Can you link to what type of screws you used as replacements?
If I go this route, I'll need to put it up on 50cm blocks, as my gear stands 2m tall. Unless I park it on its side. My preference is the counterweight down position, though.
Can you link to what type of screws you used as replacements?
If I go this route, I'll need to put it up on 50cm blocks, as my gear stands 2m tall. Unless I park it on its side. My preference is the counterweight down position, though.
H
This is the packet. Example of replacement screw (out of the packet) with included rubber seal is on the left. Stock screw (as supplied with the shed) on the right.
Can you link to what type of screws you used as replacements?
If I go this route, I'll need to put it up on 50cm blocks, as my gear stands 2m tall. Unless I park it on its side. My preference is the counterweight down position, though.
H
A 2 high block wall will give you enough height and also stop water ingress under the 'shed' walls. I had some water coming in as Richard did in the bottom channels so just got a tube of expanding foam filler and filled the channels in on the outside.
Incorporate a raised step at the door as well to keep water at bay.
Djdd, I have a neq6 set up on the left (with the vixen vc200L cassegrain) and a heq5 on the right (with a small 130mm f5 Newtonian). Space is quite tight; Im confident it will work fine for imaging, but I'm not sure that it would be practical (with my setup anyway) for visual. If you had your scope on a permanent pier, used a short OTA and the hand controller instead of a PC you might be able to get away with these sheds for visual, but it would be tight.
For me, a dome ( or rather, two domes side by side) was simply not affordable, so I was willing to compromise somewhat on room for visual use.
Djdd, I have a neq6 set up on the left (with the vixen vc200L cassegrain) and a heq5 on the right (with a small 130mm f5 Newtonian). Space is quite tight; Im confident it will work fine for imaging, but I'm not sure that it would be practical (with my setup anyway) for visual. If you had your scope on a permanent pier, used a short OTA and the hand controller instead of a PC you might be able to get away with these sheds for visual, but it would be tight.
For me, a dome ( or rather, two domes side by side) was simply not affordable, so I was willing to compromise somewhat on room for visual use.
thanks for the reply.
Do you take the vixen vc200L and the newtonian off the mounts when you shut the roof?
I will only have an ED80 on the EQ6. I might use that for visual sometimes but mostly AP.
I would also store a 10" dobsonian in the shed and roll it out when using it or the ED80.
I will have to do some mock ups, maybe with a lot of cardboard to simulate the sides.
Do you take the vixen vc200L and the newtonian off the mounts when you shut the roof?
No, the intention is to leave the scopes on the mounts permanently. An earlier post in this thread shows the scope/counterweight for each in the horizontal position which is how I intend to park the scopes prior to closing the roof
No, the intention is to leave the scopes on the mounts permanently. An earlier post in this thread shows the scope/counterweight for each in the horizontal position which is how I intend to park the scopes prior to closing the roof
Ah yes, I seemed to have just not registered what i saw in the image.
I think I might get a shed whilst they are cheap and then worry later about whether I fit in the shed together with the equipment.
Hi Richard. That looks awesome. I have been thinking about something smaller than a normal shed for a while now, something just big enough to cover the scope and mount. That pool shed looks like it will fit the bill perfectly.
I think you have just inspired me to do something about it. When I moved into my current house there was already a concrete slab just sitting in the back corner of the garden with nothing on it. Now if that is not screaming out "Observatory! Observatory!" I don't know what is.
It has become such a chore to drag the gear outside, set up and get polar aligned, that I just can't be bothered anymore. You can easily kiss two hours of the evening goodbye. Imagine being able to flip the lid, power up and start straight away.
1) with the roof "open" the bottom, effectively looks up at the sky and being metal, will probably dew up a treat in the cold night air. What happens when you go to close it after imaging? All that lovely wet metal will rain down on your scope and leads me to point .
Hi Richard,
Why not just line the insideof the roof with a polyurethane (or similar) sheet , this because of its low heat capacity will not collect dew and when closed will offer some insulation for the scopes during the day.
Philip
About to pull the trigger on this. measured up the EQ8 and 12" newt set up lastnight and it will fit with clearance.
