Is an Ioptron Tri Pier feasible as a semi permanent solution? - Forums

Topic starter

Jan 16, 2024

I need some input from you guys.

Is it feasible for it to be left outside with the mount attached to it for a month or three at a time, so I can just run power to the mount and attach the scope when it's time to image?
Setting up from scratch every session in freezing cold is not something I look forward to anymore.
Of course, it's assuming some sort of cover to shield it from the worst of the elements during the day and off nights - I don't exactly fancy my mount being rained on.
I'm using short focal lengths so galaxy season is essentially my time off.

it would be standing on a tiled pavement, it's stable - but not quite thick or solid enough to reliably mount a permanent pier outright, - i'd fear it would sooner or later just tip over and fall over with the tiles still attached to it, lol. I'm apprehensive about tearing it up and pouring concrete.

Would the tri-pier be stable and rigid enough to maintain level and PA across multiple sessions?
Will it survive the continuous exposure without rusting away in the elements?

Thanks.

Engaging

Nick Grundy

Jan 16, 2024

while I really like my tri-pier, I've had some issues with it. I really don't think it'd do really well consistently exposed to elements. It's strong enough and I doubt there's any risk in tipping (what's the payload weight?) I definitely question the protection applied to the metals. I think it'll rust.

we were actually discussing how well PA holds for some of us who image across multiple nights https://www.astrobin.com/forum/c/astrophotography/deep-sky/polar-align-ahead-of-time/

for me, all PA alignment tools report some degradation, but I have yet to find an unbiased way to test that out and confirm (some measures where proposed in other thread)

If you could find a way to seal the tri-pier a bit better, it may still work. I wouldn't expect PA to hold over months, but over a week of imaging seems like it would be fine

Andy Brown

Jan 16, 2024 · Edited: Jan 16, 2024

Hi Piotr,

My Tripier has been outside permanently for several months protected by a Telegizmos 365 cover. It stands on bricks set into a lawn and the PA has held steady for several weeks at a time. The tightening bolts have rusted a little but still do their job. It is rock solid with my current setup: CEM70+Tak Baby-Q. Hope that helps. Clear skies, Andy

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Rowland Archer

Jan 16, 2024

I used mine outdoors under a Telegizmos 365 cover for a couple of years, and then I moved and had Backyard Observatories build a RoR where I have two permanent piers installed by them, and the iOptron tri-pier holding a third scope. Only drawback - you can bump it and mess up polar alignment :-) ! As mentioned above, the tightening bolts will rust a bit over time so probably worth hitting them with some protectant, but they still turn OK. So bottom line, yes, with adequate footing, it's a fine semi-permanent setup. If you can pour a concrete pier, that's even better, but as long as you're not bumping into the tri-pier, or have it on a deck that you also walk on, it's fine for imaging.

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Ashraf AbuSara

Jan 16, 2024

That's exactly what I do. I elected to go for the iOptron tripier 360a and I have the HAE69ec and the AG Optical FA12 all sitting outside under two covers, an Orion scope cloak and a TG 365 cover. Hopefully it is better built to withstand the elements. I will say the red paint already started fading from the legs as my TG 365 does not extend far enough to cover the whole thing. But the thing feels absolutly rock solid where I have it on concrete.

As to PA, unless I bump into it, it holds the PA very very well, despite putting an extra tile underneath one of the legs to keep it level. That being said I check PA every night before I start imaging, literally takes few minutes. Occasionally I make a very minor adjustment to the PA to get it under 1'.

Jeff Horn

Jan 16, 2024 · Edited: Jan 16, 2024

OMG Ashraf that amazing rig right next to your pool is giving me palpitations.

Ashraf AbuSara

Jan 16, 2024

Jeff Horn:
OMG Ashraf that amazing rig right next to your pool is giving me palpitations.

I know! Trust me I get scared when it gets a bit windy. But the risk of it tipping in the pool is lower than the risk of my kids bumping into it at full speed if it was outside the fenced area...

