Log in

View Full Version here: : Modded 450D first light (another M42)


LAW
03-01-2013, 01:30 AM
As I'm obsessed with M42 I thought it should be the 'first light' target for my newly modded 450D. I removed the 'IR cut' filter and installed a 'Coldfinger' cooling system. The sensor ran at 35 degrees all night, considering ambient was 28 degrees I think it needs some work. :rofl:

I was battling clouds too, from twilight until Orion peaked over the trees to my north the sky was perfectly clear, then some high altitude wisps appeared followed by a fairly solid march of thick patchy cloud. So after I threw out all the subs that were smeared because I still haven't gotten the auto guider hooked up (no fault of the autoguider, I'm still working on the guide scope), and threw out all the subs ruined by cloud I was left with about 15 minutes worth of data.

To say I'm impressed with the difference is an understatement. With 15 minutes data from the modded 450D I have an image that is far more detailed than the hour's worth of a data I collected with my unmodified 550D. Considering I was imaging at ISO 6400 on the 550D and only ISO1600 on the 450D, and for a quarter of the time I'm amazed I got the final image that I did!

Jeff
03-01-2013, 09:38 AM
Nice mod Murphy ... might have a bash at this myself.
- did you do it yourself?
- if so, how have you attached to the CCD (eg. case claping & thermal paste?)
- where did you source the peltier (what size etc.)
- voltage and current requirements?

LAW
03-01-2013, 11:16 AM
Yep, I did everything myself, there a few things I might end up changing but overall I'm happy with the result.

I removed the PCB holding the remote shutter and AV out ports and bent the supports down so the cold finger picks up on one mounting hole. Also the cold finger fits perfectly between the sensor and the control board so it's very stable, I haven't used thermal paste yet as this is just a prototype.

I also have a 40x40mm 12V TEC off eBay for $3.50 which I haven't installed yet, it will go under the 55x55mm cooling fan when I make the final version out of copper (instead of a spare piece of Galv I had lying around.

It's very simple an can be installed/removed without removing any internal camera components, just take the back off, remove one screw and it slides out.

Jeff
03-01-2013, 11:45 AM
Nice work ... will be interesting to see how things evolve.

whitek2h
05-01-2013, 11:30 AM
great result