EQ5 Northifier for using equatorial mounts at high latitudes
Many classic equatorial telescope mounts have been designed for use in the most common latitudes, typically up to at most 60-65 degrees of latitude. This makes some sense as only a few million people live above 60 degrees northern latitude, and nearly nobody lives below 55 degrees southern latitude. As such, the decision to simplify the design and limit the possible latitudes is understandable, but no less frustrating for those of use who live outside this range.
Two problems follow from this limitation:
• Some equatorial mounts simply cannot be used in some areas on the globe, such as parts of Scandinavia, Alaska, Canada, and northern Russia.
• Even at more moderate latitudes above about 45-50 degrees, the polar alignment mechanism is strained in one of the most common designs for polar alignment mechanisms. In these mounts the latitude screw pushes onto a nose within the latitude mechanism. This happens at more of an oblique angle the higher the latitude, causing a significant bending force on the screw. More than a few latitude screws have been bent out of shape because of this, sometimes entirely getting stuck in the mount, requiring expensive repair.
The Nienna Northifier solves both of these problems.
Our Northifier is available from Astrotec and Teleskop-Service
Two problems follow from this limitation:
• Some equatorial mounts simply cannot be used in some areas on the globe, such as parts of Scandinavia, Alaska, Canada, and northern Russia.
• Even at more moderate latitudes above about 45-50 degrees, the polar alignment mechanism is strained in one of the most common designs for polar alignment mechanisms. In these mounts the latitude screw pushes onto a nose within the latitude mechanism. This happens at more of an oblique angle the higher the latitude, causing a significant bending force on the screw. More than a few latitude screws have been bent out of shape because of this, sometimes entirely getting stuck in the mount, requiring expensive repair.
The Nienna Northifier solves both of these problems.
Our Northifier is available from Astrotec and Teleskop-Service
- Products Made in Sweden
- E-mail us, we reply swiftly!
- You find our products with astronomy retailers
- BrandNienna
- ConditionNew
- Country of originSweden
- HS number90059000
Description
Article no.: EQ5NORTHIFIER
The Northifier is attached between the mount an its tripod, angling the mount up by an additional 20 degrees. This allows the user to angle up the mount 20 degrees more in total than what would otherwise be possible.
Example: this EQ3 mount is originally limited to approximately 64 degrees. (Some variation seems to exist in different generations of EQ3 mounts.) With the Northifier this is immediately increased to 84 degrees. Please note that the lowest latitude is also increased by 20 degrees, thus the Northifier is not suitable for use at latitudes near the equator.
Furthermore, the additional angle can be used to unload the mount’s own latitude mechanism.
Example: a user living at 64 degrees of latitude can set the mount to only 44 degrees, generating much less bending force on the latitude screw.
• Celestron: Omni-XLT mount (also known as CG4)
• Sky-Watcher: EQ3 (in all variants, also known as NEQ3 or EQ3-2.), EQ3 Pro, EQM35, EQ5, HEQ5. Technically it also fits for the AZ-EQ5, but that mount has no need for this upgrade.
• Vixen GP, GP-DX, GP2, GPD2
• Meade LXD-75
There are several other mounts that use the same connector between mount and tripod and which therefore might be compatible. This has however not yet been confirmed through testing. Candidates of mounts that may be compatible are Bresser Exos 2, TS-Optics Astro 5, Meade LXD55.
• Celestron Advanced GT (CG5)
• Celestron Advanced VX - this one has a very solid latitude screw and its latitude range is pretty large, so the upgrade is not necessary.
• Azimuth adjustment screws (A).
• Mount rotation locking screws (B).
• Mount rotation locking bar (C).
• Mount attachment screw (D).
• Tripod base with M10 thread (E)
Tools needed for operation, not included:
• Allen wrench 6mm
Example: this EQ3 mount is originally limited to approximately 64 degrees. (Some variation seems to exist in different generations of EQ3 mounts.) With the Northifier this is immediately increased to 84 degrees. Please note that the lowest latitude is also increased by 20 degrees, thus the Northifier is not suitable for use at latitudes near the equator.
Furthermore, the additional angle can be used to unload the mount’s own latitude mechanism.
Example: a user living at 64 degrees of latitude can set the mount to only 44 degrees, generating much less bending force on the latitude screw.
Compatible mounts
The Northifier will work on many different mounts. It is known to work with the following:• Celestron: Omni-XLT mount (also known as CG4)
• Sky-Watcher: EQ3 (in all variants, also known as NEQ3 or EQ3-2.), EQ3 Pro, EQM35, EQ5, HEQ5. Technically it also fits for the AZ-EQ5, but that mount has no need for this upgrade.
• Vixen GP, GP-DX, GP2, GPD2
• Meade LXD-75
There are several other mounts that use the same connector between mount and tripod and which therefore might be compatible. This has however not yet been confirmed through testing. Candidates of mounts that may be compatible are Bresser Exos 2, TS-Optics Astro 5, Meade LXD55.
Incompatible mounts
Due to the greater length of the azimuth-pin on the tripod the following mounts unfortunately do not work with the Northifier:• Celestron Advanced GT (CG5)
• Celestron Advanced VX - this one has a very solid latitude screw and its latitude range is pretty large, so the upgrade is not necessary.
Parts
The Nienna EQ5 Northifier comes pre-assembled. These are its functional parts:• Azimuth adjustment screws (A).
• Mount rotation locking screws (B).
• Mount rotation locking bar (C).
• Mount attachment screw (D).
• Tripod base with M10 thread (E)
Tools needed for operation, not included:
• Allen wrench 6mm
Files and media
 | Manual (Swedish) |
| Manual (English) |
| Manual (German) |