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Moonlite focuser


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Hi has anyone used this website https://focuser.com/products.php

Im looking at getting a moonlite focuser for my SWed 80 and they seem good value on there as it allows you to customise what you want.

My question apart from if anyone has used that site is, if im going to upgrade to a motorised focuser is there any point in me getting a dual rate as this will be replaced by the stepper motor, so just save myself a few quid now and make do until the next part of the upgrade. 

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I have contacted Ron via the email on a future order I want to place.  He was really quick and helpful regarding my enquiry.  As Dave said in the above post they will literally lathe you a one off if needs be, and also the prices for that kind of service are very reasonable.  

Sorry can't help you with your specifics though, all I do know is that the focuser I do have on my dob is the bee's knees & the one planned in the near future won't fail to please. 

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Cheers for the info guys, it seemed really good value on the site which instantly makes me cautious. 

If anyone knows if it makes any difference with if its dual or single or the other options they offer id be interested to hear

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Generally import duty plus handling fees can add 20%-25% to the cost.

Cheers for the info John

So standard 1 speed £178 plus Postage £40 plus import tax at 25% = £272.50 so im not sure it really much of a saving

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i dont think you are going to save anything by ordering direct from USA as importation tax and other addons will make the price about the same as it is in UK.

Your best bit would be:FLO, Ian King imaging or alternatively speak to Mark from Moonraker telescopes.He has Moonlites and fits them on his own build scopes but he also sells focusers and manufactures flanges.Both my scopes where equipped with moonlites i bought from him.Great service and price.

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Why don't you just buy one from FLO...........??

i dont think you are going to save anything by ordering direct from USA as importation tax and other addons will make the price about the same as it is in UK.

Your best bit would be:FLO, Ian King imaging or alternatively speak to Mark from Moonraker telescopes.He has Moonlites and fits them on his own build scopes but he also sells focusers and manufactures flanges.Both my scopes where equipped with moonlites i bought from him.Great service and price.

Because when i originally came across the site i didn't realise it was US been in pounds etc 

There is still a saving but is it worth the hassle, im not so sure

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Received my focuser from moonlite on Friday, ordered via the site referred to above as it was for an F11 refractor and I only needed the single speed. Although the price was in GBP it was charged as USD to my Paypal and an additional £55 was added by customs & parcelforce (£13.50 for parcelforce) as well as the extra couple of days  that incurred. Tracked all the way so I saw it was picked up by customs.

When it arrived I'd been upgraded free to a tri-knob so well happy with that. Though the wrong flange was sent the correct one was sent the day I emailed Ron and should be here tomorrow or the day after.

I'll post up some pictures on my new scope with moonlite - once assembled :-)

Steve

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Why don't you just buy one from FLO...........??

This is an interesting thread :smile:

Ordering a Moonlite focuser for a Synta refractor in the most popular configuration (4.5" travel drawtube, brass compression-ring, 1.5" dual-rate tri-knob with shaft-lock and 2x finder-shoes) from FLO costs considerably less than ordering one direct from Moonlite. The current FLO price is £323.95 inc delivery, Moonlite's landed price (including Duty, VAT, shipping & handling) is £387. 

However, Moonlite offer loads of options. It wouldn't be practical for us to stock them all so we keep only the most popular ones on the shelf. We can obtain the others, and it would cost you less than ordering direct. But, to achieve the lower price we order in quantity. Sometimes you can be lucky, Moonlite might be about to dispatch one of our orders and your focuser can be included, but if we have only just placed an order it can take several weeks. We could of course ask them to dispatch a single focuser for faster delivery but there would be no saving (the unit cost of shipping several focusers is less than dispatching only one). 

So whilst it doesn't make financial sense ordering direct I do understand why, sometimes, people do. 

HTH, 

Steve 

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This is an interesting thread :smile:

Ordering a Moonlite focuser for a Synta refractor in the most popular configuration (4.5" travel drawtube, brass compression-ring, 1.5" dual-rate tri-knob with shaft-lock and 2x finder-shoes) from FLO costs considerably less than ordering one direct from Moonlite. The current FLO price is £323.95 inc delivery, Moonlite's landed price (including Duty, VAT, shipping & handling) is £387. 

However, Moonlite offer loads of options. It wouldn't be practical for us to stock them all so we keep only the most popular ones on the shelf. We can obtain the others, and it would cost you less than ordering direct. But, to achieve the lower price we order in quantity. Sometimes you can be lucky, Moonlite might be about to dispatch one of our orders and your focuser can be included, but if we have only just placed an order it can take several weeks. We could of course ask them to dispatch a single focuser for faster delivery but there would be no saving (the unit cost of shipping several focusers is less than dispatching only one). 

So whilst it doesn't make financial sense ordering direct I do understand why, sometimes, people do. 

HTH, 

Steve 

Hi Steve

In an ideal world it would be great to have a large range obviously impossible though.

I will probably get mine from your good selves once the funds are available. I saw the focuser on moonlites site with a list price considerably lower than FLO obviously for a lower spec focuser than the ones you stock, although i dont think it makes any difference once its hooked upto a stepper, but as worked out above when everything is added in its not a real saving at all.

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I've had the Moonlite focuser/rotator with DRO steppers on my SCT for 18 months or so now. Beautifully made piece of kit. Simple to operate twist lock for manual operation. Stand alone & ascom software. Got it direct as a special config. (on FLO's advice [emoji108]) Great service & communication. Once built it took a week to ship, clear customs & be ready for collection (after handing over the tax/duty) from my local depot.

It's not light.. Built like a tank.. But consider getting the focuser & stepper built as a unit as it really is a nicely engineered price of kit.

If FLO can supply for you then it's a no brainer. If you do have to go direct I found the process very easy & straight forward... The only bit I didn't enjoy was handing over the duty/tax & fees to parcelfarce ;)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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