A question to Lightbridge owners ...

[jazzodict]

Hello,

I have (after ruminating for weeks) finally decided to purchase a 10" LB :D :D !!!

Any comments on whether I should go in for a Standard or Deluxe model ... do the add-ons make a significant difference?

Cheers,
Jazzodict.

[janoskiss]

Unless you want to fit your own fan and/or focuser go the Deluxe and ask for upgrade to the 10:1 Crayford over the standard one (if not already included). Focuser makes a lot of difference. Crayford gives you much better control over focus without disturbing the view (bumping scope causing vibrations or image "shift"), and the 10:1 Crayford gives you even better, finer control over focus. 10:1 refers to gearing and means you turn the knob 1 turn the shaft only turns 1/10th turn. Very useful at high powers.

[ving]

always, always, always, get what you can afford :)

these gadgets that come with the more expensive one will make the scope better for you... that said, the chances are that you wont be disappionted with the lesser model as they are good scopes :)

[spacezebra]

Hi there

Being the aperature hog that I am I went the 12". From looking at the LB manual, the differences for standard as opposed to the Deluxe are that you dont get the 26mm QX Wide angle eyepiece, the roller bearing plate, or the red dot finder.

I ended up loosing the red dot finder and went 8x50 Right Angled Correct Image Finder, replaced the focuser to a Moonlite Focuser and kept the 26mm. But I do think that you get a 26mm (not the QX) with the scope.

Either way is still a great scope with or without the add ons. But have a look through the forum and search all the lightbridge posts - astronut has made some excellent, and cost effective mods which I hope to adopt one day.

No doubt more lightbridge owners will post soon.

Cheers Petra

[jazzodict]

Guys, thanks for all your responses.
Janokiss - thanks for the 10:1 Crayford tip ... will check it out.

[astronut]

Hi Jazz, Firstly you have excellent taste in wanting to purchase a LB.
As Petra has said the extra's are 1.More elaborate red dot finder 2. 2" 26mm E/P. 3.Roller Bearing in Azimuth, with tension knob.
Personally I don't like any of the red dot finders, so I fitted a 8X50mm straight through finder. The E/P,I love the wiiiiddddeeee views so I kept it.
The roller bearing is smooth and easy, I would recommend it.
So go with the deluxe:thumbsup:
There are a couple of changes I would make as soon as practicable.
1. The primary springs are too soft, this will make collimation tedious. I have the product code for these.
2. Change both the secondary and primary collimation knobs, this makes collimation toolless, a big improvement. Once you try to collimate withe originals you'll know what I mean.
3. Have the end rings powder coated black, as all four are WHITE on the INSIDE not good.
A shroud is another essential addition.
One last thing, a dew shield extending about 1.5x the aperture from the front of the tube will eliminate dew on the secondary.
Jazz, I don't wish to scare you with all these changes but I know that once carried out it will make a good scope into a great scope.
The optics give great views, oooppps!!! One last thing a Orion or similar brand collimator.
The springs are $30
Collimation Knobs, both sets $50.
Powder coat X4 $40.
Shroud $90.
Dew shield $20 High Impact Polystyrene Sheet, H.I.P.S.
Collimator $70 absolutely necessary.
For the absolute essentials it will cost about $120.
Cheers, John:)

[circumpolar]

astronut,
Did you make the dew shield yourself or is it a bought one?
Also, how have you attached it to the top of your scope? I need one for my 12" GS.

[janoskiss]

Sorry, I may gave given the wrong info here as I was thinking of the differences between Deluxe and Standard/Limited solid tube Dobs. But in any case do ask for the 10:1 focuser.

[astronut]

Hi Matt, The Material is High Imact Polystyrene Sheet or H.I.P.S.
I purchased it in a sheet about 1.37m x 73cm x 0.75mm. This then had to be cut to size. I left a overlap of about 3cm.
It's highly flexible and easy to cut with scissors.
I placed a strip of adhesive backed velcro the length of the sheet ( see photo) To secure the two ends I again used the adhesive velcro (see photo)
To mount the shield to the scope, I first wrapped a length of the one-wrap velcro, (it's double sided and sticks to itself) around the upper tube (see photo, pulled up so you can see it) and then wrap the shield around the scope with the velcro on the shield sticking to the one on the scope.
I hope I've made it clear enough.:lol: Cheers, John.

