Physopto

3 hours ago, estwing said:

Looking better for October people 🙂

I just hope so for all our sakes!!

I got my first anti Covid-19 inoculation  nearly 4 weeks ago, so I am a bit more confident now. By that I mean that we should all be fully inoculated and protected hopefully by the end of August/September. It is not just the first inoculation but time for the delay and for the period after the second one for the full effect to take place. So I am working on 4 months minimum from the first inoculation to hopefully full protection, ( 12 weeks plus another 3/4 weeks).

That being said I look forwards to seeing everyone who is allowed to and can attend at the Autumn Star Party. At present I am also hoping that we are not so restricted on numbers.

I also intend to re-establish the Pie and Peas Night if allowed.

So everyone reading this who wants to attend the Galloway Scottish Autumn Star Party, please start posting on the Autumn POST SITE String. Unfortunately this one is now at an end.....

In the mean time please stay safe.

 

There are far too many people who walk around using overly and very bright red light head torches. They tend to think it is OK because it is red light !

Not so at all. A bright Red Light  will decimate your night vision and that of any folk unfortunate enough to be within the line of the beam and even if not in the direct beam. If you use a Bright Red light torch for working on your Astro setup make sure no one is likely to be in the visible vicinity. Otherwise use a very dim red head torch to barely be able to see items around you. That way your night vision will not be as badly affected. Any light red or any other colour, will affect your and others astronomers night vision.

There are times when a white light is necessary, but please warn others before you light up or get covered to do whatever is needed. Dropping a small absolutely needed  item (screw, glass, or other item) in the grass and trying to find it by red light may be the end to your only chance of good nights astronomy.

I know it may not be a popular opinion, but for those who spend half an hour or more trying to get their night vision at its best, it only takes one brief flash of a Red or other light to have to start all over again. I have been as guilty as most of these errors and strive not to do so.  I find the worst thing is having the head torch on and it being so dim, then forgetting it is on. Then accidentally looking up a someone ! Oops!

One word, spectacular !

I just bought a shelf for a caravan fridge freezer from Australia. Cost was $40 AUD, plus $41.10 AUD shipping. But then as expected I was billed another £17.09p by our UK Post Office of which  £8.00 customs tariff now ,but used to be around £18, the remainder  was the PO handling charge.

So around £62.79 total.  Cost over here for this item is  around £70. So I saved some money. But as usual the Post Office and others charge exorbitant fees for filling in a form online.

Same happened to me when buying several items from the USA in the past. We trade with countries all over the world and accept the customs fees. Astro gear is at about 4.2% from the USA.

Hopefully once things settle down it will all become quicker from the EU.

3 hours ago, Scorpius said:

I’ve worked construction in some capacity for 40+ yrs. and have so far learned to live with the aches and pains of getting older.

Yup, getting old is no fun. 👿

A good plan from what you have said.

But be careful when working around the astro gear when it is in place. Not trying to teach granny to suck eggs but.....

I know from bitter experience about how easy it is to stumble or slip when distracted. I have damaged several items in our house trying to speed up renovations, when I thought I could get an item in without hitting something. Worst was a kitchen cupboard door. I managed to scratch right across its front. Of course it was not replaceable, as not manufactured any more. So 9 new doors and several drawer fronts to purchase!!

I also ripped my rotator cuff in my right arm trying to do a job alone when I could have waited for my wife to help when back from work. Still not right 8 years on. 😠

 

Looking really good. As far as the obsy walls go I would internally insulate and board it out before you put in your gear. It will make it much less prone to temperature swings between day and night, but also much more secure.

Nice!🙂

19 hours ago, petevasey said:

Aagh!  I wish I'd known about that awning when I ordered our van - a substantial saving in both weight and money!  Never mind.  What's done is done.  Once  better weather arrives, even if caravan sites are still closed I'll heave out the awning bag and give it a go in our driveway.  Hopefully straightforward - I haven't been able to find any Youtube videos on attaching it.  Generally if I'm going to use the awning there will be two of us, so help will be at hand.

Sorry to read about your teething troubles, Derek.  Sounds like you got a 'Friday afternoon' job.  Hopefully all is sorted now.  Afaik everything is shipshape on my van - only thing we haven't used is the shower, although I ran some water into the washbasin.  Probably should check that the drain is free running!

