SKY-WATCHER SolarQuest Manuals

INSTRUCTION MANUAL SolarQuest Copyright © Sky-Watcher 2 PART I : Setting up the SolarQuest PART II : Observing the Sun CONTENT 1.1 Setting up on a Skywatcher Tripod ..........................................................................4 1.2 Attaching SolarQuest to a Camera Tripod ...............................................................5 1.3 Installing Batteries ..................................................................................................5 1.4 Test Run .................................................................................................................5 2.1 Pointing to the Sun Automatically ............................................................................6 2.2 Correcting Auto-Pointing Offset ................................................................................6 2.3 Envioremental Influence ..........................................................................................6 2.4 Factory Reset ..........................................................................................................6 SolarQuest Diagram .......................................................................................3 APPENDIX I : SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions .................................................................................................................. 7 Specifications ............................................................................................................... 7 WARNING: THE SOLARQUEST MOUNT IS DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE ATTACHED SOLAR TELESCOPES ONLY. DO NOT POINT OTHER TYPES OF OPTICAL DEVICE AT THE SUN. LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITHOUT A CERTIFIED FILTER WILL CAUSE IMMEDIATE AND IRRE- VERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE EYES OR INSTRUMENT. 3 SolarQuest Diagram Red LED Green LED Eyepiece Holder Bubble Level Solar Sensor Drawtube Solar Filter Battery Compartment Power Button 8-Way Slide Switch 3/8” socket Solar Telescope Eyepiece Diagonal Mirror Focus Knob 4 PART I : Setting up the SolarQuest 1.1 Setting Up on a Skywatcher Tripod 1. Fully expand the three legs of the tripod on level ground. 2. Install the accessory tray on the tripod as shown in Fig. 1.1a. 3. Attach the pier extension onto the tripod tightly with the locking bolt on the tripod head. 4. Remove the mounting head on the pier extension by loosen the 3 small locking screws. 5. Attach the SolarQuest mount to the mounting head tightly with the locking knob. 6. Place the mounting head onto the pier extension and fix it with the 3 locking screws. 7. Adjust the lengths of the tripod legs. Extend the legs to the desired height and center the bubble level on top of the SolarQuest mount. WARNING: The accessory tray of a Skywatcher tripod ensures that the tripod legs are firmly expanded, which prevents the tripod from accidentally tipping over. When using the SolarQuest mount on a Skywatcher tripod, an accessory tray should always be used to ensure stability. Lock Loose 3/8” Bolt Mounting Head Fig. 1.1b 1 2 Align the accessory tray and push down on it while holding onto the bottom supports Rotate the tray to lock it into place. 1 2 Fig. 1.1a Pier Extension Locking screws Locking Knob Locking Bolt 1 2 3

1 SKY-WATCHER SOLARQUEST MOUNT PEDRO RÉ http://re.apaaweb.com Sky-Watcher launched recently an azimuthal mount designed specifically for solar observing1. The SolarQuest mount has many interesting features. A built-in GPS automatically enters date, time and location and calculates the altitude and azimuth of the Sun. The mount then points the telescope to the correct altitude and slews clockwise to find the Sun. When the Solar Sensor detect the Sun the mount lock onto it and begins tracking. It is that simple. SolarQuest Mount Specs2: • HelioFind™ Solar Alignment Technology: Solar Sensor with 4 X Photodiodes & built-in GPS data fixing to obtain time & location to calculate the sun's azimuth and altitude • Telescope Auto-levelling feature with the help of the built-in tilt sensor (3 X axis accelerometer in the sensor block). • Auto drift correction through feedback from Solar Sensor • Auto Pointing Offset Correcting Feature • 8-Way Sliding Switch for Centring Sun in Field of View • Tracking Rates: Alignment-Free Solar Tracking • Pointing Accuracy: Up to 3 arc-minute (after customer calibration) • Resolution: 2073600 Counts/Rev., 0.625 arc-second • Slewing Speeds: 16X & 1200X • Tracking Mode: Dual Axis Tracking • Motor: DC Servo Motor, Gear Ratio 6480 • Payload Capacity: 4 kg • 45mm Sky-Watcher/Vixen type dovetail saddle • 3/8" Screw Fittings (tripod/mount) • Adjustable Aluminium Tripod with Accessory Tray • Bubble Level • Height of Tripod/Mount: 80.5 cm – 152 cm • Mount Head Weight: 1.3 kg • Total Weight with Tripod: 4.05 kg • Low Power Consumption 1 The SolarQuest mount is designed for use with solar telescopes only. Do not point any other type of optical device at the Sun. Looking directly at the Sun without verified-safe, professionally made solar filtering will cause immediate and irreversible damage to your eye. 2 http://ca.skywatcher.com/product/product/solarquest/ 2 • Power Requirement: 8 AA Size Batteries or External Power Supply DC 12V, Tip Positive (via adaptor panel). Figure 1 – Sky-Watcher SolarQuest Solar Go-To Tracking Mount & Tripod. Figure 3- SolarQuest diagram 3 Figure 3- SolarQuest diagram. Using the SolarQuest mount is surprisingly easy. The mount is lightweight and includes a tripod. The tripod and pier extension are the same supplied with the SW AZ GTi mount3. After levelling the tripod and attaching the solar telescope, the only thing left to do is to turn on the mount. SolarQuest then gets a GPS fix (about 1 to 2 min) and raises the OTA to the correct altitude and starts to slew in azimuth until it finds the Sun. When you use the mount for the first time, the 8-way slide switch should be used to centre the sun in the field-of-view. The power button should then be pressed twice, and this offset is stored and applied every time the mount is switched on. It is that simple. Under clear skies the mount tracks the Sun flawlessly, keeping the Sun it in the Field-of-view for hours. Point to the Sun automatically: 1. Turn on power. The SolarQuest will level the solar telescope automatically and then takes up to 2 min to acquire GPS lock before the next movement. 2. The SolarQuest will bring the solar telescope to the elevation of the Sun and starts slewing in clockwise in the azimuth direction to search for the Sun. 3. The red LED (figure 3) will blink slowly during the search and becomes solid after the SolarQuest mount locates the Sun successfully. 4. Use the 8-way slide switch (Figure 3) to centre the Sun in the FOV of the eyepiece. It is normal to find lags in movement when switching to an opposite direction. 3 http://www.skywatcherusa.com/product/az-gti-mount/