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Old 25-11-2009, 09:17 PM
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GeoffW1 (Geoff)
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GiveItAGoGavo View Post
Gday guys,

Im hoping to make my purchase of (again.. hopefully) an 8" dobsonian in the next few weeks. Not sure where I will get it from or what brand as yet but I suppose ill be looking at spending upwards of $500 for this bit of kit.

My worry, is with transport of the unit. Storage space isnt so much of an issue as I drive a medium-sized 4wd so i can slap it right in the back there.. what worries me is damage to the unit when I take it away, which is really why I want the scope in the first place. I like to travel to some more "remote" places and the star fields always blow me away, Ive always wanted to go there with a scope and Id like too, but Im worried that the scope will be damaged in transit.

My question is.. is this scope subject to damage from shock/vibration in the car? Would a bit of a rougher (4wd for example) trip damage any particular components of the unit?

What might be a better scope if this one is subject to damage from shock/vibration?

Of course I realise optical equipment is always best kept unshocked and unvibrated, but it might not be avoidable at times if I am travelling on some of the rougher tracks!

Cheers
Hi,

I have done a few car trips with a 300mm dob, and found that I should:

- take the guidescope off

- put the tube on a seat with the seat belt on, and arrange the sticky-out bits carefully

- put the base anywhere you can, it is robust

- always collimate it after arrival

I reckon you should pay more attention if anything to cushioning of your EPs. The dob tube is reasonably robust.

Cheers

Last edited by GeoffW1; 25-11-2009 at 09:40 PM.
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