Absco pool pump shed

[Octane]

Hi all,

So, in the limited space we have in our current backyard, the minister for war, finance and treasury has given me the go-ahead to get an Absco pool pump shed.

I've measured my gear and it will fit nicely inside it; the scope will be parked horizontally.

These sheds come with a skillion roof that opens via a hinge mechanism.

Does anyone know what the best way to go about automating the roof will be? I want it to be controlled via ASCOM so that I can integrate it with AAG CloudWatcher.

Can anyone point me in the right direction with regards to what motor/controller and miscellaneous hardware I would need to put it together?

Thanks!

H

[LewisM]

Me thinks thou shalt talk to Mr. Muhlack. Not sure if Richard's is fully automated, but I believe he is using the Absco shed.

[Octane]

Yep, I know he's using the shed, but, I don't think his is automated. :)

H

[LewisM]

Isn't this what wives are for? Opening shed roofs? :)

(where is that bomb shelter to hide in...)

[rustigsmed]

Very interested to hear how you go about this H.

cheers

russ

[Octane]

I think the easiest way would be to get a linear actuator.

The Forster Systems controller supports this method:

http://www.fostersystems.com/viewitem.php?productid=7

Hrm!

H

[troypiggo]

OOh. Very nice. What are they worth?

[Bassnut]

OK, thats interesting H. The controller looks to be right, saves doing all that from scratch, and its ASCOM compliant, bonus.

Linac linear actuators are popular in OZ http://www.linak.com.au/techline/applications.aspx

I had a poke at a clamb shell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs8boe4xruM and used rotary control as I couldnt work out how to use linear actuators. If an actuator opens to vertical, how do you move passed that?. Im a bit thick with mechanicals, im sure the answer is obvious and others will chime in.

One warning. What killed my design stone dead in actual site use, was it was a wind sail. A bit of wind, and things got wobbly and out of control quickly, just when it needed to close with a storm coming. If wind is possible near the shed, open/close it manually on a windy day and check how it behaves/how much energy it takes.

[Logieberra]

http://contest.cheapsheds.com.au/contestant/view/95_thava-kumar-narayanasamy-absco-pool-pump-cover-152

[Octane]

Troy, $285 US.

Fred, yep, the Forster people also mentioned that it would be mechanically-impossible after the vertical max position. But, that is OK; in my backyard, to the north is the house and I can't see anything past the meridian, anyway.

Logan, yep, I saw that a while back. :)

If we move, or if I relocate the scope elsewhere in the backyard, then, I wonder if the roof could be automated with a garage motor and chain/sprocket-type setup?

H

[rogerco]

I can't find where I have seen it done but the starting point is to counterbalance the weight of roof about the hinge then you don't need much force to get it over.

[Somnium]

I use an electric gate opener with an arduino to control the opening and closing. I wrote an ascom driver for it too. Cost for the system was around $300 for the gate opener and $10 for the arduino and other minor electronics. The system works flawlessly. while it is not as straight forward as plug and play, i managed to write the code for both the arduino and the ascom driver and i am not a computer engineer. Let me know if you want any more info, happy to share my code and talk about what is possible. the system i developed could easily be packaged up and reused, or minor adjustments to make it work with a different type of roof.

Aidan

[rmuhlack]

Now that is the business :thumbsup:

H is correct, my absco pool cover sheds are not automated. I don't think that the hinge setup as supplied by absco is particularly well suited to automation - the roof does act like a sail when opening and closing in windy conditions. I have been thinking that a roll-off mod with something like the setup proposed by Aidan might be the way to go (for me) in the future

[Octane]

I'm open to all suggestions!

How would we go about converting the roof?

The area where I'm located doesn't get much wind, as it's blocked by the house. But, it is still a consideration.

H

[rmuhlack]

I think adding rails for the existing roof to slide on and some wheels, and from there its just like any other ROR design.

[garymck]

I used to use one of these pool pump sheds to house a vixen gpd2 plus vc200l.

I simply hinged the roof as it came in the kit and put a support behind the shed. I simply flipped the roof open and allowed it to rest on the support behind. This stopped the roof going past the hinges travel. Worked fine and was easy to flip.

I would say that it was VERY cramped inside and I would not use it for visual - simply too small.

cheers
Gary

[Octane]

Shed ordered. Arrives in two weeks. :)

H

[Somnium]

great stuff, have you figured out how you are going to automate the roof ?

[bugeater]

This little shed looks very tempting. I was looking forward to building a little timber observatory, but this would be much quicker and cheaper.

[Octane]

We've just had an offer on a house accepted.

The shed can be used for something else.

I will build my own roll-off roof observatory, instead. :)

H

[ZeroID]

Woah !! Congrats to you both H !!
An upgrade already !!

[rustigsmed]

congrats H!!

[jenchris]

Roll on the roll off.
Happy moving day.
If you move to queensland make sure you move at least 100 k inland.

[Octane]

Cheers, people. :)

We have a place in Queensland, this will be our home down here in Canberra. It's at the far end of Canberra down south with nothing but reserve to the west and hills to the east. No development is planned on either side as far as I'm aware. Should be quite dark. :)

It's a lot smaller than where we are renting at the moment, but, it'll be a stepping stone to our ultimate goal of having a country home. :)

The wife has been very considerate and every house she's looked at, she's made sure I have clear skies in all directions. I've taught her well. :P

H

[Somnium]

Nice one! when i was looking for a house the firs thing i did was walk out the back and check the FOV, my wife got used to it :)

[Octane]

:D

So, we move in on the 12th of December. :)

Permission has been granted to pour a concrete base and pier and also a slab for the shed.

I was thinking of building an observatory, but, this isn't going to be our forever home, so, the Absco shed will still be put into production. However, I will modify it to become a roll-off roof. As to what will control it, this is up in the air at the moment. Having bought Lunatico Astro's AAG CloudWatcher recently and impressed by it, I might get in touch with them to see what kind of system(s) they offer for observatory automation. There's a new product called Dragonfly out by the end of this year that might fit the bill.

Time to start getting up to speed on how to make form work and lay concrete and dig holes. My poor IT hands won't know what hit them! :D

If anyone is local and would like to help me with the handiwork... :)

H

[bugeater]

I'd be interested in how you convert the shed.

My thinking is I'll go down the Absco shed route for now, since it'll be a lot of work to build a timber roll off roof observatory. If I'm still keen in a couple of years, I'll build the full blown one as well.

[Octane]

I'm thinking I'll just put Cee purlins on the internal wall of each outer shed wall, and, then gears fixed to the roof, and a runner of some description following the angle of the skillion.

I'll put together a 3D-plan after we move and will share my progress on here somewhere. :)

I've got a lot of thinking to do, and, because I'm a rank newbie at any type of construction, my ears are open to suggestions, hints, tips and tricks from the more experienced and skilled folks here. :)

H

[ZeroID]

Hey H, did the SIMMS arrive ?

[Octane]

Nothing yet, Brent. :(

Been checking every day. :(

H

[ZeroID]

!!?? They were sent over a week ago ... :shrug:

If they don't turn up soon I'll send some more :screwy:

[Octane]

Yeah, you sent them on the 10th or 11th. :(

I'll let you know if they don't show up by Monday.

Thanks, mate. Appreciate your kindness. :)

H