Cheers,

Peter

Definitely check out  shower by taking a shower in it before you actually go anywhere in the van. It will be too late when in the middle of a field. We spent a few days living in our van looking for problems in the back garden. It is not the first time we have found problems with a new caravan. Our Fleetwood had leaks at the roof to wall joints and a faulty electrical connector to the central heating. There was also a leaking roof vent.

The Van master had leaking shower tray to the walls. It also had central heating faults, not properly vented for air so air pockets restricting circulation.

All of these including the Swift were brand new caravans. This latest caravan had not had the battery terminals changed for the correct battery fittings I specified, I changed them out at home.

All of these caravans were supplied by different caravan dealers or actual maker (Vanmaster).  I hate sloppy, lazy, incompetent or poor workmanship, so I check everything and each system that I can think of and especially the road lights.

The first caravan we bought had had a tyre blowout. It had not been correctly repaired and had a leak where the wheel arch liner had not been fitted correctly. Not mentioned, possibly known about by the selling dealer!

Welcome Neil, hope you get all the info and help you require.🔭😃

Hi Peter,

 Yes, I  hope to be there with the van. I have been getting bits ready/changed out so it will be ready for use. Can't do much else at present.

Put in extra 13 amp sockets and altered some heating setups. Found several leaks in the shower as it seems that modern factory workers, for all the wonderful spiel we get, are just as none diligent or poor as many years ago. A shame really as it comes with a 25 year water ingress guarantee. Also the central heating expansion tank was rattling loose on the van wall and they had screwed through the overflow pipe and crushed it shut! It would have been "a very nice surprise"  getting central heating contents all over our clothes in the wardrobe!

I have also found that the gas locker is not sealed properly from the caravan interior. Now that is a serious safety concern. So that will be fixed ASAP.

Swift are not  as good as they make out to be in their adverts.......

Can't get the repairs/fix to the gas locker done until "lock down" is over and it is safe to travel.

Be nice to meet up when all this is over. We have been talking about it for a while now. 😴

1 hour ago, petevasey said:

Hi, Derek, and thanks for the awning tips.

As you may have found out, when the big awning is erected on the Basecamp, the overall length of the outfit is 9 metres.  So it will not fit on some camp sites which have a length limit.  No problem of course, we just won't take the awning to such sites.  As you say the van is remarkably spacious, and we got used to a fairly limited living space with our motorhomes.

But because of our steep ramp and the need to raise the jockey wheel as high as possible and tip the van to clear the ramp, it can't be towed into or out of our driveway.  So we had a motor mover fitted, and all was well when I got it home from the dealers, although despite careful measurements prior to ordering the van, it was nevertheless pretty tight - definitely a heart in  mouth situation!

Yes, it is easy to tow (Skoda Yeti 4x4 diesel), although of course one has to change gear down more frequently on slight gradients.  And being a fairly slim van, although I fitted wing mirror extensions to comply with the law, I found that most of the time I could manage fine with the car mirrors.  Looking forward to using it 'in anger' as and when.  In the meantime it's plugged into the mains, with the heating on low to keep the frost out and a dehumidifier to keep it dry.  Can do no more.

Cheers,

Peter.

Tight ! Our new van is 2" too long for our path.

We had the choice of three vans from different makers. Chose the one best suited for us (best built and facilities, Swift) and then realised it was just that bit longer. We went ahead anyway as expected to get it back with the old storage place. Then got told no places available. So "Shoe Horn" job at an angle into the path. Almost need a pair of climbing boots now to get past it. 😼

I am doing the same with power at present, just enough to stay in the +ve side of freezing.

 

 

Hello Peter,

I am so sorry that I had to cancel the Spring event. Obviously, I no choice in the matter. But it affects so many people in so many ways but very disappointing overall. Still there are far worse things going on at present.

Hopefully the inoculations will bring us all back to some form of normality.

 

So you are the proud owner of a Swift Basecamp. I looked at one when searching around for a new caravan some time ago at the start of the pandemic. They are surprisingly spacious for such a small van. You should have no problems in towing it. In fact I suspect your only problem will be remembering that it is behind you. Even with a large van I have almost forgotten it sometimes. Being a two wheeler and light, it will be so easy to manoeuvre by hand into tight spaces.

I had a large air awning for my previous caravan. They are  easy to erect, but wind may be a problem. Take plenty of heavy duty pegs and extra awning guy ropes. I used battery powered LED guy pegs. Florescent guy ropes also are helpful in a dark sky situation.

Hope you stay well and get the inoculation soon.

