New Moonlite Focuser

[dcalleja]

I finally got tired of the microfocuser on my LX200R and got a new Moonlite one with DC Stepper motor. I have to say its one of the nicest (and most attractive if you can say that) pieces of engineering I've seen.

I've connected it to my Mount Hub Pro and it works as smooth as butter. I managed to get my best focus last night with no problems whatsoever and it held it all night.

The only thing I would say is its real heavy and will need to be balanced out but its one of the best aftermarket pieces of kit I've ever bought

A few pics here.

Cheers
Dan

[Sarge (Rod)]

You will love it Dan. I was so impressed with the ML on my 12" dob, I bought another for my 127ED.

Clear skies

Rod

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Beautiful bit of kit .
Brian.

[pgc hunter]

A very worthwhile investment. I replaced a Phase 4 on my dob with a Moonlite and vibration while focusing was slashed to essentially nil, not to mention the much smoooother focusing.

[dcalleja]

Yes I have to say it paid for itself on the first use. I cant believe I put up with mushy focussing for so long. Now I only have to fix my autoguiding issues

Dan

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Got one arriving this week for my North Group 102mm refractor-certainly a good company to deal with!

[dcalleja]

I got mine via My Astro. Good service from those guys as the Moonlite website is a bit daunting (and not very clear in terms of wha bits to get)

Dan

[allan gould]

Have three of these and never thought of getting anything else. They are just superb.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Dribbly!
I've just ordered one for my Mak and can't wait for it to arrive.

[icytailmark (Mark)]

im a little confused you have a feather touch focuser but you also have a moonlite focuser. How does that work? how does the telescope use 2 focusers?

[dcalleja]

The LX200 series has always come with a manual focuser, that moves the mirror back and forth (Its rubbish so I replaced it with the feathertouch - much better) and an electric focuser that moves the back end of the optical train back and forth. Thats what I've just replaced with the Moonlite.

Now I just leave the mirror locked in place and use the Moonlite for critical focus. For visual work or coarse focus, I would still use the featherlite

[skysurfer]

These focusers are great.

I got one for my Genesis but the old focuser could NOT be removed (unless brutal violence is used damaging the Petzval elements in the rear) so I sold it again ... unused :-(

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by dcalleja

I finally got tired of the microfocuser on my LX200R and got a new Moonlite one with DC Stepper motor. I have to say its one of the nicest (and most attractive if you can say that) pieces of engineering I've seen.

I've connected it to my Mount Hub Pro and it works as smooth as butter. I managed to get my best focus last night with no problems whatsoever and it held it all night.

The only thing I would say is its real heavy and will need to be balanced out but its one of the best aftermarket pieces of kit I've ever bought

A few pics here.

Cheers
Dan

I'm another Moonlite fan - all my bigger scopes have them. And I also use a HitecAstro Mount Hub Pro but for some resason haven't connected the two. Did the PC still allocate a separate Com Port to the focuser? Did you have any other issues with the connection?
Peter

[dcalleja]

Originally Posted by pmrid

I'm another Moonlite fan - all my bigger scopes have them. And I also use a HitecAstro Mount Hub Pro but for some resason haven't connected the two. Did the PC still allocate a separate Com Port to the focuser? Did you have any other issues with the connection?
Peter

Peter
The only connection I used on the MHP is the 9 pin connector from the stepper motor to the MHP itself. I can control focus then from the software than came With the hub. Works fine. I also use the little hand controller that comes with the hub.

[Barrykgerdes]

I have a moonlight focuser without a controller. However it runs perfectly when plugged into the focus jack on my LX200 handbox. Has any one else tried this.

Barry

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by dcalleja

Peter
The only connection I used on the MHP is the 9 pin connector from the stepper motor to the MHP itself. I can control focus then from the software than came With the hub. Works fine. I also use the little hand controller that comes with the hub.

Just tried it and it does work fine. However, I can see a limitation - since all my imaging ATM is with filters I need to focus between filters (and sometimes between subs) and Maxim can do this automatically once you set the various filter offsets or run a script. Doing it manually could be a bit of a PITA.
Peter

[JohnH]

Originally Posted by pmrid

Just tried it and it does work fine. However, I can see a limitation - since all my imaging ATM is with filters I need to focus between filters (and sometimes between subs) and Maxim can do this automatically once you set the various filter offsets or run a script. Doing it manually could be a bit of a PITA.
Peter

Does this mean the focus controller part of the hub does not appear as an ASCOM device?
I do not have Maxim but use AstroArt and CCDSoft/focusMax the same way and was going to get the Hitec hub but if I cannot autofocus/refocus under s'ware contorl I might give it a miss for now.

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Anothr fan here, got mine for the RC couple weeks back it absolutly brilliant, nice and smooth stepper motor too.

[dcalleja]

Originally Posted by JohnH

Does this mean the focus controller part of the hub does not appear as an ASCOM device?
I do not have Maxim but use AstroArt and CCDSoft/focusMax the same way and was going to get the Hitec hub but if I cannot autofocus/refocus under s'ware contorl I might give it a miss for now.

The Hitec software lets you focus from the PC. It seems to also have preset points (for different focal points ang gear I guess). Hope this helps

Dan

[Larryp (Laurie)]

My new Moonlite arrived today-what a beautiful piece of engineering! Can't wait to fit it.