Polar alignment problem with synscan on 200p

[madMARTINmarsh]

Howdie all.

I recently purchased a synscan setup for my 200p which is mounted on an EQ5 mount.
I went to polar align (the first time I've tried to do it properly) but I have encountered a few problems I'm hoping someone can help me with.

Problem 1: the polar alignment scope doesn't look like any of the scopes in the youtube videos I've seen, it has the constellation Octans on it instead of the big dipper. It also doesn't have a circle at the bottom of the 'clock' like the scopes in the videos I've seen. I read that I treat this scope as if it's a clock, this leads me to my second problem.

Problem 2: I can't align the scope like a clock i.e. I can't get zero to go to the top middle and I can't get 6 to go at the bottom middle.
I've included pictures to show what I mean. The problem is that the stepper motors snag on the plastic shroud, preventing full rotation.
I have included pictures of the polar scope at it's full rotation in both directions.

Have I assembled incorrectly? The instructions weren't the best in my opinion but it looks right to me.

[Mirrorgirl]

Firstly i would buy a polar illuminator so that when your out at night it lights up your polar scope so you can see the north star,

secondly, to polar align you have to put your mount in home position facing north, there is a free app you can get on your phone or tablet called polar pro and its just the same as your polar scope, you look on app to see where the north star is and then put the north star in exactly the same place.


hope this helps

Rhoda

[KathyNS]

Problem 1: the polar alignment scope doesn't look like any of the scopes in the youtube videos I've seen, it has the constellation Octans on it instead of the big dipper. It also doesn't have a circle at the bottom of the 'clock' like the scopes in the videos I've seen. I read that I treat this scope as if it's a clock, this leads me to my second problem.

Ignore the Octans constellation. That is only for southern hemisphere users. You will be using the clock dial in the centre.

There are two styles of polar scope reticle. The older style has a small circle on a larger circle. The newer style has a clock dial. Yours is the clock dial style. If you are going to use YouTube videos for instructions, be sure to use only the ones that refer to your style of dial. Using the wrong instructions will only confuse you.

Problem 2: I can't align the scope like a clock i.e. I can't get zero to go to the top middle and I can't get 6 to go at the bottom middle.
I've included pictures to show what I mean. The problem is that the stepper motors snag on the plastic shroud, preventing full rotation.
I have included pictures of the polar scope at it's full rotation in both directions.

You rotate the reticle by rotating the mount in RA. It is convenient if 0 is at the top when the mount is in the home position, but not at all necessary. The mount can be in any RA position, as long as the dial is oriented correctly. Just rotate the mount in RA until 0 is at the top and you are ready to polar align.

[Gordon]

See if this helps.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=28646