I plan on setting it up at my parent's place which has slightly better sky clearance and less street lights around - but only 10 mins from my place - just need their ok (i'm guessing it will come down to colour selection) and i'm good to roll. there is an existing concrete slab from an old demolished bungalow and outside power supply.
i think i will need to source a spare desktop computer and think about some remote access. hmmm never thought i'd be comtemplating the issues there ...
Having moved into a large semi-rural place back in March my better half gave the all clear for me to look into a permanent home for my scopes.
Trawling through the IIS archives I came across this post which suggests an Absco "Pool Cover" shed might be suitable. Basically a small 1.5x1.5m shed with sides 1.2-1.5m high and with a flip top roof as standard. Sounded like a perfect low cost solution.
Before I got too carried away i decided I should build a mockup of the shed frame just to check my gear would fit. Having confirmed that, it was time to place an order and set about preparing a concrete slab.
Commissioning of the new setup is progressing well. Has been quite an undertaking as this has not only been about building an observatory structure, but also DIY design/modification/testing of a cold-finger peltier cooling mod to two cameras and then fine-tuning the various systems for automated capture and remote control. Last night I completed PEC training so I am looking forward to the next imaging run post full moon to see the impact. My NEQ6 was just under 12 arcsecs peak-to-peak before PEC (which I think is quite respectable already), and according to PECPrep will be under 2 arcsecs peak-to-peak after PEC so I should be seeing some benefits of a permanent setup right there.
Here are a few pics showing the latest setup. Both telescopes now with DSLR cameras featuring regulated temperature control as well as a filter mod. Guiding for the "widefield" setup ( a 130mm f5 newtonian) is via a Rubinar 500mm f8 lens as a guidescope, attached to a QHY5L-IIm with a Geoptik Nikon-T2 adapter. Guiding for the "narrowfield" setup (my truss VC200L) is via a Lacerta OAG and another QHY5L-IIm. As shown in the photos I am also experimenting with a low cost DIY flat panel - basically a white board which I have taped to the obs wall opposite the park position for each scope. I am using this as a fall-back if the dawn sky is clouded over and not suitable for sky flats. The panel flats seems to look okay so far but I will have a better idea of their effectiveness as time progresses.
I should confirm again that whilst this setup is working well for me for imaging (via remote desktop from the house) it is a tight fit in there and I would caution anyone considering such a setup for visual without them first building a mock up (as shown in the original post to this thread) to confirm that they can maneuver around the scope.
See the Deep Sky forum here for the first light images from the new obs.
Noted your bulky Computing setup though. Have you ever considered running on ultra compact fanless PC's ??
Fit PC are in their 4 or 5 generation now and can be run totally monitor-less and keyboard-less. You just use a tablet like a IPAD or Samsung to connect via wireless using remote control/screen software and the display comes up on the Tablet.
Then you can still use all your favourite PC software for controlling all the gear.
Will give you back all your shed space and reduce your power overheads.
Apologies for resurrecting such an old thread, but i've had a few people recently asking about my Absco pool shed observatory.
10 years down the track from installation, and they're still going strong. I've since lined them with insulation to help manage temperature extremes during summer, and have loose laid some carpet squares which has helped to control the dust. I keep a DampRid desiccant tub in each obs which I keep regularly topped up with desiccant to control moisture. I've also installed a pier in each shed, which although not totally necessary has certainly made it easier to move around in each shed without risk of kicking a tripod leg in the dark and messing up my polar alignment.
I did find that when the observatories were closed that in strong wind (from the north - due to the orientation of my sheds) they had a tendancy for the lid to flip open - which i've since prevented by using a rope which is lashed to the inside and then made fast to keep everything secure. Similarly when the obs is open that same rope is used to keep the lid secured down (in the open position) so that the roof doesn't blow closed (if the wind picks up during an imaging run, from the south) and crash down on the scope if theyre in use.
All in all I remain very happy with the install. The Absco sheds protect the scopes from all extremes of weather (rain, hail, storms, wind) and when I want to do some imaging they're so easy to use - simply run out an extension cord, flip open the lids and turn on the power. Too easy.
Watch this space .......
