grinning like a cheshire cat...

[RobF (Rob)]

I think I really need to get my "boys toys" budget looked at

Congrats on the new arrival Troy

[DavidTrap (David)]

Originally Posted by peter_4059

I think Allan Gould has been getting down to -20 without any issues over Summer David.

They quote a 38 degree delta, or 45 with water cooling. I haven't spoken to Allan yet to see what he is using. Other units have better cooling, but the compact all in one package was soooooo appealing.

I fired mine up last night and in 24 degree ambient, I could get it to -20 at 88% cooling power. That wasn't taking images, and I have read that it may initially settle at -20 at under 90%, but then go back up to 100% after a while.

Experience will tell.

DT

[Jen]

good on ya Troy
theres nothing like the awsome feeling of a bit of astro retail therapy

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Just fired it up in 32 deg ambient and it got down to 0 deg in under a minute. Whoah. Can you tell this is all new to me?

[DavidTrap (David)]

Just did a bit of fiddling tonight. I could sustain -15 at an ambient of 24 degrees with 88% cooling, but not -20. Above was a mistake.

DT

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Good one Troy! Congrats!!

Does it come in any other colours?

Cheers, Marcus

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Thanks Marcus! No other colours unfortunately That's ok, the blue looks cool.

[Paul Haese]

Nice going Troy and welcome to the club.

Just to settle some ambiguity here; As David said -38 from ambient and -45 with water cooling. I have been using -20C on nights where the ambient lets me, but on hot nights you cannot reach -20C. If the ambient is 20 degrees and stays there you cannot reach -20C. Added to this, be mindful that if you are at -20C at 80% power before you start imaging you will not have enough head room. That extra 20% is not enough to maintain that temperature. It will heat up quickly taking images and struggle to stay at -20C. During Autumn and Spring -20C is often the case and water cooling is unnecessary.

In my estimation this is the only bug bare of this camera. I have suggested to QSI that a larger cooling TEC unit be installed and have the design changed a little. Something is being considered but it will likely be sometime yet before larger cooling units will be available.

Great camera otherwise, and you will enjoy many of its features. As Ford would have said, Yes you can have any colour you like so long as it is blue.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

I wonder who is responsible for this?

[troypiggo (Troy)]

just looked at SkippySky and all I can see is red for the next week!

[DavidTrap (David)]

There's a Split Enz song that comes to mind...

I've heard of a couple of other big purchases in SEQ lately - obviously none of us have read the predictions of a return to more frequent La Ninas over the next decade or two!!

Paul - from what I read that slow download and cooling are the major issue with the camera. There were so many other pluses though.

DT