What is the main advantage of the PrimaLuceLab C120 Pier over a heavy-duty tripod?
The primary advantage is stability. The C120 Pier's fixed, rigid steel structure, with its 150 kg load capacity, eliminates the flexure, vibration, and risk of accidental bumps associated with tripod legs. It also offers a smaller footprint, providing more room to move around the telescope and preventing the optical tube from colliding with a tripod leg when pointed near the zenith.
How do I level the C120 Pier once it's installed?
The pier is leveled using the three supplied M20 screws. After loosely securing the pier to the anchor bolts in your concrete base, you thread the M20 screws into their designated holes in the base plate. By adjusting these screws, you can precisely level the top of the pier before tightening the main anchor nuts.
Do I need to buy a specific adapter for my Sky-Watcher EQ6-R mount with the C120 Pier?
Yes. The pier requires a mount-specific adapter, which is sold separately. You would need to order the optional adapter specifically designed for the EQ6 / EQ6-R / AZ-EQ6 bolt pattern to connect your mount to the top of the C120 Pier.
What is the purpose of the blank adapter for the C120 Pier?
The blank adapter is a 300mm diameter aluminum plate with pre-drilled holes to attach to the pier, but no holes for a mount. This allows users with custom, rare, or unsupported mounts to drill their own hole pattern, creating a custom adapter for their specific equipment.
Can the C120 Pier support a Celestron C14 on a GM2000 mount for long-exposure imaging?
Absolutely. A C14 and GM2000 mount are well within the 150 kg (330 lbs) load capacity of the C120 Pier. This combination is precisely what the pier is designed for, providing the rigid, vibration-free platform necessary for high-resolution, long-exposure astrophotography with large instruments.
What do I need to prepare for the concrete base before installing the C120 Pier?
You will need to construct a solid concrete foundation and embed threaded anchor bars (not included) according to the pier's base plate dimensions. The pier is then secured to these bars. PrimaLuceLab provides mechanical drawings to ensure you position the anchor bars correctly for a successful installation.
