Construction Tripod Adapter

[Spencer]

I had a problem with my automatic level and when I spoke with the manufacturer about it they suggested that an enclosed transit was better suited for my needs. They agreed to give me credit for the full purchase price towards the enclosed transit. I received the new enclosed transit yesterday and in the box, but packaged seperately, was some sort of an adapter. I can hook the transit directly up to my Stabila elevator tripod because they are both 5/8-11 threads. I am wondering if this adapter is for tripods with different threads or is it to offset the transit from the tripod somehow?

Here is the first view

 

[Spencer]

Here is the second view.

Any ideas on the purpose of this adapter?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

That appears to be a device for mounting the transit to a steel beam, where you don't want or need to set up a tripod.

 

[karmakanic]

Hi Spencer,

I believe that the item pictured is used to mount the transit on a tripod that does not have direct mount threads. The K&E transit I have uses one that looks similar to what you pictured. The plumb bob string connects to the little v shaped wire. There should be a threaded hole in the base of your transit that will accept the threaded stud in the picture.

HTH,
Dave Perry

 

[JohnMiller3]

Hi Spence...

How about the mfr. just packing "two" of the same in the box...? (mistake?)

I can't measure your pix... but isn't that 5/8-11 threads...?

I just got a CST/Berger SAL auto level (via Craftsman)... what are you using?

(Also, I was wondering what type of problem you had with your former level?)

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Spence there are two common threads on transits. You have one of each now. Count your blessings.

But if you want to share..................(I have both kinds)

 

[Spencer]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

Franz, I guess it could be used for mounting it to something other than a tripod. Thanks for the idea.

Karmakanic, yes it will thread right into the bottom of the transit, and I did know about the plumb bob. Luckily this new transit has an optical plummet so hopefully I won't need to use a plumb bob anymore.

John Miller III, no they did not pack two of them in the same box. I was just saying that this adapter was not packed in the nice hardshell case that the enclosed transit was in. It was in a ziplock bag mixed in with the peanuts. The unit that I first bought was a CST/Berger SAL 32X. When I bought my home on six acres last year the surveyor wanted an additional 800 dollars to put intermediate stakes inbetween the corner stakes (about every 50 feet). So I decided to buy something that would allow me to do it myself. The SAL 32 worked fine where I could see all the way from one corner to the other. My lot has 10 corners and is almost completely wooded. There were a couple of times when I wanted to use the degree markings on the SAL 32 when I could not see one corner from the other. I had the surveyor plot my survey on AutoCad so I knew every angle and measurement. There were a couple of corners that seemed to be off by up to one full degree. When I was laying out my pole barn last week I investigated further. When I would try to turn a 90 degree angle going from the 270 degree mark to the 0/360 degree mark I found that it was off a full degree. When I went from 0 to 90 it was off only slightly. The guys at Berger were great and told me that the SAL and PAL series are really only for doing level work and they wished that the degree markings were not even on the unit. The SAL unit I had was only accurate up to 1 degree. The SCT1 enclosed transit they fixed me up with is accurate up to 1 minute which is 1/60th of a degree. So I was really using the wrong tool for the job but still the SAL32 should have been more accurate than it was.

Wroughtn_Harv, this adapter and my tripod are both 5/8-11 so I only have the one size.

 

[JohnMiller3]

I like CST/Berger's customer support as well... extremely accommodating...

The SAL series are great auto levels for the dollar... but not for turning angles... I'm not familar with their transits but for building trades down to a minute is overkill .../w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif (That unit looks like it needs to be set up with a plumb bob?)

I'm currently looking at a used Sokkia Digital Theodolite down to 2 seconds... but it will boil down to price... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[bgott]

That adapter looks awfully corroded in that picture. I hope the inside of the transit doesn't look the same!

 

[Egon]

Mystery adapter:
Levels used strickly for leveling have no need for a plumb bob or optical plumb bob. A transit, used for turning angles must be centered over a specific point. This adapter may allow you to level the transit and then move it over the point and keep the transit level. This depends on the types of adjustment and base plate configuration of the tripod/transit.
Curious how you determined the previous level you were using was out by a degree or so when turning angles as I assume the eyepiece canot be rotated 180 degrees vertical and the ensuing two angles be compared.
My knowledge is way out of date and relates to Wild T1 or T2 transits and thier self leveling level of the time.
Egon

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...I assume the eyepiece canot be rotated 180 degrees vertical ...</font color=blue>

Hi Egon,

You're correct... it's not a transit... I think the scale is there because everyone else has it... strictly for a "rough reference"... but certainly not for any precision... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

The Egyptians had no problems building the pyramids with knotted rope using the 3-4-5 method for right angles and water troughs for leveling... can you imagine what they could have built with our modern instruments of today... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Egon]

John:
The Egyptian methods still meet my requirements and have been used more than once or twice.
Several weeks ago I was reworking our road into the lake. It lies at 90 degrees to the bottom of a hill of average 10 degree slope and also has a longitudanal slope to it. Having forgotten my hand level I reverted to using a clear glass mug with pronounced rings on it for determining if I was getting the road level. Water in the mug was hard to see so I resorted to filling it with an amber liquid from the camper fridge. Unfortunetly it was very difficult to get the level to coincide with the rings so frequent refilling of the mug was required. As it was hot out this was not much off a drawback. The method worked perfectly as I could stand back, hold up the mug and see how level the road was.
When squaring up building foundations I always use the 3-4-5 to start and use the diagonal measurements to finish off.

