Ross1204

@Uranium235 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dont try that TS M54 adaptor mate, its M54 thread is too short (mine nearly fell out, with camera attached!). I replaced that with a custom built M54-M48 adaptor with a much longer M54 thread, its basically: This: http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4744_TS-M48-tilter---Tilting-compensation-for-field-tipping-in-astro-photography.html Allen screwed to this: http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4147_Skywatcher-short-design-2--adapter-for-Crayford-focusers.html The thread for the custom adaptor is here: http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/215645-skywatcher-focuser-mod-mkii/?hl=%2Bfocuser+%2Bmod#entry2311103 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Would you say the threads on this adapter would be suitable for securing just a DSLR? I am assuming you had a dedicated astro camera and filter wheel making the demand for a longer M54 thread imperative? Ross

Thanks for the reply @michael8554 Not entirely sure if this is right but I'm thinking something like this. The above is all founded on this line in the description I've highlighted. I assume that this means it will add 2.5mm into the optical path? If so this brings me to 57.5mm spacing right? Ross

Hi, So I've been having an issue with what I believe to be camera tilt when connecting my DSLR to the stock dual speed crayford focuser of the Skywatcher 130pds. I removed the standard thumbscrew connection and replaced it with a compression ring adapter which I believe is still tilting the Baader coma corrector when tightening. The barrel of the corrector has a raised section which is not allowing the corrector to sit square within the compression ring. So, this has led me to look around and see if there is a way to connect the camera through some sort of threaded setup. I have found an adapter which allows you to screw in to the drawtube which will provide a M48 connection for the coma corrector and a T-2 connection for the Canon T-ring. I have created a picture to illustrate the potential setup. Adapter link - https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p203_TS-Optics-M54x1-to-T2-Adapter-fo-Skywatcher-Crayford-focusers.html Does anyone know if this would work? Would I likely have to correct the spacing somehow? Thanks for reading. Ross

Hi, I am currently connecting the DSLR (Canon 700D) to the scope via a Baader T2 adapter and Baader MPCC Mark III Coma Corrector. I have been having trouble with what I believe to be camera tilt in the focuser when securing the DSLR via a compression ring fitting I brought. I have also seen people suggest drilling a third thumbscrew hole in the stock fixture but would just like to rule out the Rotolock first.

Hi, Having just seen this on Flo's website I was thinking whether this would be a suitable solution for the 130pds. I have already tried the M54 Baader click lock which placed the camera just a tad too high to find focus but looking at the pictures I believe this maybe slightly smaller. Does anyone have any experience with this lock or any idea if it may work? https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/william-optics-2-rotolock-for-zenithstar-61-m54.html#

Thank you for going to the effort to get this picture, very much appreciated. I can definitely see the benefit of circulating the air inside the scope its just I can't help but think I will also need some heat somewhere. Thank you for going to the effort to get these pictures, very much appreciated. I have never seen a secondary heater like that before so has definitely opened my eyes and I'm sure the wider community who may stumble across this thread. Looks nice and neat also with the power cable firmly secured to the spider vane, zero interference to the final image. I have emailed Kendrick to see what they can do but I believe it is their Thanksgiving holiday so hopefully get a response when they are back. Looks like it might well need to be custom job because the secondary on the 130pds is obviously on the smaller size and from what I have seen most of the off the shelf secondary heaters are too big.

OK thanks for letting us know it can work via the main OTA opening. The thought of not having to remove the camera is good to know, although it is a damn sight easier to see how dewed up the secondary is if you remove the camera. I guess it would help to let the scope settle for 5mins or so to let any tube currents equal out also. Thanks for reply. Now assuming the fan wouldn't provide any heat to aid dew removal just the very fact air is circulating in the tube can be enough? Maybe OK for mild dew accumulation but not heavy build up? Also not entirely sure how I would fit such a fan, Google to the rescue..... Would I assume you placed the dew strip over the thicker white section as surely the spider fixings get in the way in getting the heater closer to the secondary? Kinda like this picture.

