Apart from a coat of decking oil, the Observatory deck was completed today and I am very happy with how it finished up Shade cloth was stretched out over the concrete support pillar and under the decking boards to create an effective insect barrier, while allowing air circulation in and out of the dome through the 3mm gaps between the boards, for ventilation, fast equilibrium and good thermal stability. The PVC pipe next to the concrete pillar, will be connected to the nearby site shed and hold the power and data cables.
Next I will pre treat the decking boards to remove oils and tannins and wash it, this allows the 4-6week timber weathering to be skipped. Then after the dome is erected, I will oil the entire structure
Mike
Last edited by strongmanmike; 23-04-2022 at 09:17 PM.
My son and I mounted the four solar panels and wired up the off grid system today.
4X170W solar panels, 60amp regulator/charger, 2000W inverter. 2 X 6V 550amphr (C100 rate) AGM batteries and 30amp Victron charger (to be powered by 3.3Kva generator).
Power on site now, even for power tools
Getting there.....
Mike
I missed this but seeing it now filled me with joy..one can not appreciate the satisfaction of putting a system together until you have done it..fantastic.
But solar power systems are like cars, boats and scopes you will always wanted bigger bigger bigger...I say be happy and if you need more power usually it is only five litres of petrol away.
Lol, I liked the second edition, done by someone who knows what end of a paint brush gets the paint of course... Maybe apply for a beautification/arts grants projects from QPRC?
Hmm, had a rethink on the shed, you can get little wi-fi projectors at 1080p and 120" wide screen display($260). I'd drop a white board on the side of the shed and think about EAA for the bigger family do's.
Lol, I liked the second edition, done by someone who knows what end of a paint brush gets the paint of course... Maybe apply for a beautification/arts grants projects from QPRC?
Mike,
Great job and nice deck
It’s all coming together for you
By the way get use to oiling the deck , the Sun dries them out pretty quick
I do mine every 6 to 9 months with decking oil to preserve it. Only takes 30 mins to wash it down and an hour to oil. Well worth the effort !!
Looking forward to seeing your Dome on the deck soon
Cheers
Martin
Mike,
Great job and nice deck
It’s all coming together for you
By the way get use to oiling the deck , the Sun dries them out pretty quick
I do mine every 6 to 9 months with decking oil to preserve it. Only takes 30 mins to wash it down and an hour to oil. Well worth the effort !!
Looking forward to seeing your Dome on the deck soon
Cheers
Martin
Indeed, I'm ready, I'm leaving it to cure for 3 or 4 weeks then I'll wash it down and the dome will be installed, then I will oil away on all external faces of the deck
Hi Michael, are you expecting snow this weekend or is higher up
Ian
Looking at the various models and reports, the next few days and the weekend look like a rather mixed bag of low temps, some rain but plenty of clear skies too (Thursday and Friday night should be beaut!) and yes, probability of some snow above 1300m. We have friends coming up to camp on Sat night, they might get a real experience, in more ways than one, what with all the wild animals, snow, clear skies and a thick crescent Moon, add in a fire pit...and the kids (and me too) should have a real adventure
Mike
Last edited by strongmanmike; 04-05-2022 at 02:40 PM.
Looks good Mike. Though you look fresh as a daisy and your builder looks worn out. Are you holding him up by the scruff of his neck?
Seriously thats an amazing setup there Mike. Congratulations
Cheers, Richard
Looking at the various models and reports, the next few days and the weekend look like a rather mixed bag of low temps, some rain but plenty of clear skies too (Thursday and Friday night should be beaut!) and yes, probability of some snow above 1300m. We have friends coming up to camp on Sat night, they might get a real experience, in more ways than one, what with all the wild animals, snow, clear skies and a thick crescent Moon, add in a fire pit...and the kids (and me too) should have a real adventure
Mike
Yeah I am hoping for the same ,it will the the first time 2 months that I'll be home and have clear sky at the same time
Moving day...did it all by myself, including the 50kg mount and 45kg support pier, got it all out of the dome, in and out of the car...still got (some of) it!
All on site at Eagleview now. Dome is being erected next weekend by the Sidereal Trading dream team, of Diego Collonello and Bill Stent, should be a fun astro weekend
Mike
Last edited by strongmanmike; 23-05-2022 at 10:22 PM.
Shade cloth was stretched out over the concrete support pillar and under the decking boards to create an effective insect barrier, while allowing air circulation in and out of the dome through the 3mm gaps between the boards, for ventilation, fast equilibrium and good thermal stability. The PVC pipe next to the concrete pillar, will be connected to the nearby site shed and hold the power and data cables.
Is that today?
