ok i put on the covers tonight, not really happy with the lower opening - the attachment screws dont seem right and basically just went straight through - need to put in some screws with locking nuts.
Also i have no idea how the linkages go together - any photos of some of yours fellas to show me?
also the bottom of the solar fan
Hi David
Can't help you with the linkage setup, mine is the old, light chain and rope method , easy except in the wind, it jumps around a bit .
The screws holding the lower shutter are countersunk machine screws and are fitted with a flat washer and a nyloc nut, once tightened you wont need to touch them again.
Can't help you with the linkage setup, mine is the old, light chain and rope method , easy except in the wind, it jumps around a bit .
The screws holding the lower shutter are countersunk machine screws and are fitted with a flat washer and a nyloc nut, once tightened you wont need to touch them again.
Cheers
I am missing two of the lock nuts as that area must have been damaged? not sure how? i bought some of the same screws last night at bunnings with nuts but they are not lock nuts - more like flat nuts. Might try to go to a specialist nut and bolt place to get the right one
I am still yet to work out the linkage bar - its testing my feeble brain
I am missing two of the lock nuts as that area must have been damaged? not sure how? i bought some of the same screws last night at bunnings with nuts but they are not lock nuts - more like flat nuts. Might try to go to a specialist nut and bolt place to get the right one
I am still yet to work out the linkage bar - its testing my feeble brain
This is how the lower shutter attachment should look.
David, John and anyone else that has a Sirius observatory. What is the recommended height of the pier in one of these observatories given that the wall height is 1.5 meters?
Thanks, Allan
David, John and anyone else that has a Sirius observatory. What is the recommended height of the pier in one of these observatories given that the wall height is 1.5 meters?
Thanks, Allan
the pier is about 350 above the deck, then the pier height lowered is 700, so that makes just over the metre, then there is the actual mount, have to measure the G11 - but lets assume its another 350 so there is 1.4m, then i can raise the pier up to another 600 above that if needed LOL so i can place a camera very near to 2m from the deck, the top of the dome is the opening fully extended for some very wide field shots - guided, or leave it in the base position for rock solid performance.
David, John and anyone else that has a Sirius observatory. What is the recommended height of the pier in one of these observatories given that the wall height is 1.5 meters?
Thanks, Allan
Hi allan
My pier is 1200mm, 1150 from the floor, that is based on using a refractor, NJP mount and my height, 183cm.
The Doghouse is looking great Dave! And seeing your progress report images brings back fond memories of sweaty days under the summer sun building Bells Obs. I'm warning you though, you'll reeeeeally miss setting up and tearing down!!! Psssst ... something that no-one's told you yet - observatories attract clouds!
Cheers, Marcus
I wish I was able to construct such things of beauty! (nice 'den' as well!)
David, John and anyone else that has a Sirius observatory. What is the recommended height of the pier in one of these observatories given that the wall height is 1.5 meters?
Thanks, Allan
Depends on your gear but I found my 42" ATS pier (1067mm) to be the perfect height for my EM 400 mount + refractor. When horizontal, my OTA points just above the bottom of the slit.
Depends on your gear but I found my 42" ATS pier (1067mm) to be the perfect height for my EM 400 mount + refractor. When horizontal, my OTA points just above the bottom of the slit.
Cheers, Marcus
your pier base was flush with the floor wasnt it Marcus?
i finished the planter boxes tonight - while it was cool. so have planted 8 Morgan pines. Also i have added ties downs for the observatory and topped up the concrete top surface to make it smooth and level. will seal it up tomorrow with goop weather permitting
your pier base was flush with the floor wasnt it Marcus?
Yep - pretty much. I actually made it just below the deck surface. The ATS pier sits on pretty large leveling nuts (on 3/4" bolts) and I wanted to cancel out some of the extra pier height that created. (you can kind of see that in this pic http://www.pbase.com/gailmarc/image/91115803/large). So the bottom of the pier actually sits fairly flush with the level of the false floor (9mm ply + carpet).
Well i sealed up the base and the joints this morning, installed high wind secure mounts and installed a external lock. for all intensive purposes the dome is now complete. I need to get the power and data hooked up and install the pier and mount and scopes now the observatory is secure.
, easy except in the wind, it jumps around a bit 
.
I wish I was able to construct such things of beauty! (nice 'den' as well!)
