[ChrisM]

A few enhancements and an upgrade have occured over the last month.

I got some cheap digital thermometers and have put these on a panel to show concrete pier temp, steel pier temp and the ambient temp upstairs. No surprises here - the concrete pier is always lagging the trend.

Also from ebay, I got a cheap ($5.47) IR light which I use to boost the lighting for the scope/mount surveillance CCTV. Sample pic attached. The view is actually clearer than this snap would indicate. I've wired in a 5 Watt resistor into one leg of the SPDT centre-off switch to provide a Low/High lighting option.

To better protect the telescopes and mount, I got a custom-made cover made from tent fly material. The actual material is purple PU-coated nylon, and it's got a drawcord which allows me to pull it in tight around the pier. I place a few silica gel dessicant canisters around the mount to help keep any trapped moisture under control.

And last but in no way least, I've replaced the LX90 with a larger SCTand a 5" refractor, both of which sit on a 1200 GTO. It's still very early days with this set-up - the refractor hasn't even seen first light yet.

I'll post more in due course.

Chris