souls33k3r

36 minutes ago, SyedT said:

I initially did the collimation with the standard screws as I hadn't bought Bob's Knobs by that time. Since it held collimation so well, I've decided to leave things as they are despite having bought the knobs; if collimation goes off then I'll install them.

I'll see what the stacking is like, but these initial results with the 0.7x reducer are very promising despite the spacing discrepancy. At the moment my spacing is 135.2 mm vs a requirement of 106 mm (105 + 1/3 of my filter thickness which is 1 mm). I'm not sure whether the Esatto's thickness counts fully here, as the SCT adapter slots flush into the back of the focuser body, and the reducer screws fully into the adapter which may actually reduce the overall spacing. It certainly won't reduce spacing by 30 mm, but I wonder if this is a factor.

Ah nice. Yeah I've heard that stock screws are better at holding collimation but bobs knobs are easier but requires frequent collimation. I might buy them too because they're only £20.

Yeah the numbers don't make sense but it must be doing something right otherwise you would see wonky stars around the edge of the fov. I wonder if Zoltan might be able to give us an input in that. Still £620 is a lot of money, so is £520 for the moonlite. Eek! 

7 minutes ago, SyedT said:

Not looking bad at all! Just some lines through stars at the bottom (from an overhead cable).

That's very well collimated and nice round stars. You using bobs knobs for collimation or the standard screws? 

59 minutes ago, SyedT said:

I asked Primaluce Lab this exact question, and the reply was "In the EdgeHD design, the reducer has to be threaded to the telescope back cell and the distance from the internal field flattener to the reducer has to be fixed."

Perfecto, just wanted to check my sanity here. I do see usual redcuers after the focuser so thought if it had been thought/asked of. 

1 hour ago, Davey-T said:

Dunno about the Edge but I used the Meade one after the focuser, now using AP one that fits inside the focuser (see pic's)

Dave

Yeah I noticed that too hence why the question tbh.

Quick question, just a thought, what's the reason (if any) can't you put the EdgeHD 0.7x reducer after the focuser? 

12 minutes ago, symmetal said:

Actually, in the specification it states it uses a DC servo motor which implies feedback via optical encoders or similar, in order to give more precise control of angular position, which is what you need. Nothing in the description mentions this, which I thought would be a good selling point, so am not sure what actual system it uses. The reviews state that people are happy with it and that it works well for automated focusing, so it may be worth a try. Hopefully someone here uses one and can give a more informed answer. 

Alan

Happy to try it if I'm not paying for it but then happy to pay for it if it works out well. Let me do a little digging around the forums and see what people's experience has been with it. Should not be discounting anything at this point. 

43 minutes ago, SyedT said:

I must sound like I'm being paid by Primaluce Lab to promote the Esatto, but it really has made imaging so much easier. I'm doubting whether the excess spacing with the OAG will result in any success to be honest, but summer is for experimenting!

As long as you're able to get us the discount 😂 good man, just seen your image posted and it's really good. Can not wait for you to put Essato through its paces

Very nicely done buddy. 

4 minutes ago, SyedT said:

No worries. It was the CHL version, yes. I have to stress that this is only my experience with these focusers, I'm sure others have had different results. 

With the Esatto, I have my Atik 490EX, Atik EFW2, Atik OAG, M54-M54 male-male adapter, F54-F56 adapter screwed directly into the focuser drawtube (it has M56 male threads). This is without the reducer in the train. With the reducer if things work out, I'll continue to use the OAG. If no luck I'll try a guidescope, as without the OAG I can get the spacing perfect.

With the Moonlite CHL I had a QHY163M, QHYCFW2, QHY OAG-M. This was attached to a nosepiece which was inserted into the drawtube.

Awesome stuff bro. You're too kind. It looks like Moonlite might be a better option so far but Essato is just doing something I have not felt for a while (I mean a month lol) and it means serious money going out of my pocket

6 minutes ago, Rodd said:

Thanks Souls.  You know what they say--even a broken lock is right twice per day.  I through so much stuff at the wall over so much time something was bound to stick!

