[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

Hi,

Well, my orion cooler box arrived today, so i decided to give it a quick test.

Not ideal conditions, windy and cold so it was a bit difficult to gauge it's true performance. Once I had installed the camera and let it cool for an hour, inside temp -8.6c outside +5.8c.
Balance was an issue, it required another 2.5kgs counter weight. I hear people saying, too much weight on HEQ Pro 5 mount, the main bearing is massive so I have no concern, I would rather balance properly and take the stress from the drives.
The standard focuser on the BINTEL F/4 coped well with the weight, I defocused on a star and placed slight pressure on the assembly, very little flexure.
I hear you say, you can't see to focus, with camera in the cooler box, I used live view and have a remote monitor in the observatory.
It takes a while to install the camera and get it setup, but this will become quicker when i get used to it.
The only problem I found is the the internal external temp sensors are the wrong way round, no biggy, just need to remember out is in.

The image of NGC 253 is 8 minute subs, a total of 48 minutes, no darks flats or bias, I wanted to stack and see how it would come up.

You be the judge.

Also a single 8 minute sub, so you can see how it came out of the camera.
The stars, are less than perfect, as the scope was been blown about.

When I get a warm night, with no wind I'll do another test and post it.

Cheers,

Justin.