[jazzodict]

Hi astronut, many thanks for your great advice.
I will eventually consider all the upgrades mentioned.

Will probably start with (1) 8X50 straight through finder instead of the Red-Dot; (2) collimation knobs & (3) a (laser?) collimator.

Any suggestions on which brand of 8X50 finder?

Cheers,
Uday.

[astronut]

Hi Uday, I bought the 8X50mm finder from Bintel. Go to their site and it will show it to you:)

[ving]

trying to be arty making your dew shield pic black and white, astronut :P
:lol:

[astronut]

Nothing that daring Ving,:lol: I just forgot to set the camera to colour:rofl:

[gary]

Recommend you go to a store and push the standard in Az and then push the
Deluxe in Az. It will take you 5 seconds to decide that you will want the
smoother Deluxe.

Smoothness in a Dob mount is key.

Best Regards

Gary
Mt. Kuring-Gai NSW

[jazzodict]

Guys, finally .........I am now officially a 10" LB owner!!:eyepop::D

Got it from Bintel in Sydney. Mike Smith was an abs delight to deal with - he answered all my persistent (& sometime silly maybe) questions very patiently ... thanks Mike.

As suggested by some of the learned members of this forun, I upgraded the Crayford focuser to 1:10 & also got a Telrad & a Orion Collimator eyepiece. Yet to open the boxes, hope to put it all together soon.

I have borrowed a few books on astronomy ... any ideas/suggestions on what objects should be the first on my list for observing?

Cheers,
Uday.

[astronut]

Congratulations Uday, I hope you enjoy the unpacking. There's nothing like the feeling of a new telescope in the family:lol:
Yes Mike, and all the gang at Bintel are a great bunch to deal with;)
I would start with something simple to get a hand on how everything works, The moon, Jupiter.
For something more spectacular Omega Centauri, Eta Carinae and just a general view along the central milky way will give you jaw dropping views.
Enjoy your new scope and ask all the questions you want:thumbsup: Cheers, John.







quote=jazzodict]Guys, finally .........I am now officially a 10" LB owner!!:eyepop::D

Got it from Bintel in Sydney. Mike Smith was an abs delight to deal with - he answered all my persistent (& sometime silly maybe) questions very patiently ... thanks Mike.

As suggested by some of the learned members of this forun, I upgraded the Crayford focuser to 1:10 & also got a Telrad & a Orion Collimator eyepiece. Yet to open the boxes, hope to put it all together soon.

I have borrowed a few books on astronomy ... any ideas/suggestions on what objects should be the first on my list for observing?

Cheers,
Uday.[/quote]

[vespine]

I only started recently too, well a few months now, and imho, the best start to looking at the sky is the free guide you can download at:

http://skymaps.com/downloads.html

Has a lot of really great looking and easy objects to find, and a few not so easy ones to give you a good start in dso hunting, I think it's perfect for someone starting out wondering where to point their scope, i'm still printing them out every month, I have 5 now :)

[jazzodict]

Thanks John .... can't wait for 'First Light':party:!
Vespine, great website mate ..... thanks for the tip:bowdown:.

[dcnicholls]

John,

Having also just bought an LB12 d/l, your list of mods is most welcome. Where did you get the shroud from? Astrozap in the US? How about the collimation knobs and springs?

What other mods have you made? (I notice the lead/acid battery which I plan to use too.)

One thing that could be worth a look is black felt inside the tube. I used this to great effect in a homebrew 6" f/4 years ago. It's a lot better than matt black paint and more robust than black flocking paper. And for the LB it looks quite easy to install because of the short tubes. (Completely impossible in a full tube 12" GSO dob). Cut the felt to size (or a few mm over for the circumference) and pre-spray the "outside" thoroughly with spray glue. "Dry" runs are important before the gluing! The only trick is to find really black felt. Velvet isn't as good as it frays at the edge.

