Electric focuser

[multiweb]

Hi guys, I have a question about electric focuser. I have a control with an Orion Acufocus. It's battery operated (9V). The cable is a small RJ11 which I assume 4 pins straight through. Haven't checked yet. This is all good if I'm on the field next to the scope. At home I'm about 6m away. If I crimp a 6m cable to the scope with the control next to me will it still work? TIA. :thumbsup:

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi Marc

It depends on what sort of signal or current is to be carried by the cable.

I would expect in this case there will be no problem up to at least 30 metres. However make a long cable from two RJ plugs and a bit of 4 core flat telephone cable and try it. If you haven't got the bits I have a box full and crimping tools.

Barry

[tlgerdes]

I ran one of the Orion focusers at 3m with no problems. Just crimped RJ11s on a new length of 4 core stranded phone cable. Don't use solid core cable.

Just match up colours to pins at each end.

[Bassnut]

I'd try 1000m, ditch the 9v battery, plug it straight in the wall (240v) and see how it goes. It'll certainly go faster too. Report on progress.

[Astro_Bot]

I bought a 5m cable for the same purpose and it works fine. It had the correct connectors (RJ10) but was reverse polarity* - can't recall which cable was straight through and which reversed, though (original short cable or new long cable). It's the same as a telephone handset cable .... remember when before cordless phones were invented, and you could get really long cables? In this case, though, I think only two wires are needed.


* That actually works best for me anyway, since I mounted the Accufocus on the reverse side on my ED80.

Edit: This is similar to the one I bought:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6-4m-Coiled-Telephone-Handset-RJ10-Cable-Lead-Black-/200810685021?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec13fe25d

[tlgerdes]

Yes, they are the RJ10 4P4C connectors. The narrower telephone handset connector.

[tlgerdes]

Yeah, you press the focus button and the focuser throws your camera across the field like some sort of medieval siege machine.

[multiweb]

Cool - thanks guys. I'll go get some line from JayCar this arvo. :thumbsup:

[niko]

Marc,

I've got an Orion focusser - I think the cable's probably 10m - works fine

niko

[multiweb]

Thanks mate. Yeah I did a 8m length - no problem. :thumbsup:

Thanks all for your contribution. I'm now remote focusing. No more dancing 'a la bathinov', back and forth between the scope and the lappy. :party:

[ZeroID]

A Weapon of Astro Destruction eh ?? :P