Thanks for reply. Thanks for providing the link I shall definitely take a look. I have never really made anything like that before so hopefully its not too steep of a learning curve as would like something pretty sharpish. Thanks for reply. Now when you say 'front opening' of the OTA is that just positioned like a standard dew strap around the circumference? Or located somewhere around the secondary? Thanks for reply. Yeah I have also looked in to getting one as really cheap and already have the ability to power outside. How do you actually use it though, do you direct the heat in to the front of the scope or down the focuser directly at the secondary? The thought of removing the camera to directly target the secondary seems like it could get boring quick, not so much maybe if your doing mostly visual as removing a eyepiece isn't as much of a big deal. Thanks for reply. Ok that sounds interesting, I like the idea of powering with just a standard 9v battery. With regards to the picture it is entirely up to you, don't feel you have to if too much hassle.

Hello, So as the title of the thread says I am consistently suffering from bad dew formation on the secondary mirror (Skywatcher 130pds) which has stopped multiple nights of imaging after barely an hour or so. I would like to think I have done a fair amount of research on the topic but unfortunately I am still unsure of how to deal with the problem. I initially brought a dew shield which I believe has slightly prolonged the inevitable for a short while but unfortunately has not solved the problem. After the shield didn't help I brought a wrap around dew heater (https://www.365astronomy.com/dew-heater-strip-for-newtonian-telescope-secondary-mirror-small.html) which is unfortunately too big for the secondary mirror stalk. I have also seen that Kendrick and some others do stick on dew heaters which are glued to the secondary itself but again I believe the mirror on the 130PDS to be too small for their smallest product so yet again this is not the correct approach. So after these failed options what is left for me to try? Maybe a dew strap around the OTA at the front? Look in to making my own strap? Lastly I have read people use a 12v hairdryer to remove dew but as I am not doing any visual astronomy I don't think this would be a good solution as removing the camera would mean re-focusing every so often wasting imaging time. Any help would be much appreciated as this problem is causing quite a lot of bother by ruining many imaging sessions. Ross

Unfortunately I don't see an observatory on the cards anytime soon so still scouring the internet for the best solution for the 130PDS. There are a few different heater options for the secondary on Newtonian telescopes but I think the secondary on the 130PDS is too small for this Kendrick heater. I did read on one retailers site they stated the minor axis of the 130PDS to be 47mm which is obviously too small for this heater unfortunately. So with this being said you also have the option for something like this. https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p8571_AST-Heater-for-glued-Newtonian-secondary-mirrors-with-holder-D-31-mm.html But again I am unsure whether this is the right size and would be suitable. I currently own this Dew Shield but unfortunately the secondary has still slightly fogged up, granted way less less than without it so definitely helps a bit. https://www.telescopehouse.com/accessories/dew-removal/omegon-5-dew-shield-145-165mm.html Ross

OK that make sense. I always find it hard to see the mirror fog on the reflection from the primary but I generally know something is wrong by the histogram slightly moving more to the left the worse it gets.

Thank you for the reply. Out of interested if I were to use a hairdryer or heat gun do you need to remove the camera and direct low heat directly on to the secondary or can you just direct the air straight in to the ota? Also how long roughly would you say you need to use it to clear the mirror? Ross

Hi, I have recently started to get the secondary mirror on my 130pds dew up pretty fast and am wondering if one of these heaters would be suitable? I am just a little unsure on how to measure the stalk as there are two sizes available. I also already use a dew shield which has helped but not stopped the problem on the bad nights. https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p8593_AST-Heizmanschette-fuer-geklebte-Fangspiegel-mit-Halter-D-50-mm.html https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p8571_AST-Heater-for-glued-Newtonian-secondary-mirrors-with-holder-D-31-mm.html The product also states for a 'glued secondary mirror' is that what the 130pds has? Any help would be much appreciated. Ross

Thanks for the link Eric, Much appreciated. How do I reset the “Park to Home” position? If you have a mount setup with invalid park data, you can get a fresh start by the following procedure: (You will know that you have invalid RA/DEC park ring counter values if you execute a “Park to Home” and mount does not end up at the home position) 1) Unpark Scope using the EQMOD driver. 2) Shutdown EQMOD then power down the mount. Don't use park for this step. 3) Position the mount in the home position. 4) Power up mount 5) Start EQMOD & connect to mount. The above steps will reset park settings of EQMOD. Don't suppose yourself or anyone knows when it says 'Position the mount in the home position' if that means manually just the spirit level and setting rings? Ross

Hi, I believe my telescope is out of sync from the home position as I did not return there before turning the mount off. Is there an easy way to reset that position in EQMOD? I know how to use the level and setting circles to define the position on the mount just not sure how reset EQMOD so its all back in sync. Ross