude Wedge Pier Adapter Assembly (1200Wdga) Or Wedge Alone (1200Wdg) For

    Attach to an Astro-Physics pier: To attach the Hi-Lo Latitude Wedge to your Astro-Physics pier, simply set the adapter into the top of the pier post, make sure the azimuth adjuster block is on the pole side, and fasten from the side with the six screws and washers provided.

  • Page 13: At Your Observing Site

    AT YOUR OBSERVING SITE Assemble Pier (purchased separately) Begin by assembling the portable pier at the desired observing location. Take note which direction is north. Slide the three legs onto the nubs of the base and rotate the assembly so that one of the legs points toward north (or south, if that is your preference).

  • Page 14: Polar Alignment - Part 1 - Rough Alignment

    Polar Alignment – Part 1 – Rough Alignment We recommend that you accomplish your polar alignment in two phases – rough alignment and fine alignment. Altitude and Azimuth Adjustments - Rough polar alignment For rough polar alignment, your goal is to sight the celestial pole when looking through the polar alignment sight hole in the center of the polar axis.

  • Page 15: Assemble Declination Axis

    Tighten the altitude locking knobs by hand. If you are using the Standard Pier Adapter or the Hi-Lo Latitude Wedge, tighten the pier knobs firmly by hand. On the Precision-Adjust Rotating Pier Adapter, the knobs will already be tight. Assemble Declination Axis R.A.

  • Page 16: Attach Mounting Plate (Purchased Separately)

    8.5” DOVETAIL FOR LOSMANDY D SERIES PLATE (DOVELM2) This Astro-Physics plate attaches to the 400, 600E, 900 and 1200 mounts. If you already own one of the Losmandy DAP series (fits Astro-Physics refractors), DC series (for Celestron 8" 9.25” or 11"...

  • Page 17: Attach Counterweight Shaft And Counterweights

    Attach Counterweight Shaft and Counterweights IMPORTANT: • Always attach the counterweights before mounting the telescope to the cradle plate to prevent sudden movement of an unbalanced tube assembly, which may cause damage or injury. • Remember counterweights are heavy and will hurt if they fall on your foot. Thread counterweight shaft onto the Dec.

  • Page 18: Azimuth Adjustments

    • GTO Keypad – Please refer to the instruction manual for the GTO Keypad and read the section describing the startup sequence and various polar alignment procedures including a procedure you can do in the daytime. • CCDOPS - We suggest that you refer to detailed instructions in the GTO Keypad manual for a method that utilizes CCDOPS from Santa Barbara Instrument Group (SBIG) for precise polar alignment.

  • Page 19: Altitude Adjustment

    Follow one of the methods of polar alignment mentioned above. During the initial adjustment phase, the 4 lock-down knobs should be hand tight only. This will allow easy movement of the azimuth axis. When you are close to the final position of the azimuth axis, use a hex key to lock down the rear knob only. The azimuth can still be moved with the adjusters, but it will now be solidly connected to the pier top.

  • Page 20: Understanding The R.a. And Dec. Clutch Knobs

    Understanding the R.A. and Dec. Clutch Knobs We suggest that you read this before assembling the remainder of your system. What do they do? The four R.A. and four Dec. clutch knobs depicted in the Assembly Diagram on page 6 have the function of connecting the R.A.

  • Page 21: Second, Balance The Polar Axis

    Loosen the tube mounting rings and slide the tube back and forth for balancing. This is best done with the tube in the horizontal position. If you are using an Astro-Physics or Losmandy dovetail mounting plate, loosen the hand knobs on the female dovetail plate and slide the male plate and telescope to the desired position.

  • Page 22: Servo Motor Drive

    SERVO MOTOR DRIVE GTO Control Box – Model GTOCP3 The GTO control box contains all of the circuitry to drive the two servo motors and the logic required to navigate the sky. It will be operational and track at the sidereal rate when connected to both motors of the mount and a power source. In order to control the movement of the mount, you will need to connect at least one of these: •...

  • Page 23: Power Indicator Light

    If your computer has USB ports, use a quality adapter to gain a serial port. Check our website or call Astro-Physics for information and adapter products that have been shown to work with our mounts.

  • Page 24: Reticle Connector

    PulseGuide™ is a stand-alone Windows (98, ME, 2000, NT4, XP, Vista) utility that provides complete remote control of all Astro-Physics GTO mounts. It derives its name from its most distinctive feature, pulse guiding, which can improve unguided tracking. Specifically, it can help correct tracking errors caused by polar misalignment and atmospheric refraction. You can also train PulseGuide™...

