Buying a used EM500 from Astromart

mymoon · Post by **mymoon** » Fri May 13, 2011 10:39 pm

yltansg wrote:Hi Mymoon,

According to the seller, the manual mentioned that altitude adjustment is from 20-50 degree - not suitable for use in this location. On my request seller have checked and confirmed that it can be set to 1 degree. If it can be set to 1 degree do I still need a wedge?

for my case the local fabricator make a 30 deg wedge which translate to the NJP2 being operational from -5 to 18 deg!

Hence I can safely say that the NJP2 can operate at 1 deg. Mine is set for 6 deg. Soon I may try at 3 deg.

similarly if you were to use a 20 deg wedge then your EM500 will operate from 0 to 30 deg.

At this level you will be comparing Mercedes to BMW to Lexus;AP, Paramount, Takahashi . Each provides in their own way levels of performance that meets beyond the requirements of most amateurs.

and you are familiar with Takahashi mount having own a EM400.

So what are you going to do with the EM400. [smilie=ahaaah.gif]

cheers

Post by **rcj** » Fri May 13, 2011 11:25 pm

pardon my curiosity....what is going to likely sit on the em500?

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Sat May 14, 2011 12:25 am

mymoon, got any contact info for the local fabricator?

i need a wedge for my CGEM..

yltansg · Post by **yltansg** » Sat May 14, 2011 6:42 am

Hi Remus,

10" Meade LX200R and/or 10" Meade LXD55 SN10 for now.

With Timoth's help I have built a permanent pier for the iEQ45. Unfortunately, either of these with imaging train are beyond the iEQ45 load capacity.

Got to start looking at investing in a heavy duty mount :)

Alfred

rcj wrote:pardon my curiosity....what is going to likely sit on the em500?

yltansg · Post by **yltansg** » Sat May 14, 2011 7:04 am

Hi Mymoon,

Thanks for the info on the wedge.

The seller has set the mount for latitude 1 degree. I have attached photos of that setting. Is a wedge still necessary when the mount can be set to 1 deg?

Oh, I don't own a EM400. I have used it, that all :)

Alfred

mymoon wrote:
yltansg wrote:Hi Mymoon,

According to the seller, the manual mentioned that altitude adjustment is from 20-50 degree - not suitable for use in this location. On my request seller have checked and confirmed that it can be set to 1 degree. If it can be set to 1 degree do I still need a wedge?

for my case the local fabricator make a 30 deg wedge which translate to the NJP2 being operational from -5 to 18 deg!

Hence I can safely say that the NJP2 can operate at 1 deg. Mine is set for 6 deg. Soon I may try at 3 deg.

similarly if you were to use a 20 deg wedge then your EM500 will operate from 0 to 30 deg.

At this level you will be comparing Mercedes to BMW to Lexus;AP, Paramount, Takahashi . Each provides in their own way levels of performance that meets beyond the requirements of most amateurs.

and you are familiar with Takahashi mount having own a EM400.

So what are you going to do with the EM400.[smilie=ahaaah.gif]

cheers

yltansg · Post by **yltansg** » Sat May 14, 2011 7:10 am

Hi Cloudcover,

You are right about lower shipping cost. I am working on it. BTW how much did the SXD cost you?

Alfred

cloud_cover wrote:Congrats on the ability to pick up an EM500! :) For me, even if I could afford one, I still probably can't make use of it!
I'm not sure what the weight of the EM500 is but if domestic shipping is included in the price, you probably can do better shipping with comgateway.com. GST alone will be US500+ but shipping should be cheaper than $1000. My full set of SXD with tripod and 20lbs of CW, hard case etc etc cost me about $400 to ship over, including the GST. Given that your mount (although heavy) doesn't include tripod (hence less volumetric weight), shipping should be comparable, I think :)

shirox · Post by **shirox** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:49 am

do take note that shipping rates has been increased.

Post by **rcj** » Sat May 14, 2011 10:25 am

then the em500 should go very well with the ota. personally i wouldnt scrimp on shipping given that budget... dhl for peace of mind never fails to deliver properly, and r accountable. but then again, thats a personal experience. its premium equipment, should deserve proper care through the shipping journey

timatworksg · Post by **timatworksg** » Sat May 14, 2011 10:33 am

Hi Alfred,
interesting venture. I still need to visit you to set the pier up...bah distance from East to West!!!

I will also second Remu's thoughts on not skimping on shipping. If I was to invest in probably the ultimate mount for all my Astro needs, I would spend a mad amount on shipping to ensure all is safe and sound. I would also go with DHL/FEDEx and courier this over hand delivered. Yes it's extremely expensive....but it's not something that will last a year. It will go one for ever and take on alot of abuse and use. Yeah...I would go courier and just pay without a blink of an eye!!

mymoon · Post by **mymoon** » Sat May 14, 2011 10:43 am

yltansg wrote:Hi Mymoon,

Thanks for the info on the wedge.

The seller has set the mount for latitude 1 degree. I have attached photos of that setting. Is a wedge still necessary when the mount can be set to 1 deg?

Oh, I don't own a EM400. I have used it, that all

Alfred

If the current owner says it can be used for latitude of 1 deg, then good. There is no need for a wedge

orly_andico wrote:mymoon, got any contact info for the local fabricator?

i need a wedge for my CGEM..

We take leaf from AP section Astro-Physics 900 Mount Upgrades and Spare Parts and Paramount

instead we slope the top plate by 30 deg and bolt the mount head to it.

This can be seen from my friend's setup

this method unfortunately works with a pier ; a half pier tripod mounted is too dicey and risk of toppling and crashing to the ground..and [smilie=crying2.gif]

is too great.

but no need for a machine shop. any good welding shop will do.

we are now developing a mobile pier along the same lines.

hope that help.

cheers