Planewave 12.5 CDK Hybrid with Personalised Features and Access
This telescope I have loved for many years, enjoyed excellent results from it, and have it now available for sale, price by offer. You can see online the new price for this OTA, but realise that will be a base price without additional electronics and refinement. This system will go for a very economical price, it will include numerous things not mentioned here, and the buyer will have a choice to buy additional items to enhance their experience with this system.
This will be a great opportunity to buy a serious imaging instrument with all options to get a great image. But, remember, the best astro images (100%, top imaging results) on the planet are the result of the best capture practises (50%, that’s all the best equipment tuned and running perfectly, with best seeing conditions) and that of the best image processing practises (50%, that’s knowing how to master all processing techniques to reveal the true beauty hidden in your sub exposures). This telescope will help to get the first 50% if you do the rest right.
IMPORTANT…
You will need a mount capable of an imaging (not visual) weight of about 35kg minimum.
Please do write to see if I will split.
Please know I am definitely in no rush to sell it, and yes, this is an offer based sale and I’ve successfully done this here successfully before.
I will only entertain people who are willing to visit me to inspect the system.
I will bench demonstrate the system working.
I will not prepare the system to post/courier – its super heavy and fragile.
I have watermarked the images so no one else can use them elsewhere on the internet.
Package / System Information
Serial number 75, Originally purchased: 2011, and was used in an observatory for about 6 years. Mirror cleaned every year during this period.
Includes:
• Electronic focusing system (EFA) with Henrick Heavy Duty Focuser (rack and pinion), 3” aperture.
• Planewave EFA controls focuser and also the fan speed to OTA, pulling air from the front opening and out the rear backplate of the tube (x3 Maglev 80mm quiet and ultra smooth operation 12vdc fans). The system provides two fan speeds, one for high speed for cooling of the primary mirror, and a second speed to maintain the mirror at a target temperature above ambient (this is a variable, selectable speed/power level), whilst also ensuring a smooth laminar airflow over the mirror. The EFA monitors both ambient temperature and mirror temperature. The ambient temperature sensor has been moved to an external position to provide accurate ambient temperature monitoring, so the ambient temperature reading is not corrupted by being inside the OTA assembly (original position of sensor). When the temperature difference is great, 100% power is applied to the fans to provide maximum air flow. Once the temperature difference falls to a defined threshold (user can adjust), the fans will default to a user defined percentage of full power, normally about 25% to ensure a nice laminar flow of air over the mirror, that provides the better seeing to the camera.
NOTE: OTA 80mm Maglev fans have been externally mounted for quick exchange, that replaced the original internal fans (making the exchange of faulty fans quick and easy to do).
• Explorer Scientific 50mm 6 degree FOV corrected prism viewfinder.
• Mechanically mounted 5-watt green laser with gun sight UP/Down and Left/Right dial adjustment that is electronically and manually switchable On/Off.
• Software power and variable heating / power level control via Mount Hub Pro, controlling:
o x4 Dew heater points (or variable power outlets for fans).
o x8 Remotely controlled 12vdc power points.
o x3 Constant 12vdc power points.
o Serial focuser port.
o Manually override switch so dew heaters can be manually controlled if necessary.
• Seletek Armadillo controller that controls heating to secondary mirror, maintaining secondary mirror temp just above ambient (to prevent dew forming on mirror surface).
• Internally mounted within the OTA, are engineered aluminium bars that reinforce the front cell to the back cell. This was installed to provide structural strength to the entire assembly when heavy research grade cameras, filter units, and rotators are installed. These were installed for the more demanding requirement of working with a full frame camera, that had an offset chip (not centred), the maximum sized collimation circle was required due to the fact the camera is rotated for guide star pick off with the off axis guider. These internal bars provide OTA structural stability beyond the original configuration.
• Via the Mount Hub Pro, dual heating bands can be controlled electronically/variably (software and manual dial control) to ensure correct balance of heating to airflow over the mirror to prevent dew development over the primary mirror.
• USB and serial ports (with real serial port function via a “StarTech 4-Port USB to DB9 RS232 Serial Adapter Hub” adaptor) at the OTA to provide a broad range of accessory connectivity.
• For initial eyeball viewing/ alignment, the laser and finder scope can be both aligned to the optical axis which is extremely helpful for collimation routines.
• An OTA counter weight is provided with dovetail adaptor to counter weight/balance the OTA when heavy camera payloads are attached.
• Planewave fittings for achieving the correct mirror spacing is included (that is primary to secondary spacing).
• The focuser has been adapted to include the Takahashi 72mm thread (so you do not need to rely on the compression screws to hold your camera payload). Multiple 72mm fittings are included, but you still may need your own to adapt to other accessories you may have.
• Planewave 2” adaptor is included for normal accessory fitting.
• Takahashi 2” to 1” eyepiece compression fitting included.
• Industrial Fanless i3 PC included (Windows 7), configured to run this telescope and components. Including settings I resolved right for my operation of the unit.
• LED Light panel for flat frame creation.
• Lots of back up parts and electronics, and more stuff….
• Sample of images taken with this system can be seen here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/105968790@N03/
Items I have additional if people are interested…
• Optionally available is a narrow back space rotator (1.3” or 33mm), from Van Slyke Engineering called the “Zerotator”, with Takahashi 72mm fittings in and out sides, that fits/threads directly onto the Hendrick focuser. This should work off the Seletek Armadillo controller.
• Optionally available is a Astrodon Monster Off Axis Guider, single port, that is a heavy duty design for research grade camera payloads, that includes an accurate helical focuser and mirror offset spacers (new).
• Optionally available is a suite of collimation tools suitable for this telescope (I will provide verbally the best collimation methods for this telescope, from reassembly through to camera rotated positions). Including Tak coll scope, premium 2” laser with multiple grid options, and more.
These can all be negotiated into the price, and these will be relatively cheeeap to add.