 

 

No one needs to cancel their booking for the now cancelled 2021 Spring Star Camp at Drumroamin.

The site is CLOSED until further notice.

Stay safe.

 

 

3 hours ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

Some companies do still offer great service and within a hour I have been offered a FULL refund for the Motor Home I hired.

This is one company I will certainly use again.

Once again @Physopto many thanks for the early notification of the cancellation, still sad not to be going though.

Steve

Well that is a weight off my mind 🙂

50 minutes ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

Thanks for the heads up and whilst this makes me so dissapointed best to do it now.

I think it must be me that is the jinx here, I have never been on a star camp and hired a mobile home for the SGL one that was flooded out, never got any money back for that but I have spoke to the hire place for this one (ot the same one) and looks like because it is a few weeks away I may get most of my money back so many thanks for letting us know in good time.

Lets hope the back end of 2021 brings us all more luck, take care all and stay safe ad hope to meet up with some of you in the near future 🙂 

Steve

Hi Steve,

I am so sorry that you have been caught out. Until just a few days ago there was a chance that we could go ahead with the star camp. But as you know things are getting worse by the minute compared to a year ago almost, when all this kicked off. This new variant is accelerating things to a new level. I was hoping I could wait a week or two more before taking the decission, but the pace of the virus spread has decimated that idea.

I did hope that I had given enough time to everyone to not get caught out by the cancellation in any way. I can only say in future those needing to hire a vehicle should all try to leave the hiring until a later date, i.e. closer to the star camp start date. Or specify that for this type of reason we can legally get  a refund. To be quite honest you may well find that you are entitled to a refund under these exigent circumstances.

Keep well and I hope to see you in the autumn.

 

Hi Everyone,

 

For everyone either booked, or wishing to attend the

 

Scottish Spring 2021 Star Camp please read below carefully.

 

 

 

As we all know, the past year has been a disaster for us all, for some more than most.

 

I was going to post and advise those hiring a Campervan for this Spring Event to make sure this

time that you could get a refund if the worst came to the worst.

 

Unfortunately, this was becoming a distant dream in my mind lately.

 

We were very lucky in that the 2020 Scottish Autumn Star Camp at Drumroamin was able to proceed

and I think I can say it was a limited success given the Covid-19 restrictions that were in place.

 

 

 

I have been monitoring the Covid-19 infection statics over the whole of Great Britain carefully during the last few weeks

and

was wishing to be able to continue if at all possible, with the 2021 Spring Star Camp.

 

 

The massive rise in Covid-19 infections due to the more virulent strain spreading

over the whole of our nation has put an end to my and many other people's hopes.

 

I have spoken with the camp site owner at some length and it was becoming inevitable that it may

not go ahead due to the Tier 4 Restrictions in Scotland as well as Tier 4 Restrictions over most of the rest of the UK.

( Lesley is at present unable to open the Holiday Park at least until April 2021)

 

The latest Covid -19 Lock Down, with the announcement of "expectations of it continuing for

7 weeks in England" and the possibility of the same in Scotland and Wales,

is the final "Nail in the Coffin" so to speak.

 

So, it is with a heavy heart I have to announce that:

 

The Spring 2021 Scottish Star Camp has had to be cancelled.

 

 

 

The announcements that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Astro-Zenica Vaccines have arrived

and are being rolled out gives us all some hope for the future.

 

 

The Governments intentions are that vaccinations will possibly be completed for the over 70’s and most

vulnerable members of our population by the middle of March, has possibly, to be taken with a large pinch of salt!

As we all know with Astronomy, things rarely go to plan!

 

 

Regardless, that still means that the great majority/remainder of the population will still not get their first treatment of the 2 inoculations

for many months after March. Those getting the first inoculation are now being advised that the second will be 3 months later.

 

So, initially more people inoculated followed by a slowing down as later inoculations cannot proceed until the second/booster inoculation has to be given to the first people inoculated 3 months previously.

Pfizer have expressed concern about this 3 month period for their product as they say "it has not been tested or proved to work". (only tested at 3 weeks I believe).

Astro-Zenica seem happy with the alteration to the timing thank goodness.

The  Pfizer-BioNTech  delay may come back to bite the Government in the behind, I hope not!

 

 

 

Bearing this all in mind, it sorts of negates any thoughts I had of an Interim Star Camp (which I had been hoping to inaugurate) sometime in late March or April.

 

In conclusion,

 

I am hoping that we are all fully inoculated and safe before next September.

