I have just recently completed building myself a couple of light boxes and I am very pleased with the results. If anyone is interested in me building one for them, PM me and I can discuss price etc, one thing is for sure, they are going to be at least a third of the price of imported ones, and IMHO work just as well. The two attached images will give you some sort of idea of my construction. My method of construction allowes the light box to fit over the front of the telescope/dew shield, much like a cover so one does not need to balance it on the scope.
I use a 12v lighter type connector for the power, and each LED is rated at between 6000mcd and 12000mcd depending on the size of the box required.
If interested please feel free to ask any questions.
IceTrade Classifieds is a free service provided to IceInSpace members to help encourage and promote astronomy in our community.
Hi Terry, no, they come totally assembled. To try and make them a flat pack would be a real work of art, they are quite light, and need to be glued together. And finally covered with matt black vinyl. Given the size of your scope, freight would be an issue, and I suggest it would not be economical to try and send something this size to NZ. It is a real pain here in Aust, as Aust Post won't accept cartons over a certain size and one then has to use couriers.
I have appended an image of a box halfway through construction, and I think you will see why it is not viable to try and make them a flat pack for transportation.
G'day Peter, thinking about getting one of these for my 10" SkyWatcher Black Diamond reflector. Not sure what dimensions you need or if you've done them before and already have the info. How far down the tube does the lightbox sit? Wondering if it comes up to the finder mount and I'll have to look at how close my Telrad and focuser are mounted.
I'd be after the dimming version, and instead of a cigarette lighter plug would it be possible to get an RCA male connector instead? That way I can plug it into a spare 12V socket on my dew heater controller. How may amps does it draw? Assume not much.