SW Wave 150i Latitude Dial Readout Wrong?

[NY2KW]

This past week I received my 150i with Pier extension and SW Wave Carbon Fiber Tripod. Weather has been clouds and snow so no opportunity to get it outside but I ahve been familiarizing myself with my first EQ mount and SynScan controller. I was breaking things down hoping to get outside tomorrow and to do so the 150i has to be returned to vertical to get back into it's case. I noticed then that the latitude dial was reading way past 90 deg around 110 deg by the time it was vertical and the knob ran out. I know this dial is meant to be a crude intial setting based on my local latitude but that seems pretty far off. I checked with a level that the tripod and pier were level in both axis. I thought I understood celestial axis but true vertical (to the force of gravity) should have nothing to celestial. I guess the ultimate test is to wait for a clear night and fix on Polaris and compare to my Google latitude (41.3°). Any advice, comments appreciated.

[NY2KW]

It's a defect in the altitude dial. When I bring the latitude to 0 deg, the adjustment knob reaches its stop/end with the dial reading more than 10 deg. Annoying for a mount that costs $2000.

[Graeme1858]

I noticed then that the latitude dial was reading way past 90 deg around 110 deg by the time it was vertical and the knob ran out. I know this dial is meant to be a crude intial setting based on my local latitude but that seems pretty far off. I checked with a level that the tripod and pier were level in both axis. I thought I understood celestial axis but true vertical (to the force of gravity) should have nothing to celestial. I guess the ultimate test is to wait for a clear night and fix on Polaris and compare to my Google latitude (41.3°). Any advice, comments appreciated.

The Latitude setting when the mount is straightened up for storage is not important. You should be able to adjust it to approximately 41.3° when you set up for a session. Then once setup, you do a Polar Alignment with a precise Altitude adjustment using the Altitude adjustment knob and a precise Azimuth adjustment using the two Azimuth adjustment knobs.

Could you post up an image of the mount showing the adjustment knobs please and we will be able to give a more detailed explanation.

[KathyNS]

The latitude scale on my HEQ5 is about 5 degrees out. It's not particularly important, just annoying.

[NY2KW]

Attached is a picture. If you enlarge on the latitude dial you will see its over 100deg when it should read 90. Similary, when I rotate the mount head from vertical to horizontal it reads 10+ deg instead of zero. Yes, it's a minor annoyance and not major. What I dont like about the mount, even before getting a chance to use it outdoors are other ergonomics. The clutch knobs are small and hard to reach particulary to tighten well. The DEC knobs in particular and are undersized and seem to loosen very easily allowing sside to side movement of the mounted scope. Hopefully, these will not be showstoppers in actual, repeated use.