Benjam

I too have the Edge 8 HD and 0.7 reducer, though I’m using the AVX mount. I’m in the process of upgrading my AVX for the CGX-L mount, so I’m great full for you're review. 

Thank you 

15 minutes ago, Mick H said:

Just received this, StarSense AutoAlign with Aux splitter.

That should help my poor old back out.

StarSense is a brilliant piece of kit. The video below will get you up and running in minutes, much easier then the instructions. Enjoy 

* I use Celestron GPS with mine, saves having to input time,date, etc etc. 

3 hours ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

Initially I wasn't to keen on observing the sun, However I would now like to purchase some solar film and have a look.  I am a bit dubious about viewing it however and need to do some reading up on it first.

 

Hello Baz

I’m using a EclipSmart Solar Filter, though it’s designed for SCT’s. This will hopefully  give you a rough idea on what can be achieved. I’ve had some success imaging Sun Spots and the Mercury transit, last year.

Only choose one object in the sky, to either image or view, what would it be? And... why? 

For me, it would be imaging the Milky Way in a remote location with a scenic backdrop. I could travel light with just a camera and tripod. 

This video may help you.
 

19 hours ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

Was that pic taken just from your phone? That's unreal. I can't imagine how much more rewarding viewing that kind of sky must be.

baz

Hi Baz

No, with a DSLR camera. The small sensors inside smartphones restrict what you can do, but it is certainly possible. If you can find yourself a dark site, you will be truly blown away. 

Here’s my first attempt at light painting while travelling, In fact it was my first time ever using a DSLR camera. I had all ready carried the camera and tripod around in the bottom of my rucksack for 6 months without any use. Fiji’s made up of over three hundred islands. I was just under five hours away by boat from the main island so the night sky was amazingly dark. I got talking to a fellow traveller the day before on a day trip who gave me a quick tutorial on the basic functions and settings I would need.  

The equipment i used: Canon 1300D, Manfrotto Travel Tripod, Remote Switch and a Head Torch. Oh and it helps if you have a assistant too like Debbie McGee... 

I had my Debbie McGee lookalike hold the torch. The trick is to turn the torch on writing a letter backwards into thin air, turn off the torch and for you’re assistant to move a few steps to there left and repeat the process till you’ve spelt out what ever you wish, all under 30 seconds. It’s great fun for all ages and you can be as imaginative as you like. You don’t even have to write, you can just stand still and draw shapes.
 

The pictures I took are still in a RAW format so I haven’t processed anything. I’m hopeful some processing will bring out more detail in the night sky.  

A different island & assistant... 

7 hours ago, Timebandit said:

 

A lot of people are in the same boat. Because you can see the constellations then they feel the Sky's are "dark". When you get to a true dark site and you see so many stars that the constellations start to be difficult to make out. Then you start to realise what a true dark site is. And those faint fuzzies that are difficult to see or spot from home then just pop to the eyes. Get to a true dark site and it will be a totally Woow experience.

 

 

I definitely had the wow experience in Fiji. Luckily, I downloaded a app beforehand. I found it very disorientating to begin with as I didn’t know where to look. With the app, I could at least find familia objects in the night sky. 

I’m bortle 5 too and from my observatory I can’t see Andromeda with my naked eye or 10x50 bins... Though to be honest I haven’t exactly tried very hard, after a few minutes of searching, I give up and just use my GoTo Mount. Within seconds, I  have Andromeda in the eyepiece (8” SCT).
 

Below was a 90 second sub @200mm of Andromeda, piggybacked. 

Impressive image Gina, well done. 

With my vivid imagination... I see a jellyfish swimming amongst plankton in your image, minus the colour. 
 

1 hour ago, DaveS said:

Will also look for some suitable long screws for anchoring the plate down.

Hi Dave

I’ve been enjoying this thread, looks impressive... 

I’m a chippy by trade and I use these ”Easydrive countersunk screws” linked below, no plugs needed. 
 

https://www.screwfix.com/c/screws-nails-fixings/masonry-screws/cat840054?cm_sp=managedredirect-_-screwsfixings-_-masonryscrews

Ben 

I poured my dome base in one hit during last summer’s heatwave. Six inches of concrete + pier hole which was 800 wide and 600 deep. I’ve had no issues with cracking, however I did water the concrete 3 times a day to stop it from drying out to quickly. 

Like you Steve, When using my Canon 1300D with BYE software it cuts out too when switching to live view. I just focus and frame my subject from my laptop screen, without using live view. 
 

Ben 

10 hours ago, tomato said:

That all looks good. I think the hinged closure is there to enable the tank to be emptied without getting a little puddle on the floor. If water is running into the tank with the hose attached, there must be something amiss further up. Is the dehumidifier still under warranty?

I was thinking the very same thing before bed last night. What’s even more strange is when I remove the tank for emptying, everything is bone dry inside and this is with the hose attached. Yes, it came with a two year warranty and I only purchased the dehumidifier 6 months ago. I will contact the manufacturer.

Funny enough, the dehumidifier was empty this morning and working as it should... 