The self leveling level/transit combination can show incorrect angles if it is not level. In that what I am saying is the level could be set up so it will self level in a small arc but as the arc increases the self leveling feature does not have the range to compensate.
Egon

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...resorted to filling it with an amber liquid from the camper fridge. Unfortunetly it was very difficult to get the level to coincide with the rings so frequent refilling of the mug was required...</font color=blue>
/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Egon,

Now, I fully understand why they only use an "alcohol based distilled spirit" in levels... /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

<font color=blue>...The self leveling level/transit combination can show incorrect angles if it is not level...</font color=blue>

There... that's the principle/purpose of "Doubling an Angle".../w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Spencer]

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

Curious how you determined the previous level you were using was out by a degree or so when turning angles as I assume the eyepiece canot be rotated 180 degrees vertical and the ensuing two angles be compared.


<hr></blockquote>



I have attached a view of my property all plotted out on AutoCad by my surveyor. My property is the 9 sided lot in blue that looks kind of like the state of Nevada.

I was working in the corner that I have identified on the drawing. From that corner and going to the right (east) it is exactly 51.46 feet. I stretched a line from the two stakes put in by the surveyor and then measured 25 feet from the corner and set up my automatic level at that point.

I then lined the automatic level up exactly with the corner while the level was set at 270 degrees. I then turned the level to the 0/360 degree mark and centered a stake 100 feet out in the crosshairs. (It might have started at 0/360 and then turned to 270 I don't remember any more).

I then measured from the stake over to the property line and instead of it being 25 feet it was almost 27 feet. I did this same process three times and came up with the same results.

Then instead of starting with the level set to 270 degrees and turing to 0/360 degrees I started with the level a 0 degrees and turned to 90 degrees. The results were about 24 foot 8 inches.

Then I went from 90 degrees to 180 and so forth. So I went back inside and plotted it out on AutoCad (file attached in next post). I turns out that being 1 degree off at 100 feet is a difference of 1.81 feet. That is pretty much what I was coming up with on my own.

So I call CST/Berger and explained all this to them. After a couple of calls I finally got a call back from somebody quite high up. He explained that the auto levels are not meant for turning angles and an enclosed transit was what I needed. He was very helpful and I will continue to buy and recommend their products in the future.

 

[Spencer]

Here is the second file. I hope I have explained this well enough and not confused this issue any further.

 

[Egon]

Spencer:
As you now have the proper instrument my disertion on the level is only trivial information.
If you had set two stakes[ nails in the ground about 100 apart ] and the ran a string between them you could set the level anwhere on this line, use one stake as backsight and turn 180 degrees. This should put you right on the other stake. If there is an error the closer you set to one stake the divergence at the other stake should be increasing.
With a transit you verticaly rotate the eyepiece 180 degrees and check the angles. If the instrument is in alignment they will be the same. If not the divergence will be the exact amount only in the other direction. There are other ways too but this is pretty easy to do.
As for the attachment it may be so you can level the transit , center it over the turning point with a plumb bob, tighten it all down and then check for level again. It has to be level for 360 rotation. Optical plumb's are the easiest to work with.
As my experiences are all 30 or so years in the past and my memory never was very good I hope my information is correct and will be of assistance to you. {ie have trouble rembering proper terminolgy}
Egon

 

[Spencer]

Thanks for the tips

 

[Spencer]

I just referenced this post in another post so I thought I would give you all an update on the mystery adapter. As you know the transit attaches the tripods 5/8" - 11 threaded mount. The standard length threaded mount on both of my tripds is too long so you can't completely tighten this particular transit down to the tripod. The first couple of times I used the transit I had to place some large washers between the transit and the tripod to act as spacers so I could tighten it down all the way. Then around the third time I went to use the transit it came to me "hey, I bet that mystery adapter has a shorter threaded mount". Sure enough it has less threads on it so it allows the transit to be tightened down all the way. It fits perfectly in place of the original threaded mount on my CST tripod. I can't believe it took me that long to figure it out. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[JATO_RaT]

I have a Sokkia auto level and was wondering how you like the Stabila elevator tripod. So many times that would come in handy. I've seen them advertised in magazines. My levels are Stabila and they are my favorite. Rat...

 

[Spencer]

RaT, I think the Stabila elevator tripod is well worth the money. It works great with my rotating laser level because it is so easy to adjust the height. It is not the best choice transits or any other device that you need to center over a specific spot with a plumb bob or optical plummet. Most tripods like my CST tripod have quite a bit of travel in the center mount so you don't have to move the tripod itself in order to line it up over a specific spot. The Stabila, because of the elevator shaft, has no adjustment at all so you have to move the whole tripod.