  • Page 25: Pempro Astro-Physics Special Edition By Sirius-Imaging

    PEMPRO ASTRO-PHYSICS SPECIAL EDITION BY SIRIUS-IMAGING PEMPro™ (Periodic Error Management Professional) is a Windows software application that makes it easy to characterize and reduce periodic error. PEMPro™ will analyze the performance of any mount that is equipped with a CCD camera and compatible camera control software.

  • Page 26: Cable Management

    CABLE MANAGEMENT The movement of the mount across the meridian during slewing functions is calculated so that the cables will not tangle if they are set up properly. In addition to the motor and power cables that are provided with the mount, you may have additional cables for other accessories.
  • Page 27 Allen head bolts. This allowed the Dec cable to slide easily over the axis in all orientations and there was no snagging of the wire anywhere. Please call Astro-Physics if you would like to order these bolts. Do not try to install normal Allen head bolts.

  • Page 28: Slewing Your Mount In Below Freezing Temperatures

    SLEWING YOUR MOUNT IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES Notes from Roland during a very cold spell in January 2005: “There are several potential problems when slewing your mount in below freezing temperatures. The symptoms are a wavering or chattering sound from the motors, a slowing down of the slewing with a sudden jolting stop at the end of the slew, and in the worst case, a continuous running of the motors and loss of control.

  • Page 29: Mount Care, Cleaning And Maintenance

    The members of this group are very knowledgeable about the operation of their mounts, CCD imaging and other related issues. The staff of Astro-Physics also participates and you will find a wealth of information in the archives.

  • Page 30: Troubleshooting

    TROUBLESHOOTING Additional troubleshooting questions are in the GTO Keypad manual. Some of the issues discussed in the keypad manual relate to mount communication issues whether you use the keypad or control the mount with a planetarium program or PulseGuide. Please refer to them. The Declination (or R.A.) axis is fairly tight, even with the clutch knobs fully loosened.
  • Page 31 In a few cases, we have seen that the set screw on this spur has backed off and needs to be retightened. If you have any doubts about where this worm and spur gear is in the scheme of things, call Astro-Physics and we will talk you through the procedure to check this.
  • Page 32 Technical Support section of our website. We also strongly recommend that you participate in the ap-gto discussion group at yahoogroups.com. In addition to the huge knowledge base of the various members, the technical support staff at Astro-Physics also participates to help solve problems and answer questions. ASTRO-PHYSICS, INC...

  • Page 33: Recommended Reading From Our Staff

    RECOMMENDED READING FROM OUR STAFF The Backyard Astronomer's Guide, Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer, Firefly Books Ltd., Rev. Ed., Oct. 2002. ISBN 155209507X The authors, both former editors of Astronomy magazine, offer practical insight into astronomical equipment, finding your way around the sky, polar alignment, using setting circles, and astrophotography. This book provides excellent explanations and is well organized and illustrated.

  • Page 34: Standard Pier Adapter Of The 1200 Mount

    STANDARD PIER ADAPTER OF THE 1200 MOUNT The 1200 series mount is designed to fit into our 10" outside diameter pier, which is available in several heights. The pier adapter of the 1200 mount shown above fits into the post (aluminum tube) of the pier assembly and is secured with six (6) 5/16- 18 screws at the location marked C.

  • Page 35: Clutch Plug Replacement For 900 Or 1200 Mount

    • A special screwdriver that has been modified by Astro-Physics, if you ordered it. This screwdriver is marked with masking tape. DO NOT REMOVE this tape. Instructions for making your own tool can be found below and in the Technical Support section of our website.

  • Page 36: Construct Your Own Clutch Plug Extraction Tool

    Construct Your Own Clutch Plug Extraction Tool...

  • Page 37: Characterizing The Dec Axis Motions

    CHARACTERIZING THE DEC AXIS MOTIONS...

  • Page 38: Astro-Physics Mounting Plate Fastener Chart

    Astro-Physics Mounting Plate Fastener Chart A-P Part # Description Ships with: (4) 1/4-20x5/8" SHCS [for mounting to 400, 900 or Mach1GTO] FP1500 15" Flat Plate (4) M6-1.0x20mm SHCS [for mounting to 600E] (4) 1/4-20x3/4" SHCS [for mounting to 1200] (6) 1/4-20x1" FHSCS [for mounting to 900 or 1200] FP1800 18"...

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