New Scope - PW - Woohoo!

[pvelez (Pete)]

Thanks everyone for your comments/responses.

I managed to get things running for a few hours the other night. As Logan suggested, the PMX handled the weight with aplomb. No issues slewing about.

I know what I should have done - run a big T Point model, take some PEC data, do a dozen V Curves for FocusMax and initialise it all in CCD Autopilot. There had been bushfires in Sydney that day and there was a heavy duty norwester blowing so it was not an imaging night... But of course I had to put the Beast through its paces.

So I took a single V Curve, ignored PEC and relied on the existing T Point model for the FSQ and took a few images. I managed 3 shots of NGC 253 - 5 minutes in L only before the clouds rolled in.

First impressions? The EFA unit and software that controls the fans and focuser are simple and intuitive. There are relatively few setting and it connects and runs as it should straight out of the box.

Focusing was a bit of a challenge. I only had a single V Curve and it needed some refinement. However, I think the real issue was that it was blowing a gale - over 40kmh. So the scope must have been wobbling about a bit. FocusMax has a default minimum acceptable FWHM of 6 and I exceeded that a few times in a focus run so the program reset the focuser to the initial position. I didn't have any problems on the following night.

Paul, I will look into dropping the adapter plate down to the pier. The Tak FSQ had no issues but as the PW is so much bigger I guess there is more potential for movement.

CCD Inspector reported a range of collimation results - down to around 5-6 arcseconds. That said, I believe that the wind may have played a part in this result. On the following night (when the wind had dropped to more sensible levels) I checked the spacing between primary and secondary using the supplied Ronchi eyepiece - it was spot on. The collimation looked good too on the screen. I do need to examine that more closely.

There are plenty of things to tinker with till the Moon goes away. I have been testing guiding with the STL's internal guide chip - I still need to get the settings right. Again, a big wind didn't help. I have been considering a MMOAG though the spacing with a Lodestar is not as straightforward as I'd like.

Then there are spacers - the issue with having a selection of cameras is the need to buy spacers and adapters. No set suits more than 1 camera. The SecureFit adapters supplied by PW are fantastic - rock solid and easy to install. I plan on figuring out the spacing required to use the LISA spectroscope with this rig.

So it will be a while before I post any real images as yet.

Pete

[pvelez (Pete)]

Originally Posted by Kunama

(I turned your pic upright, easier to see.)

Thanks Matt - I must learn how to do that

Pete

[pvelez (Pete)]

Originally Posted by stevous67

Well, don't want to be a party pooper, but don't be fooled that easy collimating a CDK 12.5 is a given.

My CDK was a nightmare, and my friend Josh above, is also suffering with trying to achieve acceptable results. Those with an APS sized chip slip through issues full frame users get plagued with. Mine needed heavy modification to provided balanced results in all viewing orientations. Soon as you do a camera rotation with meridian flip - collimation was different, and image quality suffered.

Steve

Cheers Steve

I have some work to do on collimation. It is not my strong suit. However, I suspect its easier than the RC8.

Pete

[pvelez (Pete)]

Originally Posted by batema

Beautiful looking set up Pete. Is your set up on a permanent pier? I always set up and pul down my scope and I wonder do you take the mount of your pier or do you cover it and leave it out. If so how does this go. I am thinking of setting up a permanent pier but wonder if it OK to leave out for a while?

Mark.

Mark

The pier, mount and scope all live outside. I have a series of covers (sheet, towel and 2 Telegizmos 365 covers) which I strap down each night. These keep the equipment dry - I expect as dry as they would be in an observatory. I do however bring in the electrical gear each night - unless I leave it running when there is no risk of rain/clouds.

I have power and an ethernet cable run from the house to the pier and there is an all weather power outlet on the side of the pier. I use a FitPC3 as the imaging computer - this is also strapped to the pier. I control it from inside the house using Real VNC - the ethernet cable works marginally better that wifi.

I am sure that others wouldn't leave the gear outside. My thinking is that the main issue is the electrical gear including the mount. The mount is designed to run outside at night - despite the dew and humidity. My main concern is that it doesn't get rained on and that there are no electrical connections to the equipment if there is lightning.

The other precaution I take is drying everything out each morning after an imaging run.

Its the best I can do till I have something more permanent. As the pier is right in front of the pool, there is NO chance of receiving authorisation to put up a dome or roll off roof. I expect I will move to a remote site at some stage. For now, I'm just looking to get all the gear playing nicely

Pete

[PRejto (Peter)]

Hi Pete,

Great scope! Best of luck with it.

What about building up a "temporary" roll off structure (not roof...structure)? Would one actually need council approval for that? I built a small structure on wheels that sits on my deck. So far it has worked a treat and never allowed a drop of water in. I installed a solar powered fan (J-Car) that helps keep air moving. I can be imaging within moments of powering up. If you are interested in seeing how I built my rolling "shed" I can put up some pictures. Or, come by as I'm in Sydney too and you can take a look. You can see my structure a bit in the background if you look at the equipment page of my picture at pbase. If I had it to do again I'd figure out a more creative way to park the scope and build something wider rather than taller!

Peter

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Hi Peter,
I'm getting a severe case of scope inadequacy with all these lovely imaging OTAs about. I don't know how heavy the 12.5" is, but can the OTA be removed from the mount without disturbing the polar alignment? I've got a similar problem with domestic authorities at the moment, and have found that I can often leave the mount covered in the backyard but keep the optics inside.
The bore pump and reticulation are another problem entirely!
Cheers,
Andrew.

[pvelez (Pete)]

Originally Posted by PRejto

Hi Pete,

Great scope! Best of luck with it.

What about building up a "temporary" roll off structure (not roof...structure)? Would one actually need council approval for that? I built a small structure on wheels that sits on my deck. So far it has worked a treat and never allowed a drop of water in. I installed a solar powered fan (J-Car) that helps keep air moving. I can be imaging within moments of powering up. If you are interested in seeing how I built my rolling "shed" I can put up some pictures. Or, come by as I'm in Sydney too and you can take a look. You can see my structure a bit in the background if you look at the equipment page of my picture at pbase. If I had it to do again I'd figure out a more creative way to park the scope and build something wider rather than taller!

Peter

Thanks Peter

I'll PM you

Pete

[pvelez (Pete)]

Originally Posted by alocky

Hi Peter,
I'm getting a severe case of scope inadequacy with all these lovely imaging OTAs about. I don't know how heavy the 12.5" is, but can the OTA be removed from the mount without disturbing the polar alignment? I've got a similar problem with domestic authorities at the moment, and have found that I can often leave the mount covered in the backyard but keep the optics inside.
The bore pump and reticulation are another problem entirely!
Cheers,
Andrew.

Andrew

I have no doubt you can be persuasive with your domestic authority - a fine bottle of red or 2 should help

Until the Beast arrived, I routinely switched from the FSQ 106 to the RC8 without any bother with PA. The TPoint model became a bit fussy but a quick 10 - 20 point recalibration into an existing model did the trick.

I have yet to take the Beast off the mount let alone try and remount it. Its a heavy scope and while I can lift it on my own, it needs a second set of hands to help guide it onto and off the mount (hence the need for clear approval from the authority as she will doubtless be involved in this). I'd be surprised if this threw the PA out too much.

Pete