Starizona Balance Box Owner’s Manual
- June 4, 2024
- Starizona
Table of Contents
Balance Box
Owner’s Manual
Balance Box
The Starizona Balance Box is used to measure the current being drawn by a
telescope mount to determine if the mount is properly balanced. With some
mounts, the usual method of balancing by loosening the clutches and pushing
the scope up and down is made difficult by mount axes that stick with heavy
grease and do not move freely when the clutches are loose.
The idea behind the Balance Box is that the amperage drawn by the mount should
be the same in both directions for a given axis when the mount is properly
balanced. To use the Balance Box, simply plug it in the line between your
power supply and mount.
The box uses a standard 2.1mm plug which will work with Celestron, Skywatcher,
Astro-Physics, and other popular mounts. When power is going to the box you
will see the voltage in red numbers.
Once the mount is powered up, you should see a current value in amps displayed
in blue numbers. When the mount is not slewing, this number will be low,
usually under 1A.
It is best to put the mount in the standard balancing position, which with a
German equatorial mount is with the counterweight shaft and the optical tube
parallel to the ground. This will require the most effort from the motors if
the mount is out of balance and will give the most accurate readings.
The declination axis should be balanced first on a German equatorial mount.
This is done by sliding the optical tube forward or backward. Begin by
pressing the north or south button on the mount’s hand controller and hold it
for at least a few seconds. You will see the current reading increase, usually
to between 1 and 2 amps (depending on the mount being used). Note the high
value that is reached.
Now move the mount in the opposite direction (on the same axis) and note the
high current value again.
In this example, the current is 0.2A higher in one direction than the other.
Adjust the position of the optical tube and repeat the process to measure the
current. When the scope is balanced, the current readings should be
approximately equal (usually to within 0.02A or so).
Now repeat the process for the right ascension axis and your mount is balanced
and ready to go. You can leave the Balance Box inline if desired to measure
the voltage from a power supply, for example.
Specifications
| Input/Output Plug | 2.1/5.5mm center positive |
|---|---|
| Voltage Input Range | 4-28V |
| Voltage Resolution | 0.1V |
| Current Resolution | 0.01A |
| Power Cord Length | Approx. 30″ |
| Box Dimensions | 2.25″ L x 1.38″ W x 1.5″ H |