Garden shed observatory progress

xelasnave · #1 05-03-2007, 08:30 AM

Well the new observatory (garden shed) has been delivered..its only 1.8 mtrs square but suitable to house the eq6 mount on a permanent pier. Nearly went crazy putting the shed together because I left five pieces in the house so they were not available to help reason prevail. Fortunately I did not make a fool of myself by ringing the rural agent to complain it was a crook shed.
With the pad mostly complete I smashed a hole threw it and the rubble under to open some holes to the bedrock, drove in three star pickets and filled the holes with cement, positioned a huge pvc pipe dis guarded by telecom in place and back filled the hole with a 3 to one mix, I have yet to cement in any bolts so that’s to come in the next day or so, but have opted for a ply and fibre glass mounting piece between the top of the pier and the mount..less expansion in ply than steel and it will be faster to make as I can do it and not have to wait for the post or a welder to build one. Inch thick ply with glass matt layers will be strong enough and won’t flex at all.
Getting the floor today but getting it lined is the problem because of transporting the large sheets home.
Alex

glenc (Glen) · #2 05-03-2007, 09:25 AM

Sounds very good Alex.

acropolite (Phil) · #3 05-03-2007, 01:36 PM

And where may I ask are the pictures??

xelasnave · #4 05-03-2007, 03:49 PM

Thank you Glen

and thank you Phil

.
I have been to Casino today got the floor, wheels, bolts, resin and glass matt...and no hardner even though I specially asked and was assured it was in the box

...still on the bright side I have some at home and I have an excuse to go back and bargain as an upset customer for even more goodies

.
Phil here is a photo from a little ways off but you will see the shed is in its bits ready for cursing and demands that it follow the plans.
We were working so hard I forgot the shots of the hole. I will try and record it so if anyone is thinking of similar they may be able to use some idea that I have included...or just copy it out right. I have thought it thru well and being energy efficient (I dont like spending money as that heats the planet up from my flushed cheeks

.
Will do my best with more photos but its pretty simple hardly worthy of a roll of film..opps dont have to worry about film anymore

.
Thanks
alex

xelasnave · #5 05-03-2007, 04:00 PM

Explanation..the floor of the house is level with the pad(cement mixer is on pad behind little motor trike and trailer). the shed will be in front of the double door on the same floor level as the house floor. The eq6 is inside the shed the 12 inch inside the house but rolls over the same level floor to outside. The shed is on wheels so the lot rolls away. Housed in the shed will be a small desk for lap top and wall for star maps..A 2oo amp hour battery (2 6 volts) and a small solar panel will lay flat on the roof..inefficient but the shed will use little of the battery available power. I will instal two or more computer fans to circulate the air to come on during daylight to keep it cool and dry.
alex
alex

xelasnave · #6 05-03-2007, 04:02 PM

also a car cooler in the shed for the camera to cool in (besides the one on the scope) that is the only reason I want so much power available really.
alex

xelasnave · #7 08-03-2007, 06:24 PM

Here are some more shots showing the floor and pier. The shed blew over in the storm but

is OK I have the floor anchored to the pier now

. I have yet to line it and make a mount fitting for the pier. The best and cheapest is to cement the tripod in folded up position with some of the legs sawed off..well it is permanent

I dont know if I will go for that but if it clears for sure it will be cemented in

with fast set cement

.
alex

xelasnave · #8 08-03-2007, 06:33 PM

and another

DobDobDob (Ron) · #9 08-03-2007, 07:43 PM

Looking good Alex, keep photographing every step and showing us, I for one am very interested in your progress

xelasnave · #10 08-03-2007, 08:27 PM

Thanks Ron

, it is an easy project and hopefully the result will be a permanent mount that can be dialed in to the perfect polar alignment, and when the shed rolls away a "control room" that will house the lap top for tracking and a table for coffee..maybe even a DVD player to look at during those 45 minute exposures that this set up will let me do

...hopefully

I want to go for one of those Hubble Deep Sky 200 hour exposures (still a lot of stacking) maybe 250 / 45 minutes if it works.

alex

DobDobDob (Ron) · #11 08-03-2007, 08:37 PM

I think you are going to have a lot of fun in that shed....oop's....I mean Observatory

xelasnave · #12 08-03-2007, 09:07 PM

Here is the idea of how it will fit.
alex

xelasnave · #13 08-03-2007, 09:11 PM

Please note that only solar power was used to run the 240 volt power tools, drill, saw and angle grinder

. The 2 solar panels are in the background of the last shot

.
alex

Ric · #14 09-03-2007, 12:36 AM

Great stuff Alex, it looks like you are going to have a great setup when ti's all together.
The pic's look great.

Cheers

xelasnave · #15 09-03-2007, 09:49 PM

A little more progress with internal walls and ceiling going in, weather is beating me now

..No Sun no power

..No actually no time to finish it today and the weekend is out

.
But it’s getting there slowly.
Alex

xelasnave · #16 11-03-2007, 10:32 PM

Did a little more over the weekend

, got the ceiling paneled and figured how to do the remaining front wall with the door all to be paneled

. Getting the fans tomorrow and hope to get the solar panel installed before I have to go to Sydney and possibly the 200 amp hours of batteries

. Very happy overall

but the pad is rather slack, being made up of many seemingly unrelated cement pours.. it was always to have another skin of decent cement over it and will need another surface so the shed will sit perfect and roll with even less effort.

I have systems figured for a motor and remote to move it but have not decided if that will be done as it even now it rolls away with little effort. So far so good

bit more expensive than I figured

because of the paneling but that was finally the only option because by doing paneling in pine I could get the stuff home in the little car

. $400 for the floor and panelling using composite flooring and masonite lining would see half this costing but transport was my enemy.

Anyways I am glad it looks nice (linseed oiled only so far) and will be warm a small carpet will make it snug. Probably need a window or closed circuit TV to look at the scope when I am all snuggled up in the control room

.

But it was dam hot working inside it round Noon today, near fainted from the heat once but after the ceiling went up it was better but will need fans and possibly a “second” roof (which I have always though necessary) to shield the Sun from the roof

.
Alex

xelasnave · #17 11-03-2007, 10:45 PM

And with the second skin of cement I will try to lay the wiring under it in 2inch pvc pipe and lead them into the pier below the new cement skin ..then up the inside of the pier out of the way if possible.
alex

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #18 11-03-2007, 11:18 PM

Alex, the inside is starting to look too good for an observatory! You'll have to turn it into a spare bedroom and make another observatory.

Great job

DobDobDob (Ron) · #19 12-03-2007, 07:49 AM

Pictures, pictures, show me the pictures

Ric · #20 12-03-2007, 08:10 AM

It sounds like your getting heaps done Alex and it's all coming together nicely as well.

Cheers