 

 

Please note the next Scottish Star Camp will the Autumn 2021 Event.

Check that here:

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/348960-2021-autumn-galloway-star-camp/

 

 

 

Stay Safe and

Regards to all,

 

Very nice photos 🔭🔭

 

 

I would just like to say to everyone wishing to attend the 2021 Spring Scottish Galloway Star Camp

and all those here on Stargazers Lounge:

 

 

A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year or should I say  Happy Hogmanay for 2021.

Let's hope for a brighter future in the new year.

 

Oh blow !   I forgot the auto correct:

新年快乐 / 新年快樂

I think it could be water in the pier from the condensing evaporation from the underground cable trunking. Only time and further investigation will tell for sure.

I do much the same.

But my LEDs are angled down onto the tripod feet so as not to affect peoples night vision. Even "Red LEDs" pointed towards an observer can destroy night vision if you or anyone can see the LED emitter directly, so a soft diffused reflection is best.

The grey boxes contain two Red LEDs each and just emit onto the leg adjusters.

Just out of interest.

Obviously a water pipe on the left,  but in the middle is a blue water pipe with a heavy duty (rubber outer) 4mm^2 power cable pushed and pulled  through it. The cable  was dusted with copious amounts of Talc and it was also blown down the pipe before starting the cable pull. The smaller cable on the right, is also in blue water pipe, is an alarm cable .

It is messy looking now but was done in a rush about 25 years ago. I pulled back the cable ducting to take the photograph. The sealant was purely due to  a small leak I had between the pipe and brick wall  a couple of years after everything was finished, (best laid plans of mice and men, etc). It is over two feet below the outside ground level, as it is in what was a gravity fed  filter system  for my Koi Carp Pond. I did dig back the outside ground and reseal,  but it was too much to try to dig several feet of the blue ducting out of the ground and redo it all properly from scratch.

The blue piping is about 35 feet long and has two gradual bends in it ( about 15" radius). I initially sucked the nylon cord through the blue water pipe  with a hoover. The cord was knotted to be a close but not tight fit to the pipe for the initial feed of the cord. Once through I cut back some of the outer rubber of the heavy cable to bare the inner rubber cables, then bared them,twisted tied and  taped them to the cord for the pull through. I used this method for many years when away at sea and feeding in replacement or new cable systems for control gear.

One point about this method, is that if you can, use a much longer cord than the pipe so that the new cables are tied in the middle of the cord length. That way if it gets stuck you can use the feed end to help pull the cable back a bit and clear a bit , sometimes just twisting back and forth the cable can free the jammed bit (just alternate between the cable being fed and the pull cord at each end, before restarting the pull through. You don't want to snap a cable in the trunking by accident.

🌝

1 hour ago, tomato said:

Again, thanks for your suggestions. I plan to pull all the cables through with it laid straight out in the garage, so the tricky part will be pulling the loaded tubing through the fixed ducting. I have a nylon brass ended pull through cord to put down the pvc tubing for pulling the cables through, and of course the fixed ducting already has a pull through cord.

On the fixed ducting the two bends to be negotiated are fortunately right at each end so maybe I have a chance of success.

If I put washing up liquid into the ducting in it’s current state I’ll end up with a suds monster.😄

Aye! But soooo clean. 🤣

I have used this type of pipe for suction on a sump pump and also for waste disposal on a caravan. It is extremely stiff when cold. It will be very difficult to pull or push though any small bore pipe. So you can try, absolutely bucket loads of kitchen sink "Fairy type liquid soap" to lubricate it and make sure it is warm. Also you can try twisting it when pushing or pulling to help progress.
I did suggest blue water pipe, but this is very stiff to work with (possible problems around corners) but slips through without the same friction effects.

Best of luck however you do it.

 

I would strongly suggest that when you do run the new ducting, first seal the end to stop any water ingress whilst pulling the tubing through.

Once the battery charging voltage passes about 13.6 volts lead acid batteries start to outgas hydrogen.

That is why in the past caravan chargers are set to around 13.6 volts, for safety reasons. Trouble is the batteries are damaged by this irreversibly. The batteries life is very much shortened and capacity is much reduced ! Lead acid needs to get to around 14.4 -14.6 volts for a full charge.

I now use LiFePo4  batteries. But these cannot be charged at or below zero degrees C without  wrecking these type of batteries. Lead acid have no real problems at these temperatures.