That and you're good

3 hours ago, SyedT said:

Agreed about the add-on trend, but I've become a fan due to the quality of their items. The Esatto was pretty much plug and play from the start and I've had zero issues with it.

With my FSQ85, the stock focuser was just rubbish and I tried a Lakeside motor with it. Every other time it would either slip or tilt, causing my image to shift significantly. Same issues with the Feathertouch. No matter how tight I made the system there was always image shift. I tried the Moonlite with the Edge HD 8, same issues with image shift/tilt. Since I've had the Esatto I've wasted no time with focusing at all, it just works away in the background. Zero image shift. I'm sure people are working successfully with the Feathertouch and Moonlite setups and maybe I just got unlucky, but I'll be sticking with the Esatto for now!

I'm not sure how much of a rush you are in to buy a focuser, but I can do some testing with the Esatto and 0.7x reducer at 135 mm spacing and let you know how it works out (although forecast is cloudy for the foreseeable future!).

You're too kind buddy and thank you for sharing your experience. The moonlite version, was it the CHL version? I'm in no rush but I'd most certainly want to be able to use my fw, TOAG and camera. 

What camera and kit are you using with Essato and what other kit did you use with moonlite? Like I said, whatever I need to choose needs to get all of this to be within the imaging train. 

True master at work. Love it matey. 

2 minutes ago, johninderby said:

The Feather Touch R&P would be great but the price with the SCT adapter is a bit scary. 🙀🙀🙀

http://starlightinstruments.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=37_99&product_id=61

Ermmmm eeek? Lol that's is just crazy money.

Motorised focuser is not the issue here because I already have the Lakeside which I will incorporate in to any of the options.

I really do not have a budget in mind but it does not have to be silly. Was hoping to find out what options do I have and if any of these options will suit my need for incorporating my gear. If it does then good, if not then I guess at the top end will be the Moonlite which I will really need to justify the spend but will have to end up spending it seems. 

6 minutes ago, garryblueboy said:

You would need to use the info John gave link to and work what you need and you need to work out your distance etc you don’t get a lot of focus travel using the SCT version Focusers as really they are for fine tuning you use the normal focuser for rough focus and fine tune with the SCT at back  

I absolutely get that was how its supposed to work and am quite happy with it. After replying, I went back and tried to decipher the document and from what I understood, I don't have much backfocus to incorporate the camera, fw and oag. 

If my suspicions are correct then Moonlite is the only available option then. 

1 minute ago, johninderby said:

Yes you need to sit down with the Baader drawings and see if it all adds up. 

One reason I went with the Classical Cassegrain instead on an SCT is having a proper focuser instead of a moving primary. The Ergde HD is a very nice scope though. 👍🏻

I will get another set of eyes to look at what I'm reading but from initial thoughts, it might be out of the question

1 minute ago, garryblueboy said:

Also things to remember with the Moonlite you get the short knobs so the focuser doesn’t foul on them when turning etc that’s why it’s a bit more expensive

Got it. @SyedTmentioned him having issues with Moonlite version so I'm just waiting to see if it was the CHL version specifically for the EdgeHD 8" or just another one. 

Top man mate. Much appreciated. If I've interpreted the Baader technical drawings correctly, when the focuser is all the way in, it's 93mm. The back focus available to me after the reducer is 105mm so that's only 12mm to play with in which I'll need my camera, oag, and main camera 🙄 am I reading this correctly? 

27 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

No doubt it's compatible, was just pointing out the similarity with the Essato.

Dave

Ah gotcha you're quite right, it does indeed look like it. 

23 minutes ago, garryblueboy said:

The Baader is excellent and so is the motor focus you would need few adapters but if you want straight out of the box it’s Moonlite is the way as your flatter screws into the focuser it’s self also it looks cool on an Edge here is one I had on a C14 Edge 

Wowzer! Look at that beast. I assuming this setup is for visual? Now assuming baader is great and will work, question is what adapters do I need and if that would take a massive chunk away from the available back focus. 

