stevepsheehan

No, nothing at all like that. Is yours on the underside?

Can someone please tell me how the dew shield "locks"? It's described as "lockable" in the spec, but doesn't explain how, and with no instructions supplied, I just can't see how to do it 😞 I"ve tried fully extending it, and rotating 360+ degrees in both directions, but nothing. I've asked on AA's FB page, and been told there's a thumb screw, but there isn't. So, I'm sure I must be missing something glaringly obvious, but I have no idea what. TIA, Steve

Yep, you're right. I've just had this confirmed by Celestron Customer Support - no automatic meridian flip option. Oh well, I guess I'll have to use a 3rd party control prog then; I was planning on doing that anyway, just not quite yet 😉

No, but could easily have a cable made up to power from a car's cigarette lighter if wanted. Personally, if I were going mobile with it (which I'm not), then a big leisure battery, and a cable with a couple of crocodile clips would do the job fine I think.

My take on 12v distribution: single, 12v 10a PSU, 8-way distribution box (home made) supplying 2 x 12v dewheaters, mount, camera, focusser, plus a couple of spares for future use, eg rotator. Plastic "snakes" to keep all the loose ares neat and tidy. Cables from distribution box to equipment are all home made, and cut to optimum lengths to prevent snagging. Hope you like 🙂 Next project is to do something similar with the USB cables.

I re-checked this last night, and can confirm that it is indeed tracking 20 degrees past the meridian, and then stopping. So my question remains - what setting do I have to change to get it to make the flip, and continue tracking?

Yes, I keep reading those paragraphs too, but I seem to have developed the inability to comprehend English 😉 I get that it's probably tracking 20 degrees past meridan, but what does it do then... just stop? That might well be what it's doing, but I want it to flip normally, ie when it passes the meridan. Yes, if I Goto something on the other side of the meridian, it flips fine. I wonder if setting the RA limits to zero would have the desired effect?

Hi all. I'm setting up a mount that I bought 2nd hand, so don't know its history. At present though, it isn't, or at least, doesn't appear to be flipping. RA limits are currently disabled, and Meridian is disabled - seems counter-intuitive, but from reading the manual. that should allow "normal" automatic flips, yes? If I'm tracking an object that passes the meridian, nothing happens, but if I then press the Enter button again, it does the flip fine, and continues tracking, it just won't do it automatically. Any ideas? TIA Steve.

Thanks all - your replies have now led me to the Lynx Astro USB-Celestron cable, which would seem to be exactly what I was looking for. Only downside is that it seems to only be available at 5m length, but I do have the ability to re-make the RJ end, so assuming it works OK, may cut it to a more appropriate size at some future date, for neater cable management. Cheers, Steve

Hi all. I'm just getting organised with initial setup between NINA on my laptop, and my Celestron CGEM mount, and would like a bit of clarification re the connecting cable please. As far as I can gather, I need a Celestron 93920 cable, plus an RS232-USB serial adapter, to go between the laptop and the RJ socket in the bottom of the hand controller... yes? I've also seen mention of being sure that the RS232 adapter is fitted with a FTDI chip... I have no idea what this is. I have also seen a few RJ-USB direct cables - is one of these a viable option, or is there some reason this wouldn't work? I have a powered USB3 hub mounted on the scope, so can use this or go direct to the laptop if required. I am also considering the simple, if more expensive, option, of upgrading the hand controler to the latest version, with the USB connector. Your opinions/suggestions would be appreciated. TIA, Steve.

Hi there. In an effort to tame the tangle of cables, and with an eye to the future, and possible new kit, I'm thinking of making a 12v power distribution system that will power my complete rig, from a single, 240v mains supplied PSU - a 12v DC "ring main" if you like. I'm trying to get an idea of what sort of power rating I should assume for the cabling. It seems that the mount (a CGEM) could draw 3-4 amps when slewing, but I'm just guessing at other items. I'm assuming the following equipment will be attached together: CGEM mount, Pegasus Cube focuser, 40mm 12v dew heater strap, 20mm 12v dew heater strap, Altair Astro 183c Pro Tec camera, Startech 7 port 12v powered hub for USB connections, plus in the future, possibly a filter wheel and a rotator. Off the top of my head, it feels like a 10 amp system would probably suffice; no problem going heavier of course, but I don't want to wander into overkill territory 😉 If there's a basic 12v distribution box available, that I'm unaware of, that would be of interest too. TIA Steve

Thanks, both of you. Olly, I can't get my head around 3D spacial awareness probs either, hence the question 😉 I guess I'll just have to try it and see what happens. Next time it's clear, I'll give it a go, and report back. Steve

Hi all. Probably a silly question, but one I just can't seem to get my head around, so bear with me please 🙂 If I'm piggybacking a DSLR, typically with either a 50mm or 135mm lens, on my ED80, on a nicely polar aligned equatorial mount, does the camera NEED to be pointing at the same target as the main scope, or can it be swung round, to say 60 degrees to the main scope, and still avoid trailing? It seem to me, that assuming the rig is all solid and is tracking nicely, the relative positions that the scope and camera are pointing at, should stay the same... won't they? Or am I missing something obvious? I'm just thinking that IF that works, then I could set up so I could track the widefield from, say, 30 degrees east of meridan, to 30 degrees west of meridan, without have to consider flippng the mount, at stupid o'clock in the morning. Thanks in advance, Steve