I've been meaning to get around to sorting out the shutter on the roll off roof it has been a bit of a pain to open and close.
What better use of these light summer nights than to refine the kit.
This is what I've come up with.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s2Z2...ature=youtu.be
here is another quick tour of the Observatory showing a little more of the scope and location. Don't look too close, I'm not a carpenter but I will be tidying a few things up. BTW that great big tree will be coming down....not only because it is directly South but because its too close to the house . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJTPmIEPKeU
Its not bad, we get sideways rain here regular and 3ft of snow last winter.......never been wet inside at all.....the only thing is wasp nests and it can get dewy, so I have heaters which stay on while the scope is parked and its very important to have good ventilation to let out the damp....I also have airflow under the observatory.
Hi Alistair, yep it does have a rain sensor. Ill sort out some pics and post them for you. Is there anything in particular you would like to see???....its really a simple design, using heavy duty "V" pulleys on an angle iron rails for the roof then a cantilever and balanced shutter. The roof is operated by a garage door opener which is wired into a universal Velleman board and is run by lesvedome software which is Ascom compatible ...see link http://www.dppobservatory.net/DomeAu...DomeDriver.php
all automated with CCD Autopilot....it will park the scope before closing the roof, but I will be fitting a safety switch that cuts power to the roof when the scope is pointing up.
Nicely done.... How weatherproof is the end with the raising flap?
just found this photo.....this was before the weather got bad ....everything stayed dry....although the shutter was not counter weighted in this pic the system used the same shutter.
and 3ft of snow last winter.......never been wet inside at all.....the only thing is wasp nests and it can get dewy, so I have heaters which stay on while the scope is parked and its very important to have good ventilation to let out the damp....I also have airflow under the observatory.
