Sirus dome automation

[DavidH]

Hi all,

I am looking for some advice about dome automation.

I have a standard 2.3m Sirius dome, and am seeking ways of automating it at a lower price than the standard Sirius system. My electronics skills are OK to build say a Lesve dome controller, but the mechanical parts have so far eluded me. I have a toothed belt (long length to go around dome) and suitable pulley which I was considering using, but suspect that a rack and pinion system (a la Sirius) may be preferable.

Does anyone know where I could source a suitable (flexible or bendable) rack and motor to drive it (12v or maybe 24v)?

Or should I forget sourcing the parts myself and just shell out the cash for a Sirius kit? My past experience with DIY is that the cost only appears lower if I don't factor in the time and cost of my mistakes.

Thanks in anticipation,
Dave.

[jase (Jason)]

Go with the real deal Sirius motorisation kit. Not cheap, but is super easy to retrofit and problem free. I have the rotation and shutter kits with Maxdome II on a 2.3m set up. I retrofitted it back in 2009 and it worked flawlessly in a remote operation since. Highly recommended.

[DavidH]

Originally Posted by jase

Go with the real deal Sirius motorisation kit. Not cheap, but is super easy to retrofit and problem free. I have the rotation and shutter kits with Maxdome II on a 2.3m set up. I retrofitted it back in 2009 and it worked flawlessly in a remote operation since. Highly recommended.

Thanks Jason. From what I have seen, the shutter automation may be the trickiest bit, but you seem to indicate that you have had no problems. As I said in my original post, my past experience has been that I would probably be better off to get a proven working solution than to try to develop my own.

Regards,
David.

[jase (Jason)]

Retrofit instructions for shutter motorisation is clear and straight forward. I found the only complexity was working around your telescope while in the dome. Best thing to do is move all your gear out so you've got easy access the inside dome roof via a step ladder. The shutter actuators and other fittings are easy to install. I retrofitted the shutters in a leisurely five hours without assistance.

Leading up to the installation I found some install notes online to help prepare. Little did I know that the notes were for the earlier retrofit kits and they required far more involvement it cutting, glueing and wiring. The more recent retrofit kit which I installed have been more well thought out at the factory and much easier to install. The team at Sirius were most helpful in any questions I had regarding the installation.

If you're not operating a remote observatory and can manually open/close the shutter when required, save your money and just go with the rotation kit. I'd recommend all Sirius owners do this as a minimum as it saves you considerable time and energy rotating the dome manually. Having to rotate the dome during all night imaging runs is simply not practical.

[DavidH]

Thanks again Jason. Suspect that I may have seen the same instructions online that you saw. Significant amounts of gluing and drilling to install. Was not really looking forward to that, so it is good to hear that your install was somewhat simplified.

Yes, it would be cheaper to install just dome rotation, but would also like the ability to leave the dome closed until it needs to be opened (maybe in the wee small hours) and have it open automatically, take some subs, then close again.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by jase

I'd recommend all Sirius owners do this as a minimum as it saves you considerable time and energy rotating the dome manually. Having to rotate the dome during all night imaging runs is simply not practical.

Oh come'on Jase, I love rotating my dome every 30 - 40min or so keeps me young and virile .....