DN

[astronut]

Hi DN, The shroud is a Astrozap $104AUS. The secondary & primary knobs were purchased through www.Astronomy-Shoppe.com (http://www.Astronomy-Shoppe.com) and go to the Links box, Bobs Knobs are also suppliers of replacement knobs, the prices are about the same. Delievery from the States is about 1 week. The springs I purchased here, they are century spring branded. They are brought into the Australia by the Mayo group. Let me know if you want their details.
Or the two knob suppliers offer springs in their catalogue, this cuts down all the leg work for you:)
I have replaced the red dot finder with an optical 8X50mm.
I have a heater for the main E/P and both ends of the finder, it's all sent through a switched and fused box, I've also carried this out for the fan.
It all runs well on the 12v 7a/h battery in the photo.
I've found good quality black felt at Spotlight and it's not too expensive:D
I hope this info helps, if you need to know more please ask!:lol: John.

[dcnicholls]

Direct from the Astrozap site? I notice Astro-Optical here is listed as an agent fro Astrozap.


I see the Astronomy-Shoppe has a whole set of "rescue kits". Might be a simple way to solve the problem. Why do they offer an Azimuth knob? The Meade unit seems to work OK?


That was the very first thing I did :) The Bintel right angle unit.


Thanks. Useful info.
Some felts have a "shiny" look to them, especially at glancing incidence, which is not good.


Yes, indeed. Many thanks.

DN

[astronut]

Hi DN, The felt at any angle appears like your looking down a never ending black hole:lol:
I've dealt with Tony Costanzo of Astronomy Shoppe many times and he is a very helpful person, going to just one supplier is the best way to go. I wish these things were available 6 months ago:lol: it would have saved a lot of leg work and frustration. I purchased the shroud from the astrozap site.
I would recommend that you try the local astronomy stores, over the last couple of months they have equipped themselves with a lot of the bits n pieces I purchased from the U.S. Cheers, John.:)

[dcnicholls]

Thanks, shall do. BTW, where did you get the Unitron 4"? I've had a 2.4" alt-az since new (1960 - battered but still a great little scope).

DN

[astronut]

Hi DN, I've had the 2.4" since new (1970) purchased at Astro- Optical supplies in Crows Nest. The 4" I've had since 2000, I purchased it from a club member and spent about a month restoring it to it's former glory, it is also a early 1970's model.:)

[bytor666]

That dew shield / light blocker on the end of your scope should be flat black on the inside no?.....it looks as though the inside of it is shiny, which would attract some unwanted reflections !!!
I put some really dark light trap inside of mine...check it out !!!...BTW....very nice telescope you have there !!!

[astronut]

Thanks bytor, The inner side of the dew shield is flat black, only the outer is shiny. It all works well together. John:)

[bytor666]

With a nice scope of your size, you'll be sucking in photons by the second !!!...I myself used to have a 12" GSO and at that size, you're good to go !!!...Congrats on such a great looking telescope astronut !!! :thumbsup:

[astronut]

Do you have a scope at the moment?:)
Going from a 4" to a 12" certainly gives you a new outlook on things.

[dcnicholls]

Just got my Sky & Telescope (US) (October) in the mail. There's a very favourable review of the Meade Lightbridge 10" and 12" by Dennis di Cicco. An extract:

"...Some telescopes are more enjoyable to review than others. Squarely falling into the "more enjoyable" category are the new Meade LightBridge Truss Tube Dobsonians. Indeed, I can't recall a telescope that was more of a joy to test. No hefty instruction manual, no complex computerized electronics, no steep learning curve - just a highly portable scope offering serious aperture. Isaac Newton could have mastered these babies in about 2 minutes. And so can you. They are a dream for observers!"

Amen :)

The two main quibbles were mediocre collimation system for the 12" and the "white bits" inside the OTA.

Fixing both of these was described nicely by astronut earlier in this thread.

DN