Cooler fan

[martyn01 (Lane)]

Hi all about to go pickup my new Guan Sheng GS-880 10" ASDX need a bit of help with the fan, how can I hook it up to power to keep it going

[astronobob (Bob)]

Hi there Marty, I assume, or Lane ?
Does the fan come with the scope, or are you puchasing seperately, it should come with destructions either way? ? Most fans adapted to scope mirrors are only used for the 1st 10-20-30mins to cool the mirror down quickly, once cooling has stablized, its then not necessarily needed unless it keeps the mirror slightly cooler than ambient, not 100% sure, as dobs for observing isnt my best point ?
Most fans in this area need some sought of 12V battery/power supply ?
Nice scope by the way . .

[Steffen]

The fan equipped GSO Dobs used to come with a battery holder for 8 AAs or so, that plugged into the fan power socket. Did you not get that?

I agree with Bob, the fan shouldn't normally be required for long. It would also introduce vibrations that might be distracting at high mags.

Cheers
Steffen.

[martyn01 (Lane)]

Went and got my new scope got it home set it up and only found out it was an old model with the wrong handles, did not get the 2" eye piece 1/12 surface wave BK7 mirrors when I called them up they said it was not the new model the mirror has marks on it so not happy, they then said they did not have any more and would not get any for 2 months no discount on price, they did say I can bring it back but would have to wait for a new 1 not happy with Andrews at all I was so ready to have some super views but I think it's going to be kinda crap, going to have to take it back and find a new scope if anyone knows of a good deal on a 10" can you email me please

[simmo]

Hello martyn01,

Sorry to hear of your experience! That's a real bummer mate. Seems a bit out of sorts with Andrews too as they generally have a good name on here.

You could possibly check out a skywatcher 10". I bought one a while back and I'm pretty satisfied with it. I pulled the mirror out and it was spotless and no marks on it (mirror is pyrex too if I'm not mistaken which I think is why it hasn't got a fan on them as standard as it isn't affected by temperature as much as other glasses. Still needs time to cool down though!).

Scope has a bonus too that all the wooden parts are fully vinyl coated all round and have no exposed chipboard to seal up or go wrotten.

Everything else mechanically on it has worked fine with no problems.

I see your on the rainy side of the country and I live in WA so I really can't help you with any deals so sorry there. Hopefully someone can chime in there and help out.

Anyway hope you can sort it out and this info is helpful in some way.

By the way what type of marks were on your mirror? Scratch,dirt , smudge or streak?

Cheers
Simmo

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by martyn01

Went and got my new scope got it home set it up and only found out it was an old model with the wrong handles, did not get the 2" eye piece 1/12 surface wave BK7 mirrors when I called them up they said it was not the new model the mirror has marks on it so not happy, they then said they did not have any more and would not get any for 2 months

Hm, they still show as "in stock" on the website.

I don't think a 2" eyepiece is supposed to be included, but the focuser should be 2" (with 1.25" adapter) and 1:10 dual speed. What sort of handles (I assume you mean tension knobs?) does it have? It appears that the latest incarnations of this scope now have plastic knobs, rather than aluminium. The models prior to that had a tensioning spring.

How do you know what kind of mirror you've got? Does it say on the box or in the manual?

Cheers
Steffen.

[martyn01 (Lane)]

Lol on the Andrews site he has now changed the wed site blacked out the tension knobs and changed the text about them so so upset be wanting that scope for so long don't think I could ever go back there again

[Steffen]

Blacked out the tension knobs? I'm confused, are we talking about the same site? The image I saw just then is this (yes that's a picture of a 10" Dob). What did you see?

When I bought the scope a couple of years ago it looked very much like that, except the size of course, and the laminate on the rocker box was black, not white. What does yours look like?

Cheers
Steffen.