Norman Tajudin

Jan 16, 2024

You can also bring down the top to give the legs a wider stance if you’re worried about stability. Mine is rock solid with a CEM70 mount and 111mm refractor. I’ve even put my 10” Cave Newtonian on there for visual. Never had an issue with wind or anything. As mentioned above, the Telegizmos 365 cover tops it off!

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Doug Lozen

Jan 20, 2024

I live in SW Florida and have had my imaging rig set up permanently in the backyard under a Telegizmos 360 tarp. The scope is a 4" APO and the mount is the Ioptron CEM 60 on tri pier. I rarely bring the scope in, and have had no problems over the last 3 years. Typical summer days are 93 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity and rain.

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Reg Pratt

Jan 21, 2024

I used the tri-pier with a CEM70 in my backyard for about 7 months. Was very solid, didn't have to redo my PA a single time.

Norman Tajudin

Jan 23, 2024

Norman Tajudin:
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Edit

Forgot to add a photo... ;-)

Icharuss

Jan 23, 2024

I think the newer tri-piers have composite tightening levers. Mine has the stainless steel and they do rust a bit. Other than that though, I've had no issues here on the Gulf Coast with my scope under a TeleGizmo.

Norman Tajudin

Jan 23, 2024

I think the newer tri-piers have composite tightening levers. Mine has the stainless steel and they do rust a bit. Other than that though, I've had no issues here on the Gulf Coast with my scope under a TeleGizmo.

I wish they were stainless. They are chromed. I upgraded my tightening levers via McMaster-Carr as I was sick of the rust and seizing as I let mine sit out most of the year. The upgraded tightening levers work great!

Abeunis

Jan 23, 2024

I left my setup outside as a semi permanent setup for months and it seemed steady as a rock ( ioptron tri pier360 + cem 70g and cem 120 with edge hd 9.25 and esprit 120ed both protected with telegizmoz 365 covers)
both very heavy setups with the legs of the tri pier 360 on concrete slaps.
I left it outside in rain and wind and it never moved an inch.
And then there was a gust of wind that messed everything up and tipped both setups over at the same time…it must have been a freak wind, but this just shows that you have to be very careful, no matter how sturdy the setup seems…
The scopes are fine because they landed on soft wet grass, but both mounts got their worm wheels ruined.
I still die a little inside when I think about that night…

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Eddie Pons

Jan 23, 2024

I left my setup outside as a semi permanent setup for months and it seemed steady as a rock ( ioptron tri pier360 + cem 70g and cem 120 with edge hd 9.25 and esprit 120ed both protected with telegizmoz 365 covers)
both very heavy setups with the legs of the tri pier 360 on concrete slaps.
I left it outside in rain and wind and it never moved an inch.
And then there was a gust of wind that messed everything up and tipped both setups over at the same time…it must have been a freak wind, but this just shows that you have to be very careful, no matter how sturdy the setup seems…
The scopes are fine because they landed on soft wet grass, but both mounts got their worm wheels ruined.
I still die a little inside when I think about that night…

OMG! My worst nightmare.

Norman Tajudin

Jan 24, 2024

I still die a little inside when I think about that night…

Wow! Hopefully with my relatively small backyard setup will be more sheltered from really strong wind gusts at that level thanks to the concrete fences and house. Happy that the scopes survived but the mounts must have been a pain to fix.

Tristan Campbell

Jan 24, 2024 · Edited: Jan 24, 2024

I lost a scope and mount to the wind also. I always bring my rig in now unless there is a prolonged clear spell but I do have more confidence if it is outside as I can bind the bottom of the cover around the column of the Tri Pier 360 with bungie ties to prevent wind getting under. I think the biggest risk of toppling is when the wind gets under the cover. The (red) paint of my tri pier has faded a little but otherwise it's doing fantastic as a semi permanent setup - rock solid.

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