Paramount ME Wedge and Pier Adaptor Plate: Fit and Setup
By Cloud Break Optics | Published: 2026-11-04
Category: أدلة إرشادية
Match the Paramount ME wedge and pier adaptor plate to your latitude and pier, then install them in the right order. Includes a step-by-step setup and common mistakes.
Quick answer
Use the Paramount ME/ME II Latitude Adjustment Wedge when your site falls outside the mount’s built-in latitude range, and use the Paramount ME Lightweight Wedge to Pier Adaptor Plate to join that wedge to a pier. Install the adaptor plate on the pier first, then bolt the wedge to the plate, and set your latitude before adding the mount.
Why the wedge exists: built-in latitude limits
The Paramount ME mount adjusts natively from 15° to 58° latitude, and the Paramount ME II from 10° to 65°. If you observe outside those windows—common in high-latitude locations above 58° or near the equator below 15°—the mount cannot reach polar alignment on its own. The Latitude Adjustment Wedge extends the usable range to 0–15° and 58–90°, covering those edge cases.
If your site already sits comfortably inside the built-in range, the wedge adds height and cost without solving a problem. Check your latitude first; only add the wedge when the mount’s native adjustment cannot reach the celestial pole.
What the pier adaptor plate does—and doesn’t do
The Paramount ME Lightweight Wedge to Pier Adaptor Plate is a machined aluminum interface that connects the wedge to a pier. It weighs about 2.7 kg (6 lbs), so it adds modest mass but no latitude adjustment of its own. It does not replace the wedge or the pier; it is the mounting bridge between them.
Because the catalog does not list a specific pier bolt pattern or hole spacing, confirm compatibility with your pier before ordering. If your pier’s top plate or bolt circle is nonstandard, you may need a custom adapter—measure and ask before assuming the plate will drop on.
Plan the stack height and stability
Adding a wedge and an adaptor plate raises the mount above the pier. That extra height can affect stability and change the eyepiece or camera position, especially on a lightweight pier. Keep the pier as short as practical and make sure the combined load—mount, counterweights, and telescope—stays within the pier’s capacity.
Also check clearance for the wedge’s adjustment screws through the full latitude range. A wedge that fits at 45° may bind near its limit if the pier top or nearby structure blocks the screw travel.
Step-by-step installation
- Check your latitude against the mount’s native range: Look up your observing site’s latitude. For a Paramount ME, the built-in range is 15–58°; for a Paramount ME II, it is 10–65°. If your latitude is outside that range, plan on the Latitude Adjustment Wedge. Write the latitude down and compare it directly—do not guess from a nearby city.
- Confirm pier and plate compatibility: Measure your pier’s top bolt pattern and compare it with the adaptor plate’s mounting holes. The catalog does not publish a universal bolt circle, so test-fit or ask before committing. If the bolt pattern does not match, stop and resolve the interface before assembling the stack.
- Bolt the adaptor plate to the pier first: Attach the Paramount ME Lightweight Wedge to Pier Adaptor Plate to the pier top using the pier’s fasteners. Tighten evenly in a cross pattern so the plate seats flat. Check for rocking or a visible gap at the pier joint before adding the wedge.
- Mount the wedge on the adaptor plate: Set the Paramount ME/ME II Latitude Adjustment Wedge on the plate and secure it with the supplied or specified fasteners. Keep the wedge’s adjustment screws accessible. Verify the wedge sits flush and the fasteners are fully engaged, not cross-threaded.
- Set coarse latitude before loading the mount: Adjust the wedge toward your site latitude while it is unloaded. This is easier and safer than moving a fully loaded mount through a large angle. Leave the fine adjustment for after the mount is attached and you can see the pole.
- Attach the mount and refine polar alignment: Bolt the Paramount ME or ME II to the wedge, then use the wedge’s fine adjustment to complete polar alignment. Recheck fastener tightness after the first alignment session. If the wedge runs out of travel before alignment, recheck your latitude setting and pier leveling.
Product facts
- Paramount ME Lightweight Wedge to Pier Adaptor Plate: Machined from a solid block of aluminum and weighs approximately 2.7 kg (6 lbs). The rigid aluminum body resists flexure under the mount, while the 6 lb mass is light enough to handle alone during installation.
Paramount ME Lightweight Wedge to Pier Adaptor Plate - Paramount ME/ME II Latitude Adjustment Wedge: Extends polar alignment to latitudes between 0–15° and 58–90°; the Paramount ME’s built-in range is 15–58° and the ME II’s is 10–65°. This is the deciding specification: if your latitude falls inside the mount’s native range, the wedge is unnecessary.
Paramount ME/ME II Latitude Adjustment Wedge