46 minutes ago, Whistlin Bob said:

Mostly agreed with the points on here. I converted a small shed to an obsy and it's been brilliant for making sure I get out there if the weather's ok. It's especially good when the forecast is a bit dodgy but the sky looks ok- I just get on with it which I probably wouldn't if I thought it was unlikely to last. I've had several good sessions that I would otherwise have missed. 

I did buy a cheap shed off the internet and it's mostly ok after 2 winters- I bought from Tiger sheds- you can tell it's built to a price but so long as I maintain it I'm not worried about how long it's going to last. Where I definitely agree with the other posters is on size- I fitted a 5x7 into the space I had and even though it's imaging only I wish I'd gone bigger. Otherwise no regrets.

This is also an excuse to link to the time lapse I did of the build 😁

 

That's a might fine video. Mind if I ask which particular shed (link would be awesome). Also would love to see the roof sliding in action and how are you locking it down. 

53 minutes ago, johninderby said:

FeatherTouch would be first choice but serious money now. Moonlite and Baader are budget focusers in comparison. 🙀🙀🙀

Yeah I'm really swaying towards baader but need to be sure of the available back focus on this bad boy. Got any experience with either of these specifically Moonlite with EdgeHD 8 or Baader Steeltrack on its own? 

53 minutes ago, garryblueboy said:

For imaging I’d go for either the Moonlite or the Baader the revaluation is ok for visual I’ve owned all three 

Top man. You got any experience with the Baader by any chance mate? 

54 minutes ago, SyedT said:

I have 2 Esattos for my Edge HD 8 and FSQ85 and can't fault them in any way; autofocusing is now a breeze with zero slippage and accurate results. The only issue is that the focuser is 67 mm in length, and so that leaves you with only 38 mm to play with if you're using the reducer. I find that with an OAG I'm well over the spacing, so I'm imaging at F10 at the moment (which I'm actually liking!); I spoke to Primaluce Lab about it, and they said that another customer had a similar issue but managed with the reducer and is getting good results despite the spacing being off by approx. 25 mm. I don't know how much I trust that to be honest, so I'll attempt to use the OAG with the spacing as it is, and then use a guidescope if that doesn't work out. My gear at the moment: Atik 490EX + Atik EFW2 + Atik OAG + M54-M54 male-male adapter + F54-F56 adapter. The F56 adapter screws directly into the Esatto's drawtube, so at the moment the whole imaging train is screwed in (with the exception of the dovetail connection between the 490EX and EFW2 which is easy to adjust) with minimal potential for tilt.

The Esatto is £510, the scope-side adapter is £30 and the camera side adapter is £80, so a total of £620 from FLO. My issue with focusers where the motor is attached to the focuser shaft is that there's a very real potential for slippage, and this can come into play any time and ruin a perfectly good imaging session. I've had this issue with the Moonlite and Feathertouch focusers, which is when I gave up and bought the Esatto. No issues since! PM me if you need any more details.

Too kind @SyedT. Really do appreciate your input and the detailed explanation. Obviously if you're rating the Essato high enough then it must be good but the most important thing you mentioned was the available BF which is 38mm. I've just calculated and without any spacers im at 38mm. Bummer! I've noticed tbsi trend with Primaluce Lab is that anything you buy for the gear is always an add-on and they charge you for it. Not cool!

You mentioned you had issues with Moonlite focuser, was this the CHL version that takes in the 0.7x Reducer? If so, I'd love to hear about that. Here or pm, I'll leave that to you buddy

57 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Worth looking on the Baader site for tech info.

https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/downloads/dl/file/id/175/product/2856/instruction_manual_for_all_baader_diamond_steeltrack_bds.pdf

https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/downloads/dl/file/id/29/product/2856/bds_sc_dimensions_technical_drawing.pdf

 

I sure will matey, cheers for that. Moonlite is a serious second contender if Baader one doesn't pan right. I guess three things I'm trying to find out is that how much space will this Baader take so that I can calculate the availabile backfocus, secondly if anyone has any experience using Baader Steeltrack and how good are they? And lastly if there are any other options out there in terms of the focuser which I haven't though of?

23 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

The Essato looks like a knock off of the Meade microfocuser that I use and it works fine with loadsa stuff hanging off it.