19 hours ago, tomato said:

On the DD 122, doesn’t the external hose attach to the outlet nozzle that would normally fill the tank, so the water either goes down the pipe to the outside or fills the tank? I had quite a job pushing the hose over the nozzle, I wonder if the hose is coming off, allowing the tank to fill and then tripping the dehumidifier?

However, I guess you would know that the hose had come off?

Thanks for the reply’s and suggestions so far... @pmlogg @tony210 @Hallingskies @steppenwolf @dobblob @tomato

I’ve prodded & poked about giving everything a wipe down and haven’t found anything to suggest a blockage @steppenwolf

Yes that’s correct @tomato though the hose is securely attached (see pictures below). I think here’s the problem, water is somehow bypassing the nozzle and external hose and filling up the tank. In theory, this should be impossible, I guess...  I’m also using the correct diameter hose. 

I’ve taken some more pictures to try and help illustrate the problem.

Ben 

Without the tank installed the nozzle is closed.

Tank inserted and the nozzle opens, water then drips into tank. 
 

Picture taken from inside showing the hose pushed firmly over the nozzle.

Water then should bypass the tank and flow down the pipe and away. 
 

3 hours ago, dobblob said:

Is it possible to insert a FULL tank of water ? This way you simulate the event without having to wait for a "natural" fill up (or not!) each time.

I presume that as it is inserted it should immediately start to drain. If not then something is blocked.

Was the "knock out disc" cleanly removed from the hole? Not possibly still floating around inside and unseen?

I removed the knock out disk like a experienced surgeon before installing. However, I do like your idea (manually filling the tank) and checking for blockages.

I will report back tomorrow. 

Ben 

Here’s my telescope history and in no particular order.

April 2019 - 8” Celestron Edge HD. 
 

For my next scope, I would like either a RASA or the William Optics 2019 Zenithstar 73 II (Blue).

Water tank was full again today, this is so weird 🤔

On 24/08/2019 at 17:46, michaelmorris said:

Thanks for the advice.  I've decided to give SharpCap another chance, so I spludged out £10 on a 1 year licence and I'll give it another go.

Hi, I’m curious to know how you got on, did you stick with SCP or buy the iOptron ipolar? 
 

Ben 

Tracy Island? 

On 24/12/2019 at 17:26, Hallingskies said:

Check that the nozzle outlet on the dehumidifier is not blocked (I poked some wire up mine).  I once found a dead beetle in there that must have crawled up the pipe.  Also check that the nozzle isn’t cracked and that the pipe is fully pushed on it.  I assume you have made sure you have a downward drop away from the dehumidifier.  Your pipe run looks quite short so I can’t imagine it’s kinked, but check anyway.  Seems really weird otherwise.

I went outside Christmas morning and the tank needed emptying,  though when I checked today, (Boxing Day) the tank was completely empty and working just fine. 
Yes, I have a downward drop, though difficult to see from the above picture. 

Maybe the nozzle is freezing up, though would this then divert water into the tank?
 

2 hours ago, tony210 said:

I had a spider in my pipe! Have you checked the pipe carefully for residents - evicting the spider cured my problem which was the same as yours- Tony.

I’ve just been outside expecting to empty the tank again and it’s completely empty, dehumidifier ticking along as normal. This is so bizarre, I really am baffled... 

Ben  

Since these pictures were taken I’ve insulted both sides. I’m just baffled why 99% of the time it drains away, how it should do and now it’s just filling up the tank.

I too, upgraded the plastic pipe.

Ben 

I’m running a EcoAir DD122 desiccant dehumidifier on continuous drainage. Somehow, recently it’s been stopping continuously draining and started filling up the tank inside and cutting out when full. I’ve taken everything apart, giving everything a clean and all seemed ok again. Now this evening It’s happened again. I’ve had it running constantly since September with no trouble. Now it’s December and i’m having a few issues. I don’t think it’s been cold enough to freeze the pipe, it’s currently 7 degrees outside. The pipe is plastic and roughly 5 inches long, wrapped in lagging.   

Has anyone encountered the same problem or is this normal for winter? Like I said, I don’t think it’s been cold enough for anything to freeze. 

Ben 

Quick update on a issue I recently discovered and fixed today.

The past 10 days I’ve been noticing a small amount of water underneath two floor tiles, nothing major but it was becoming annoying and I couldn’t work out where the water was creeping in. In theory, it should be bone dry as I went over the top sealing the observatory. On Thursday I decided to lift half the floor tiles and look under the DPM (Damp Proof Membrane) for any evidence. Basically under the DPM the floor was saturated and puddles were visible. 

I ended up removing everything out the observatory so I could investigate further, just leaving the dehumidifier running overnight. I’m glad I used a towel to wipe away the excess water before bed because the next morning I could clearly see the problem.

To cut along story short... 

The water draining away from the dehumidifier couldn’t drain away properly because there was nowhere for the water to drain to, apart from back inside the observatory. The last two months wet weather has lifted the water table. 

Yesterday I plugged the drainage hole with silicon and today I drilled a 15mm hole through the observatory wall to allow the dehumidifier to continue draining normal. I wrapped pipe insulation around to hopefully stop it from freezing up.