Setting up dual scopes on the GM2000

Parts were putchased and have been lying around since months. With Christmas break finally the time arrived to put everything together.

The setup consists of a 4″ 10micron clamp that sits on the mount’s head. Next a 10micron 4″ dovetail length 400mm. This should provide (based on sketcheds) sufficient space between the two telescopes.

At both ends of the dovetail two clamps were bolted-on: the original Baader Pan EQ 3″ clamp of 33cm (holding the C14) ; and second the 200mm 3″ 10micron clamp holding the Esprit refractor.

Things worked out well, balancing is ok and the GM2000 does not suffer in any way. I did need to add a 10kg counterweight. This Geoptik counterweight as a built-in adapter that can be removed, bringing the axis diameter from 30 to 40mm, so I removed that adapter to fit the shaft of the GM2000 (the GM1000 has a 30mm counterweight shaft)

With the help from Warre and Anse: finally both scopes on the mount!
Added a off-axis counterweight (500g) to balance the Esprit to the C14. It’s visible under the red-dot finder mounted on the Esprit.
Fully loaded with all electronics: powered USB3-hub, 12V 10A power converter, 12V 4-channel Dew Controller Hitecastro, NUC mini processor, GPS box, power distribution 12V ; cable management? never heard of 🙂 there is one 220V AC cable leading to the mount. All other equipment is piggy-back.
In action on Jupiter

Mounting double scopes on the GM200HPS

The 120mm Esprit has been out of a job for too many months! It’s about time to mount the scope side-by-side with the C14 on the GM2000.

Combined weight of bth scopes & accessories would be around 40kg, which is still below the photographic load capacity of 50kg.

Using the trick with the table to de-mount the C14
Removed the Baader Losmandy 250mm dovetail clamp
Mounted the 10micron 4″ clamp the wrong way (should be 90° sideways for side-by-side mounting!
This is the correct way!
What it should become: side-by-side for the C14 (above, Baader 250mm Losmandy) and Esprit below

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