You can always sell the Lakeside.

Dave

From what I've read, the meade microfocuser is not compatible with EdgeHD 8" scope unless I've read it wrong mate. 

1 minute ago, johninderby said:

The Baader Steeltrack is a good option. in the same class as the Moonlite but will handle more weight and is more durable. One of these days Moonlite will do something about using only an anodised surface of the drawtube instead of something like Baader’s diamond coated surface that simply doesn’t wear. 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/baader-diamond-steeltrack-focusers/baader-steeltrack-diamond-sc-for-sct-telescopes.html

Baader one seems to be looking like a contender but will it all take the first post gear that I mentioned? That's the question really.

The good thing about the moonlite is that the 0.7x EdgeHD reducer fits within its flange which gives you more of the back focus ( or at least that's how I've interpreted it) 

No it wasn't, it was on that price for at least 6months if not more. I'm sure they're all nice mate. It's just that because I'm a total noob at this external focuser business so wanted some assistance in knowing and understand if all of my above gear will be able to get incorporated in the imaging train. The EdgeHD 8" backfocus after the Reducer is 105mm.

Also if I have missed any other focusers, would be super helpful. 

2 minutes ago, garryblueboy said:

The CHL focuser has been £550 for some time the CL is about £130 cheaper 

Really? I'm sure just under a month ago I saw it at £420

Just now, MarkAR said:

Is it the Celestron Motor focussed you've had problems with? What were they?

No sorry mate, its the lakeside focuser. 

Hi All, 

I think I mignt have to end up buying an external focuser for my EdgeHD 8" scope and because I'm not too well versed in this subject matter, I'd like your kind help in suggesting something which will fit my purpose. 

Allow me to explain my setup, I have EdgeHD which has a stock focuser and I've had a terrible experience using the motorised stepper focuser on it so was suggested to leave the stock focus knob and buy an external focuser which does make sense for my application. My scope is currently in such formation

EdgeHD 8 - 0.7x Reducer - Spacer/Adapter to attach to an OAG - TOAG - Spacer/T2 to attach to FW - ZWO FW - Asi1600 camera 

I would like to keep all the components so the external focuser needs to come somewhere in between. Can you kindly suggest any that does not break the bank? I already have a Lakeside focuser so will look in to attaching that.

Options I have seen so far are:

1) Moonlite CHL 2.5" focuser for which I've seen the price hike (£130 in the last few days) so that's out of the question. 

2) Primaluce lab Essato 2" which again is stupidly expensive and I already have Lakeside so now what? 

3) Baader SteelTrack Diamond SC for SCT Telescopes

4) Revelation 2" SCT Crayford - 1:11 Dual Speed Focuser 

Any others? Any experiences with any of the above? Whatever choice I would like to have like I said will need to incorporate all of my gear above. 

Thank you. 

23 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

Why do you have to change direction on UPB...? Are the “in”and “out” the wrong way round as that was supposed to be fixed....?

No they're not but for this scope it was so had to reverse it. 

10 minutes ago, symmetal said:

This uses a DC motor rather than a stepper motor so accurate positioning would be more difficult. It has an Ascom driver but I don't know if SGP will work with it or if SGP just works with stepper based focusers. Hopefully someone can say how well they perform.

Alan

Ah, bummer. Did not see that but because there was a massive hype behind this a few months ago, I thought I should throw this in the mix. 

Ok I just had 2 different thoughts. 

1) Because I use the Pegasus UPB, when I had to go from 0 - infinity, I noticed I had to go in reserve so change the directions on UPB and it was fine. In SGP, for backlash, I was using the IN option rather than OUT. Could that be another thing I need to look at? Thoughts? 

2) I'd love to solve this issue with a Crayford / R&P focuser but having just spent a good sum on something else, I do not like the sound of spending more money on Moonlite CHL focuser which is for EdgeHD scopes but that too needs collimating from time to time so how about the celestron focuser? Could this be a solution? 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/celestron-focus-motor-for-sct-and-edgehd.html

Not sure how it would be any different to having Lakeside?