NGC 3576 and Surrounds with New Fridge

[avandonk]

The new Peltier fridge allows me to get to low temperatures even on a hot night. The air cooled P fridge could only attain -5C if ambient was at or below about 12C.

This of course meant summer targets were noisier than winter ones.

I chose NGC 3576 as there are a couple of dark dusty nebula in the field. These would show any residual noise better than brighter areas.

Canon 5DH, 100ED at f/7.65 and FL 765mm with Hutech #7887 FR/FF. Hutech LPR filter. FOV approx 3x2 degrees.

Exposures 20X(1m, 2m, 4m, 8m) at 1600ISO. Fridge at -5.0C. Usual HDR method. Ambient started off at 22C and dropped to 18C.


Large image 8.8MB
http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.com.au/2010_02/ngc3576nf.jpg


Bert

[h0ughy]

Bert,

Mate you have floored me with the fridge - thats utter commitment!! as for the image - to me it looks a tad aqua green.

As for the noise do you have a before and after comparison?

[avandonk]

David this fridge is just a small step in the evolution of the fridge I really want to build. The Canon 5DH's sensor temperature even inside a fridge at -5C is 12C!

The real advantage of my design is that the sensor is the hottest thing inside the fridge so there is NO condensation on the sensor.

I theoretically can get the temperature inside the fridge to about -15C with this system but the freezer cannot cope with the heat load sustainably when ambient is high. I could start to minimise heat leakage by improving the insulation or get a bigger freezer. I will wait until I have fully tested this system.

Even with a camera ambient of -15C the sensor is at 2C.

If you notice I am collecting data at 1600 ISO.

Below are some more pictures of the new fridge along with one of the air cooled fridge. I also put two 200mm 12V fans on the freezers condenser. The compressor then runs far cooler.

Bert

[avandonk]

Here is Carina with improved dust done with this system 3MB

http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.com.au/2010_01/car_nf.jpg

Bert

[DavidU]

As I look at your system I see how you have found a solution to many challenges. Awesome Bert.

[Bassnut]

Thats all just awesome, a masterpiece of over the top engineering, my kinda gear, just love it ! :D :prey2:.

Cant see any noise in the pic, so it doing the job nicely.

An easy way to push it further is to dump cooler packs and ice into the tank. I do this regularly, its all part of the routine that gives one hands on satisfaction in utterly rediculous efforts to push boundarys for the hell of it, without breaking the bank :P :thumbsup:.

[TrevorW]

WTF Bert I'd hate to try and take that to a remote site

[zipdrive]

love your work Bert!:thumbsup::D

[AlexN]

Outstanding! Imagine putting an FLI CCD into that fridge... -15c ambient = -75c chip temp :D mwahahha!! :)

The image of 3576 is very cool Bert, The FOV looks familiar (a little wider than mine) but a similar look to my image from a few months back..

The only criticism I have would be that the nebulosity appears muted... and doesn't stand out much against the sea of stars...

The dust does, and looks pretty sweet!

Alex.

[strongmanmike]

Hmmm? Frankenburters imaging moster :question:

Have to say Burt, looks like a lot of fun was had conjuring all that up :thumbsup:

How does your mount manage to track properly with the Incredible Hulks heart lung machine hanging off it :lol:

Mike

[multiweb]

:lol: Awesome work Bert. Looks like your next logical step is to mount the fridge, get it to track and fit the camera and OTA on it. ;)

[AlexN]

Or make a mount out of a fridge? That would be very cool... :P

[telecasterguru]

Bert,

I am flabergasted. That fridge is way cool.

Frank

[Moon]

oh dear

I love the 2 fans on the back of the fridge.

[David Fitz-Henr]

Absolutely awesome Bert ! For an absolutely complete setup however, you will need a couple of brackets for the kitchen sink ...