How many wires run a telescope?

[ballaratdragons]

After setting up again last night, a local called in and was amazed at all the cables running all over the scope. I have got to a stage where I take it for granted now, but I guess he is right in asking his question: "How many wires does it take to run a telescope?"

I stood back and looked at it all. Wow! I guess it is a mess :rofl:

Pic 1: I think they are breeding
Pic 2: What controls it all
Pic 3: What happens if you get too close :lol:

[ving]

crikey ken!!! put them end to end and they could reach here!!! :D

[h0ughy]

when ken gets cold he warms up by shoving them down his pants!!!

[Omaroo]

Strewth Ken! Looks like a Triffid's got ya!

:D

[mickoking]

that looks like a real handfull.

[ballaratdragons]

:lol: Still got another goodie to put on there yet, but it is wireless!

I will be putting my miniature low-light security camera on the Finderscope or the ED80 so I can use it as a finder from inside my NASA control cubby. The less I have to go out into the cold the better.

Just gotta work out an adaptor for it :thumbsup:

[janoskiss]

Not bad Ken! I still reckon Bird's takes the trophy for the messiest looking setup. But you are catching up fast. :D

[ballaratdragons]

But Birds is a Spaghetti factory :lol:

I have seen quite a few pics in here of set-ups with lots more cables than me (must have some sort of use :shrug: ).

I am just amazed at how I forgot how my set-up must look to someone who has never seen anything more than a supermarket refractor! :scared:

It would probably be neater and make some sense if I taped them together into a loom. :thumbsup:

[ving]

or you could platt them :P

[avandonk]

You are going to find out Ken that no matter how carefully you take everything in, the next time you go to assemble it again all the wires are tangled and knotted. I think it has something to do with Entropy.
Looks like you need an extension to mission control.


Bert

[ballaratdragons]

Entropy :lol: That pretty well sums it up Bert. Also called Murphys' Law :P

I definately need a bigger Mission Control. This one is only 4'x4'x4'. Not a lot of room to move!

[asimov]

The answer is 20! :)

[Starkler]

The Borg have gotten to Kens scope :scared:

You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile :evil:

[[1ponders]]

Ken, go to Bunnings and get a 5 meter roll of double sided velcro. Not the adhesive backed stuff (though some of that is useful as well), but the one with hooks on one side and the felt on the other. It's a dream for cables.

You cut short lengths, about 3 cm long and you just wrap it around a couple of wires. Holds to itself beautifully. And if you have some of the sticky back stuff attached to you mount and scope you can use it to hold the wire holding rollups. Its brilliant stuff. And the best part is if you happen to have a cable attached to the mount too short and you swing the mount around, instead of damaging wires by getting them ripped off the mount, the velcro just pulls away.

And it makes rolling the cabling up much easier, just keep them velcro rolled together. AND if you alternate the 3 cm strip rolls with hooks out, felt out, when you roll them up, if you get the spacing right the velcro holds your cable coils together :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

Excellent idea Paul :thumbsup:
I won't stick any to my OTA though. I won't 'stick' anything to my OTA. I'm a bit funny about things stuck to OTA's.

[[1ponders]]

Then get two 5 meter packs and cut a couple of straps that will go right the way around the OTA. It's not stuck there and will slide a bit (unless you put a strip of foam under them) but you will be able to keep your cables ordered.

[ballaratdragons]

Or stick the velcro to the Tube Rings :thumbsup:

[Lee]

I have sticky velcro everywhere - keeps my hand controller tamed - cables, I stick my red observing light to my eyepiece case with velcro too - magic stuff.....

[davidpretorius]

what an awesome thread!

[rogerg]

Cables are a challenge. I wish I could make more wirless, always had intentions of doing that. You can get:

USB -> Bluetooth
Serial -> Bluetooth
Parallel -> Bluetooth
Bluetooth -> Computer

Then all you need is power. And an excuse to spend the money on the above converters :rolleyes:

My portable setup is "fully booked" with cables.. the laptop has plugged in 6 USB devices, 1 RS232 and 1 LPT. Makes for a challenge transporting it all in a organised fassion sometimes.

In fact, eyepieces are an afterthought to cables for me. I'm dead if I leave behind a cable, don't really need eyepieces though. The cables take up much more packing space in the car than the few eyepieces too.

Perhaps crazy but it's the way it is.

Roger.