dancing in the MoonLite...

[adman]

:D just received my new moonlite focuser - have been wanting one of these for ages. It was unpacked and installed within a matter of minutes - no problems. Looks great - love the finish of it. I will be able to move my mirror back down the tube too by the looks of it due to the low profile, but for now I have installed it with one of the spacers. The motor drive works well - two main buttons, one for each direction (holding both down gives you maximum speed in each direction), and two knobs - one for pulse width, and one for pulse interval - gives you pretty much any speed you want.

I also notice from some included blurb that you can now get a USB adapter to allow focus control from your PC - might have to look at that down the track.

Putting a moonlite on one of these scopes is a bit like putting lipstick on a pig (it's even the right colour!) - but it removes a major source of frustration for me, and I can use it on my next scope....

Now just waiting for my catseye collimation stuff to arrive. USPS tells me that it has left the USA - so shouldn't be long.

You can see from the pictures below the other mod I have recently completed - a set of Adam's Knobs - total cost about 8 bucks from Bunnings/Jaycar.

Adam

[h0ughy]

its the 6 million dollar scope--- moonlite is nice - i have two ;) one manual(because at the time i couldn't afford the motorised one ) and one motorised - Adam's knobs Eh?

[erick]

Sweet! Now are yer gunna get a hotspot on that primary? :thumbsup:

[stanlite]

how long did yours take to get adam. i ordered one yesterday (sunday afternoon) but have had no confimation of order email and my account on there site won't load so i can see my order status/delivery time.

[peter_4059]

Looks good Adam - love the Adam's knobs!

[adman]

Hi erick

yes - very sweet!

there is a centre-spot on the primary at the moment - lost in the glare in that pic - but catseye will give me a better one and i will make sure it is in the right position - not sure I trust the manufacturers one....

[el_draco]

Best focusers I have ever used. There's a 2.5 inch version not advertised on the main site. Ask and they'll give you details. Brilliant build, perfect function. Enjoy

[adman]

it was pretty quick. i ordered it around the 10th or 11th October - delivered this morning.

If you ordered it sunday - that is saturday for them - they are in pennsylvania on the east coast so about 16 hours behind. they will have probably made up your order on monday (our Tuesday arvo)- so you should get a tracking number from US Postal Service soon - if not a quick email to Ron and he will give you all the info you need.

Cheers
Adam

[adman]

they make such a difference - no more fiddling with allen keys for me! All ready to be collimated to within an inch of its life when my (our!) catseye gear gets here!

very simple to make - three bolts from bunnings, three aluminium knobs from jaycar and some araldite - no worries.

Adam

[adman]

maybe not 6 mill - but the focuser did cost more than the scope!

[adman]

here is the confirmation email from US postal service....

Service Type: Express Mail PO-Add

Shipment Activity Location Date & Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delivered Abroad AUSTRALIA 10/19/10 12:03pm

At Foreign Delivery AUSTRALIA 10/18/10 10:53am
Unit

Out of Foreign Customs AUSTRALIA 10/18/10 9:00am

Into Foreign Customs AUSTRALIA 10/18/10 7:22am

Arrived Abroad AUSTRALIA 10/18/10 7:22am

International Dispatch ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS) 10/14/10 12:04am

Arrival

Processed through Sort HARRISBURG PA 17107 10/12/10 11:39pm
Facility

Processed through Sort WILLIAMSPORT PA 17701 10/12/10 6:20pm
Facility

Shipment Accepted TURBOTVILLE PA 17772 10/12/10 2:53pm

Electronic Shipping 10/12/10
Info
Received

have you got yours yet?

Adam

[stanlite]

yes adam i have mine now ... watching it intently and comparing it to the progress of yours ... i predict either monday afternoon or tuesday morning dilivery hehe

[Archy]

Email Moonlite: Ron is very helpful

[adman]

sounds good! it comes in a surprisingly big box. Looks like my catseye gear will be arriving tomorrow or tuesday too!

Adam

[NeilW]

Hi Adam,

Just out of interest, have you made similar knobs for the primary?

[sasup]

I just put my moon-lite on last month and love it congrats

[Astroman]

Out of interest, how much was the focuser landed here in Australia? I am thinking of getting this same unit for my Skywatcher 8" F/6. PM is okay if you dont want the whole world to know :) Love the Knobs idea, what's the dia of the Bolt?

[adman]

Yes - I put in longer collimation bolts and stiffer springs to move the primary up the tube to get focus with my dslr. Bolts and knobs and springs all from good old bunnings.

Adam

[adman]

it was $US364 - i bought it when the dollar was around parity - plus about $US50 for shipping. I haven't checked my statement to see what I was charged in $AUD.

I think the bolt is 4mm from memory - I just took the original with me and matched it in the store. I had to use my Dremel tool to reduce the size of the bolt head so it would fit in the new knob though.

Adam

[adman]

thanks! they are a world apart from the original focusers. Chalk and cheese.

[NeilW]

I've got a SW 8" dob, and the secondary bolts are 4mm, primaries are 5mm. Also fitted a Moonlite a few months back, and I agree, it's a vast improvement on the standard SW focusser.

[Abraxas]

What's all the talk about Adam's knobs ?? Is this a home brew mod ? I have my own machine shop. Or is it something one buys from somewhere ?? I'm trying to collimate mt SkyWatcher 10 Dob but I don't know if I'm supposed to loosen the center Phillips screws or what size allen the 3 adjustment screws are. Can anyone advise ? Thanks.

[adman]

Definitely home brew! But worked a treat - so much easier to adjust the secondary once these were done. Sorry - I don't know offhand the adjustment screw sizes.

Cheers
Adam