I have just recently completed building myself a couple of light boxes and I am very pleased with the results. If anyone is interested in me building one for them, PM me and I can discuss price etc, one thing is for sure, they are going to be at least a third of the price of imported ones, and IMHO work just as well. The two attached images will give you some sort of idea of my construction. My method of construction allowes the light box to fit over the front of the telescope/dew shield, much like a cover so one does not need to balance it on the scope.
I use a 12v lighter type connector for the power, and each LED is rated at between 6000mcd and 12000mcd depending on the size of the box required.
If interested please feel free to ask any questions.
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I have seen Peter's work first hand and his workmanship is very good. The O/S versions are very expensive and operate the same way. Peter is offering a service for those that are not able to make them. If you want one made, please let him know.
My answer is "very carefully". These will need to be packed in wads of bubble wrap. Having said that, eggs get freighted, and they seem to get through ok by enlarge. All crud aside, I would do my best to ensure that they are adequately protected for transport, also insurance costs bugger all, as an addition.
My light box arrived at work yesterday, didn't see it till this morning as I have been crook with a cold and tried shaking it by having yesterday off.
I can recomend Peter's workmanship and his packaging is equally superb. I would highly recomend that if you have two left hands like me when it comes to this sort of project buy one from Peter, you will not be disappointed.
Thank you so much Peter for your excellent light box and the speedy turn around.
I picked up my light box today, too. Very impressed with the way it is made and finished. Also very light weight. I haven't had the opportunity to test it fully as yet, but when turned on, it produces a very evenly illuminated field.
Good job, thanks Peter!!
Trevor, I am not a professional, just an enthusiastic amateur. I do each box on the fly as it were, and as I have found really no two scopes are the same. Some have differing dovetails etc that get in the way, so cutouts are necessary. As I am in Adelaide, I reckon I am about midway between the west and east. Producing kits I would leave up to the professionals. I am really only doing these as a hobby and to help people out. I make bugger all really on what I do and the time I spend, I just enjoy tinkering.
I have no special skills, and really anyone that is handy with a soldering iron and has a bit of patience cutting and gluing the board can do it. The part that I hate is the covering as I have yet to find an adhesive plastic covering that sticks properly to this foam board. They do have to be covered as this protects them from dew and the owners from getting belted for lighting up the field when the box it turned on. It dead set glows like a diffuse lamp until it is covered.
PM Sent
