Wedge - Tripod CELESTRON - Free user manual and instructions

Product type	Polar alignment wedge for telescope
Brand	Celestron
Model	Prisma Pro HD (no. 93664)
Category	Tripod accessory
Adjustable latitude ranges	0° – 50° or 40° – 90° (depending on configuration)
Tilt mechanism	Latitude adjustment by worm screw and tilting plate
Azimuth adjustment	By azimuth adjustment knobs (loosening azimuth plate screws)
Adjustable center of gravity	Lateral plates movable forward for stability at high latitude
Tripod attachment	By 3 hex socket screws 5/16-18 x 1-1/4 in (centering pin)
Telescope attachment	By 3 bolts 3/8-16 (one in a slotted hole)
Main materials	Aluminum and steel
Estimated weight	Approximately 2.5 kg
Dimensions (approx.)	300 x 200 x 100 mm
Fork arm position	Two configurations: on one leg or between two legs
Included accessories	Latitude adjustment rod, mounting screws, keys
Warranty	One year limited
Maintenance and cleaning	Wipe with a soft dry cloth; do not use oil or solvent
Safety	Do not exceed maximum load; tighten screws properly
Spare parts and repairability	Contact Celestron or authorized dealer (reference 93685)
General information	Allows polar alignment for astrophotography

Frequently Asked Questions - Wedge CELESTRON

What is the function of the Celestron wedge?

The wedge allows tilting the telescope's rotation axis (polar axis) so that it is parallel to the Earth's axis, in order to track stars by reverse rotation. This is essential for astrophotography.

How to mount the wedge on the tripod?

Locate the centering pin on the tripod, lower the wedge onto it, align the slotted holes of the wedge with the threaded holes in the tripod head, then screw in the three hex socket screws 5/16-18 x 1-1/4 in with washers.

How to adjust the latitude on the wedge?

Loosen the two latitude locking screws on the sides, turn the latitude adjustment knob until the scale indicates your latitude, then retighten the locking screws.

Which latitude range to configure and how?

For a latitude between 0° and 50°, use the west latitude plate (mark 'R') by moving the side plates to the lower holes. For 40° to 90°, use the east plate (mark 'L') with default configuration (upper holes).

How to attach the telescope to the wedge?

Lay the telescope down, partially screw a 3/8-16 bolt into the hole near the fork arm. Raise the telescope, insert this bolt into the slotted hole of the tilt plate, then align the other two holes and insert the remaining bolts. Tighten all bolts.

How to adjust the center of gravity for more stability?

At high latitudes (50° or more), move the side plates forward: remove the eight screws from the plates, slide the wedge forward to align the front holes, then screw back.

Why is the latitude adjustment knob hard to turn?

Slightly loosen the bolts holding the orange latitude pivot bar (see Figure 5). This allows the bar to pivot more freely.

What are the two possible positions of the telescope fork arms?

Either the arms are aligned with one tripod leg (stability at low latitudes), or they are between two legs (better stability at high latitudes).

How to clean and maintain the wedge?

Wipe with a soft dry cloth. Do not use oil or solvent. Regularly check the tightness of the screws.

Where to find spare parts or warranty?

Consult the Celestron catalog (ref. 93685) or the website www.celestron.com. The warranty is limited to one year.

USER MANUAL Wedge CELESTRON

Your Celestron telescope has a motor drive built into the base allowing it to track the stars as they move across the sky from east to west. However, for this drive to be useful, (particularly for astrophotography) the telescope's axis of rotation should be made parallel to the Earth's axis. The Pro HD Wedge allows you to tilt the telescope's axis of rotation (polar or R.A. axis) so that the telescope can track the stars as they move in an arc around

the celestial pole. When this is accomplished, the sky's motion can be cancelled out simply by having the telescope rotate at the same rate as the rotation of the Earth, but in the opposite direction. This process is known as polar alignment.

Your wedge comes pre-assembled out of the box. However you will need to attach the latitude adjustment rod and may need to adjust the side latitude plate depending on your latitude.

ASSEMBLING THE WEDGE

1. Loosen the two latitude locking screws on both sides of the wedge (Figure 2).
2. Push the tilt plate all the way forward as far as it will go, and hand tighten the locking screws to hold the tilt plate in place.
3. Thread back the latitude adjustment knob so that the threaded rod does not interfere with the orange support rod.
4. Remove the three top screws from each of the L-brackets on the bottom of the tilt plate. Do not remove the bottom screws.
5. Place one end of the swivel block into one of the top holes on the inside of the L-bracket. It may be necessary to loosen the bottom screws and rotate the L-bracket enough to fit the swivel block between the brackets.

Note: The top hole position can be used for most latitudes. At higher latitudes the upper hole will give more stability. However at lower latitudes the middle or lower hole position will give more range of motion if needed.

1. Once one side of the swivel block is in place, reattach the screws to hold the L-bracket to the tilt plate.
2. Attach the remaining L-bracket to the bottom of the tilt plate making sure the other end of the swivel block fits inside the corresponding hole on the bracket. Tighten both brackets.

