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Wixy question


iamjulian

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Hello, just printed a 90 degree altitude circle on acetate and attached it to the dob. Item minutes moving the mount around I can already tell it is not going to be up to the job. Wixy type device it is. Do they affect dark adaption not having a red screen? Apologies if not really a DIY question. Thanks!

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Hello, just printed a 90 degree altitude circle on acetate and attached it to the dob. Item minutes moving the mount around I can already tell it is not going to be up to the job. Wixy type device it is. Do they affect dark adaption not having a red screen? Apologies if not really a DIY question. Thanks!

Two major (unsung) benefits of the Wixey are:

1) you can put it anywhere convenient on the Dob tube since it's magnetic (assuming the tube's steel) to place it nicely in view when you're pointing the scope. In my case I put it between the tube end casting and the finderscope so lifting my eye from the eyepiece I don't have to look far to check the angle. My Wixey has a black on grey background LCD readout, with no built in illumination - I only wish they made a version with a red LED backlight!

2) you don't have to level the Dob mount to measure accurate elevation angles. The Wixey measures relative to horizontal, not relative to the mount base.

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Or you could put an encoder on the base centre bolt/nut with remote display like this one and have the best of both worlds. No need for a setting circle.

http://www.machine-dro.co.uk/rotary-angle-encoder-and-remote-display-with-a-6mm-diameter-shaft.html?gclid=CIbAk73qx78CFSbKtAodcXEAwQ

I fitted one of those, but it has the habit of jumping 10 or 15 degrees for some unknown reason.

It works fine for a while then suddenly it is well out.

Turning the base really slowly helps, but still no guarantee.

So, in theory it is a good idea, but I found in practice there are issues.

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ehm...I do this..

post-35125-0-67638600-1405799292.jpg

post-35125-0-68496300-1405799381_thumb.j

I also have a Wixey, but be careful where you put it on the Dob,

The degrees will vary as you slide the Wixey side to side, or up and down the tube.

Find one spot where you 'stick' the Wixey...and mark it of with some tape on your OTA.

Then -whenever you need to align- use the satr coords to align the Wixey....meaning,

1)   If -for example- Canopus is at 40 degr (Alt.)... find Canopus in your eyepiece.

2)   Dont' worry about your Wixey, it might say 46 degr.

3)   As your scope is pointing to Canopus,  'zero' your wixey. (push zero button).

3)    Move your OTA back to zero (level), until it reads 40 degr. (your scope will be horizontal by now..)

4)    push the 'zero' button again...

you should be good....give or take a few seconds in your angle...

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Hi knobby,

I see you had a similar issue with connecting the 6mm shaft to the centre bolt as I had. I tried an epoxy bond similar to yours to join a connector to a 10mm bolt but in the end I got one made up at a machine shop for a couple of quid.

its good to see these encoders being available again as they were out of stock for ages.

cheers

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Looks like a very interesting setup...

I'm not sure though...I'll stick with my (very) easy setting circle..

Because the circle rotates between the base board and box I never

have to find north or anything..

And I know the degrees are spot on...

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Hi michael,

With the rotary encoder you dont need to find north either as you can zero them at any angle. This means the setup is similar to the wixey ie find any known star and use an app to get its alt az coordinates. Zero the enoder when pointing at the star and then turn the scope back by the az degrees and zero again, this gives a simple one star alignment.

Using a wixey side by side it works as a great push to system by just reading off the alt az position off an app, then push the scope to the same readings.

Pretty simple once set up.

Cheers

Cheers

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Does look good. The wixey should arrive tomorrow. Wondered whether a digital compass would work but accurate to 3 degrees put me off. Will stick with the setting circle for now, see how accurate that is first.

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