7 Essential Accessories for the SCT Owner

[trufflehunter]

This is from Cloudy Nights. Interesting article:
7 Essential Accessories for the SCT Owner (http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1036)
:)

[acropolite]

Good link.....Tells it all Wayne, some of the forum members recommended the UO Ortho's and I wondered if the konigs were a better proposition. The 24MM Konig and barlow sounds like a good idea. :D

[rumples riot]

I think he forgot a few more essentials.

1. a blower and or a camel hair brush to remove the dust off the corrector plate. The coatings on the corrector plate act like a magnet for all sorts of muck.

2. a dew heater. Dew shields work well, but at some point in the night a dew heater is a must especially during winter.

That's just my two cents worth.

[trufflehunter]

I'd also add:

1. a bulls-eye bubble level and

2. the cheapest, nastiest cross-hair eyepiece you can find to get them go-to's a-hummin, and also for training the drives.

Phil, as for the UO's and Konigs... I'd go the UO's for high power (12mm fl and less) and the Konigs for medium to low power. If I had my 'time over again' and wanted a good set of ep's without selling the house, I'd probably get the following as a basic, reasonably inexpensive set:

UO Abbe Ortho 9mm and 12.5mm (the older 'volcano tops')
Meade QX 15mm, 26mm, 36mm
2X Shorty Plus Barlow

...But that's just me:)

[trufflehunter]

Have to agree with you Paul. I don't have a dew heater, but I've got a dew shield. Last night I took the dew shield off to collimate and couldn't be bothered putting it back on afterwards. Half an hour later I couldn't figure out why my stars had gone all mushy. A quick flash of the torch over the corrector plate told me it was time to pack up!

After I took it inside I 'fanned' it with the dust cap till it dried up. Is that an OK thing to do?

It still amazes me why SCT (and Maks and SN's) makers still don't supply some sort of dew shield with the scopes! There aren't many refractors (NONE that I can think of!) or camera lenses sold without one! Even just a little shorty one to at least help prevent accidentally touching the corrector. It looks so precariously unprotected.

[westsky]

Wayne, next time you get dew keep the dew shield on and use a hair dryer to blow warm air across the corrector, you will be able to get another hours viewing if the dew is not too heavy, been doing this for nearly 10 yrs on my C8 and it has had no effect on the corrector.
out in the field you can get 12volt hair dryers from your local marine shop that will do the job when you don't have 240v availible.
or make yourself a dew heater, they are easy to do.

david.

[trufflehunter]

Thanks, David. I didn't realise there was such a thing as a 12v hair dryer. Great idea. I was going to pick up a light to plug into my battery, so I'll have a look for one of those too.

[Striker]

I got my 12 volt Hairdryer from a camping shop just plugs into a cigarette lighter on most battery packs....cost $22

[westsky]

Thats a good idea Tony I had forgotten about camping shops,
is that scopeless or hopeless :-))

David

[rumples riot]

Truffle, if you bring the scope inside all you need do is leave the scope uncovered and let the dew dry. However, yes a hairdryer is an option, but I will stick to the dew heater. Only $100.00 and it protects my optics from formation of dew.

[Striker]

I agree......prevention is better then a cure.....

David...Both.....lol

[Rodstar]

I would add an eighth item to the list.....a bottle of Chivas Regal.

Rodstar

[acropolite]

Tony,
does the blow dryer fit in your compact with your lipstick and mascara?? :D:whistle:

Wayne,
I don't know if I've done the right thing but I've taken a punt and ordered a S5000 Super Plossel which I'm hoping will be as good or better than the S4000. I will probably go with the UO orthos for the smaller sizes. I haven't decided on a barlow yet but apparently the LPI can benifit from using a barlow. Paul is your #140 barlow still for sale??

[trufflehunter]

Phil, which S5000 did you order? re barlows... I'd recommend either the Orion Shorty Plus or the Celestron Ultima (both the same, apparently). They're 3 element jobs, full aperture and reasonably priced. I've only got a 'generic' shorty 'non-plus' (2 elements) and I figure it'll be fine for the lpi, though for visual stuff I'd go for the 'plus' or 'ultima'.

[h0ughy]

Probably for those with non GPS SCT, a BCF GPS mate is a must. Timing is everything.

A good digital camera, focus screen and wedge. Not to mention a 6.3 of 3.3 reducer corrector.

Houghy