Hi,
Looks like the supplier is sourcing me another OTA but maybe a 150mm x 750mm (no corrector to worry about) Even though these scopes are listed at a lower price than the 150mm x 1400mm, I think they are a better scope, after all the corrector is only a glorified barlows to some extent. You get more metal for a lower price (longer tube
).
I will have to get another counter weight, this is something I have noticed with my sons scope which is a 150mm x 750mm and uses the same mount as mine, it won't balance out with the supplied weight, jury rigged it by tapping a hammer head to the bottom of the existing weight and balances out ok.
If they end up replacing my scope with the same specs then I guess they will make sure at their end that the optics are O.K before sending it out too me (I would hope).
I went to my first AAQ meeting tonight
and met someone who is willing to have a look at the existing one to see what I'm doing wrong with the collimation. Also went to the Lunar Feild Night tonight
which was really cool, we had resonable skies for a change, at least for a couple of hours, getting to know my way around the Moon (hogging my sons scope I'm sorry to say) for the first time, I have been more a deep sky / double star person.
Thanks so far for everybodys help on this, and I will let you know what eventuates.
If I get to keep the old OTA I will get another scondary for it and have another go at getting it right.
While I have been waiting I have built my own dew heaters and controller, modified version of the one listed under projects here. Added individual switches, also can control a high bright red LED which I have rigged up for a red light. Working in a way to control individal Amps per heater as this will give me total control over the indivdual Heaters output. I can callibrate with a lab thermometer and a bit of maths
.