Your wedge can be configured in two different ways; for latitude range of 0^ - 50^ , or a latitude range of 40^ - 90^ . If you are at a latitude between 40^ - 50^ either configuration should work for you. The wedge comes pre-assembled in the 40^ - 90^ configuration. However, if you are located at a latitude of 40^ or below you will need to adjust the latitude plates on the side of the wedge. To adjust the latitude plates:

FIGURE 2

1. Loosen the pivot bolt on one of the side latitude plates.
2. Remove the three countersunk bolts holding the latitude plate to the wedge.

3. Rotate the latitude plate downward so that the three holes line up with the lower set of holes.

4. Replace the three bolts to attach the plates to the wedge and tighten the pivot bolt.

5. Repeat the steps above for the second latitude plate.
6. Reattach the latitude locking screws and hand tighten.

WHICH LATITUDE SCALE SHOULD I USE?

You may notice that the scales on the two side latitude plates are not the same. For accuracy, each scale is used for different latitudes.

• When the wedge is configured for the latitude range of 40^ - 90^ , the scale on the latitude plate facing east (marked with an "L") should be used.
• When the wedge is configured for the latitude range of 0^ - 50^ , the scale on the latitude plate facing west (marked with an "R") should be used.

ADJUSTING THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE WEDGE

Before mounting a telescope to your wedge you may wish to change its center of gravity by shifting the wedge side plates

forward. The side plates can be moved forward if you are observing from a higher latitude (50^ or higher). This will place the telescope's center of gravity closer to the center of your tripod for maximum stability. To adjust the side plates:

1. Make sure your telescope is not mounted to the wedge before making any adjustments.
2. Remove the eight screws (four on each side) that attach the side plates to the base plate of the wedge.
3. Slide the entire wedge forward so that the holes line up with the front four holes on the base plate. It may be necessary to loosen the bolts holding the orange support bar and latitude rod bar between the two side plates.
4. Replace the screws in the side plates in their new position.

FIGURE 3

ATTACHING THE WEDGE TO YOUR TRIPOD

The HD tripod (93493) has six holes on its base for mounting the telescope with or without the wedge. Three of the holes have captured bolts for attaching your telescope directly to the tripod. The other three holes are threaded to be used with the wedge.

The wedge can be attached in two different configurations; one with the telescope fork arms extended over one of the tripod legs (for more stability at lower latitudes), and one with the telescope fork arms extended between two of the tripod legs (for more stability at higher latitudes).

To attach the wedge to the tripod:

1. Locate the positioning pin in the center of your tripod.
2. Lower the wedge onto the tripod so that the hole underneath the center of the base plate fits over the tripod positioning pin. This will allow you to center the wedge on the tripod head.
3. Rotate the wedge until the three slotted holes on the wedge align with the three threaded holes in the tripod head. Keep in mind there are two alignment configurations as mentioned above.
4. Thread the three 5/16-18x1-1/4" socket head cap screws and washers into the holes and tighten.

LATITUDE ADJUSTMENT

Before attaching your telescope to the wedge, you may wish to first adjust the wedge to the proper latitude. To do so:

1. Loosen the two latitude locking screws (located on the side of the wedge) that secure the tilt plate. (See Figure 2).

2. Use the latitude adjustment knob to move the tilt plate until the latitude scale indicates the latitude of your location.

3. Tighten the latitude locking screws on the side of the wedge to secure the tilt plate in place.

You are now ready to attach the telescope to the wedge.

ATTACHING THE TELESCOPE TO THE WEDGE

1. Lay the telescope on its side and locate the three threaded holes in the bottom of the drive base.

2. Partially thread one of the 3/8'' - 16 bolts into the hole closest to the fork arm with a handle. Rotate the telescope base if necessary to align the fork arm with the closest hole.

3. Pick the telescope up by the fork arm and the base, and position it above the wedge.

4. Slide the bolt into the slotted hole at the top of the tilt plate.

5. Tighten the bolt slightly so that the bottom of the telescope base is flush to the tilt plate. Do not tighten it fully or you will not be able to move the base enough to insert the two remaining bolts.

6. Move the base of the telescope until the two remaining holes in the base line up with the holes in the tilt plate on the wedge. The raised feet on the bottom of the telescope base should drop into the recesses on the wedge tilt plate.

7. Insert the bolts and tighten all three completely.

POLAR ALIGNING THE WEDGE

Use the latitude adjustment knob to make final adjustments to your polar alignment in altitude. Use the azimuth adjustment knobs to make adjustments to your polar alignment in azimuth. In order to move your telescope smoothly in azimuth, slightly loosen the three azimuth plate screws before using the azimuth adjustment knobs (see Figure 6). Do not loosen the actual mounting screws that attach the wedge to the tripod.

TIPS FOR USE

• If the latitude adjustment knob is difficult to turn, slightly loosen the bolts holding the orange latitude pivot bar. See Figure 5. This will allow the bar the rotate more easily as the latitude angle changes.
• The wedge has two positions to attach the latitude pivot bar. The forward position can be used to give more range of motion when used at lower latitudes.

WARRANTY: ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY.

SEE THE CELESTRON ACCESSORY CATALOG (#93685) FOR COMPLETE WARRANTY DETAILS OR CONTACT CELESTRON AT WWW. CELESTRON.COM

Celestron, 2835 Columbia Street, Torrance, CA 90503 • Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]

93664-INST 09-10

CELESTRON

CALE PRO HD

MODELE N° 93664

FRANCAIS