[martyn01 (Lane)]

If you look at the site today the knobs have been blacked out as he was selling old scopes as new stock witch has a better mirror 2" eye piece and a white bace when I got my (new stock )scope it ad the old mirror and the old knobs as in black plastic if you go on the gos site you see the new scope that I was after, when I took the scope back lee did not even say sorry about it just a heads up to all about getting a new scope from Andrews

[martyn01 (Lane)]

Originally Posted by martyn01

If you look at the site today the knobs have been blacked out as he was selling old scopes as new stock witch has a better mirror 2" eye piece and a white bace when I got my (new stock )scope it ad the old mirror and the old knobs as in black plastic if you go on the gos site you see the new scope that I was after, when I took the scope back lee did not even say sorry about it just a heads up to all about getting a new scope from Andrews

This is the scope they gave me for $699.00

[martyn01 (Lane)]

Also in thebox of the scope there wa no leaflet include about what you was getting, nothing on how to set it up nothing not sure why that would be so don't even know what mirror was in the scoe, when you got your scope did it come with any info n the box about the scope itself did your scope have anything wit it steffen?

http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm

http://www.gs-telescope.com/content.asp?id=115

See where they changed the pic from the gso site

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Martyn
I could be wrong but I think the newer scopes have black plastic knobs. Certainly when I got my 12" it had metal ones. The website now clearly states that the new model has the plastic knobs. The text is here
"Newest model features new large smoothly-knurled black plastic side knobs for comfortably adjusting tube tension (our recommendation). Discontinued model had sharp edged aluminium adjustment knobs." The pic on the GSO site is the old style with metal knobs.
Andrews site clearly states that there is only 2 EPs included a 15mm and 25mm both with 1.25" barrels. The GSO site mentions a 30mm 2" EP but from my experience you are better with the 25mm one supplied at the 30mm GSO ones show quite bad distortions.
The GSO site is rarely up to date in my experience BTW.
Also how did you tell the mirror was not 1/12 wave? Or what exactly was the issue with the mirror? As far as I know the only change to that end of the scopes recently is that the old (crappy) collimation screws have been changed to large knurled plastic knobs which would be much better!
The instructions are never included with GSO scopes I have found. Mine did have but they were for the old model that used teflon bearings and springs. At this price they kinda assume you know what you are doing! That is why I always advise beginners who are thinking of buying these scope to go and see one set up so they at least have an idea what they are aiming for when setting up.
The thing to realise is that these are budget scopes built to a very low price point.

Just to be clear, I have no affilation with Andrews apart from being a satisfied customer.

Malcolm

[martyn01 (Lane)]

Everyone I talk to said to go there as well that's why I went, but about a week ago on Andrews site it said it came with the other knobs like on the gso site, when I got home and put the scope and looked at the mirror I could see 5 or 6 marks on the mirror I guess the think is as I was so happy to get a first scope then I had some friends over to help set it up they see the marks and said that did not look right, sorry for all the *****ing just sad as I was so happy to get a scope and then had to take it back would still like to get a new scope soon

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

This may help!

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=103977

[Steffen]

Hi Martyn, from your photo it does look like you got the very latest model of the GSO Dob. I personally do not agree with their switch to plastic tension knobs (the aluminium ones are not sharp-edged BTW), but that's they way they went.

That $450 floor model at Bintel is a bloody great deal, though, and it seems to be the slightly older model with aluminium knobs. The Bintel photo seems closer to the truth as well – white tube and black base.

EDIT Regarding the mirror marks, I suspect they won't affect the scope's performance, if you choose to keep it (very few visible marks on mirrors do). Some day down the track when you get your Catseye collimator and want to attach the triangle spot you can give the mirror a wash

Cheers
Steffen.

[Russ59]

I've had a GSO scope with both the aluminium and plastic tension knobs and both work fine.

And I'd bet the "marks" on the mirror would not affect the performance of the optics as Stefan said. In fact most amateur astronomers who have had scopes for a few years will tell you the odd mark, fingerprint or bit of dust will not degrade the image.

You said you did not get the "BK7 mirrors"? How did you establish this?

Spend time and go into Bintel and pickup one of theirs. Speak to the staff they are very helpful and they fully collimate (align) and test your telescope prior to delivery.