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microbe

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Everything posted by microbe

  1. I have recently purchased a Celestron Dew Heater Ring (9.25") and a Pegasus Powerbox Advance (Gen2). However, when I run the heater ring at anything from about 30% to 90% there is a pronounced "ringing" sound coming from the powerbox. The sound reminded me of that which can be heard from a mains lighting dimmer switch, but at a higher pitch. There is no sound when using traditional dew straps alone. Of course it returns as soon as the dew ring is also attached. The sound is at its worst when the ring is attached to a dew heater output of the powerbox. When instead used with an in-line PWM LED dimmer attached to a 12V output of the powerbox, the noise is less, although still noticeable. Interestingly, the noise is also present if the dimmer/heater ring is connected to the same observatory 12V supply before its connection to the powerbox, although is further reduced. I also have a Gen1 version of the powerbox, which again produces some noise, but it is significantly less that the Gen2 powerbox. The fact that there is still noise, albeit it less, even when the heater ring is connected to a non-powerbox 12V supply suggests to me that there could be some type of feed back or interference that is affecting the powerbox, and that this is more pronounced in the Gen2 version. So, my question is has anyone else experienced this issue? Or indeed, is using a Celestron heater ring with a Pegasus Powerbox without this issue? Or is there an incompatibility between the heater ring and the powerbox? Or, is there a fault with the heater ring? I have Googled for some answers, but to no avail. I suppose that I could power the heater ring from a completely different 12V supply, but that rather defeats the point in having a powerbox. Any thoughts? Adrian
  2. Many thanks for everyones advice and I have also ordered a replacement belt from Rowan Astronomy
  3. I have a HEQ5 rowan belt conversion which has been in situ for a few years, although not heavily used. However, my guiding has not been particularly good and so I removed the cover to check the belts. I have noticed that the RA belt is buckled and when running actually catches on the teeth of the belt running in the opposite direction, which can clearly been seen in the photograph. Has anyone else encountered this and what did they do to resolve it? Thanks Adrian 20200410_114008.mp4
  4. Thanks Mike. It was all a bit "last minute" and the battery on the Canon 600D needed charging, but you're right I need to do a comparison. On the whole the 600D works well, but is noisy when the sensor gets warm.
  5. Hope you don't have to go via M42 J3 as the roadworks are causing big delays 😞 I didn't perform a stretch, so I'm wondering if that was part of the problem
  6. Mine is 242mm, F/4.8 https://www.firstlightoptics.com/guide-cameras/sky-watcher-evoguide-50ed-guidescope-zwo-asi120mm-bundle.html
  7. Thanks. I only use the ASCOM derived Unity settings (G120, O30) last night, so optimising this would be a good start Many thanks for your detailed reply. I agree, I'd have expected the additional light gather to have compensated for the slower speed of the ED120, which is why I was surprised. There was no dew on the lens and yes the ASI120 was in 8 bit mode. I'm new to APT and it's complex compared with my previous BackyardEOS. I need to do some more reading 🙂 Thanks, I will. Only just noticed your location. You can't be too far away from me, we probably share the same light pollution!
  8. I’ve recently purchased a ZWO ASI294MC-PRO and last night was first light for this on my SW 120ED. Conditions were not ideal for imaging, but to familiarize mysef with the camera I setup a comparison with the SW 50mm guidescope / ASI 120MM Mini using Sharpcap and APT. I had great hopes for the 294, especially in terms of sensitivity, but I have found that the 294 appears far less sensitive than the 120MM. As an example, M57 using the 120MM with a gain of 54 and an 8 second exposure clearly showed the object and a multitude of stars. Whilst the 294 on the 120ED showed a much fainter M57 with only a few stars present. Only by increasing the gain on the 294 to >500 were the images comparable, but this then resulted in much greater noise. It was a similar situation with M51. Using APT with a 2 minute exposure, there was no sign of the object using the 294, but it could be seen with the guidescope/120MM. I’d be grateful if anyone could provide advice on this or indeed guidance or a link for initial settings to use with a 294. I realise that the migration from DSLR to a CMOS/OSC is a steep learning curve and so I’d like to eliminate user error before contacting FLO about a potentially defective camera. Many thanks Adrian
  9. I tried using a Logitech Gamepad F710, but found that the wireless connection was frequently lost, usually part way through an observing session. I later read a report that buttons on the F710 can be susceptible to moisture. I now use a wired gamepad, which although less convenient never looses a connection. Adrian
  10. The ISS can be picked up with very basic equipment. I managed to hear Tim Peake when he was aboard using a handheld Baofeng UV-5RA.
  11. microbe

    Jupiter, Venus, Mercury conjunction

    Jupiter, Venus, Mercury conjunction in May 2013. Taken on Canon 600D, 70-300mm EF lens
  12. microbe

    26th May

    From the album: Jupiter, Venus, Mercury conjunction

    Image taken from Coopers Hill, Alvechurch, Worcestershire on Sun 26th May
  13. microbe

    25th May

    From the album: Jupiter, Venus, Mercury conjunction

    Image taken from Coopers Hill, Alvechurch, Worcestershire on Sat 25th May
  14. microbe

    Microbe's images

    Images from Microbe
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