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Hi All - I have all the goodies to remote the observatory, cloudwatcher, software,auto focusers, etc,etc - this observatory and it's predecessor are being used as testbeds - to sort out the systems for a practical workable remote observatory as far as possible up some remote hillside. Objective one has to be complete before I can move on with the dream. The present observatory is remote in the fact that it is isolated but it is onlt 45 minutes away from home so that makes it practical to use and serve as a test bed for ideas. The communications problem will solve itself in time, 2 years ago my cellphone coverage was almost non existant, now it is 5 bars inside the observatory - commercial pressures in the smartphone market make it an obvious choice for communication.
The biggest problem is Power and for a number of reasons Solar is the only real option, but it is inefficient and very expensive. Computers are needed to run the cameras,mounts, focusers,etc and for data storage, plus they are needed to work the machinery to open and close the roof.
Computers are the biggest user of electricity - your normal netbook/laptop is rated 120 to 200 watts. If you run that 24/7 then a 600amp hour @ 24volt system and 4 x 200 watt panels will just about support it, but there is no power over to run the rest of the systems. Plus all the newer computers are USB2.0 and USB3.0 - a lot of the astronomical gear still runs Serial/Comm connections. Real problems that need to be solved if progress is to be made. Hence the rebuild, I expect to be spending quite a few hours there over the next couple of years as things are sorted out so comfort is one prime consideration and storage another.
My current project is sorting out the computer problem, most commercial boards are useless as they are directed at the mainstream market, but there are a number of industrial boards available and I have one arriving from USA in the next few days, it uses 12 VoltDC, has 6 USB2.0 Ports and 6 Serial/Comm ports - 1.8 GZ 2800 chip and 4 GB ram - it draws 20 watts
If we can get that working than power problems start to go away.
Cheers
Geof Wingham
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