LaurenceT

41 minutes ago, Lee_P said:

If you have access to mains power (i.e. you're imaging from home) then there are other options. If you'll be out in a field somewhere, then fair enough going for a battery!

You make a good point. I suppose I'd like the flexibility of both options but I don't really like the idea of cables trailing around the garden. I'm currently looking at the Jackery 240 although the notion of something so big to power something so small is starting to look a bit absurd but then I realise that I'm powering a small computer that's beavering away doing its own thing as well as powering external devices.

Thanks for the replies, I've just read that the Asi533mc TEC cooling draws 0.7A and deeper digging reveals that they say the dew heater is not required for that camera as the heat from the casing will warm the chip.

My average session is unlikely to exceed 3 hours.

I know this topic comes up frequently but my elderly brain is even too ancient to understand electrical power sufficiently. 

The Asiair Pro power is being distributed as follows

12v port connected to ASI533mc pro colour camera, I think this will power the TEC cooling and ZWO dew heater.

USB3 x2 ports will power the camera chip and the supplied USB memory stick, the USB2 x2 ports will power the mini travel router and connect to the mount via EQDIR cable. The mount will have a separate 12v power source. 

The power sources I'm looking at is :

Celestron 6.1 Ah Powertank Lithium LT | First Light Optics 

or

Celestron Lithium 7.2 Ah LiFePO4 Powertank | First Light Optics

I think this

Celestron Lithium 13.2 Ah LiFePO4 Powertank Pro | First Light Optics

may be overkill just to power the Asiair Pro, but then what do I know!

Thanks for looking.

3 hours ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

One of two EPs ordered ( second one arriving tomorrow) .. an 8-24 SVbony zoom !  A really nice weight to it . And it feels premium .. we will see how it performs , hopefully tonight ( very late) when or if the cloud clears .

I bought a Baader zoom eyepiece some months ago and I've been very happy using it, so much easier for me than cycling through different eyepieces during the course of an observing session, I hope you will be just as happy.

16 hours ago, bomberbaz said:

This little fella here is my power option Lawrence:

Celestron Lithium 13.2 Ah LiFePO4 Powertank Pro | First Light Optics

Tested it with everything running including cooling at still getting a steady 12.6V input and 12.4V from the two ports in use. 

My Talentcell power brick failed this mornings dummy run indoors. Lasted about 2.5 hours powering the Asiair Pro, Mini router and  ZWO533mc pro with cooling and dew heater running. The mount was powered by a smaller Talentcell. It looks as though I'll be getting the one you use, at least all 3 output ports can be used simultaneously unlike it's younger sibling. That got sent back anyway as it packed up after 3 hours just powering an Az GTi doing nothing!

I'm tempted to look at the Jackery 240 but I must compare specs first.

50 minutes ago, Elp said:

I get around 3 hours with mine. It's a long way off the 6-8 I was getting just using altaz mode only for visual.

Which PowerTank are you using?

Welcome from Camberley

23 minutes ago, bomberbaz said:

This little fella here is my power option Lawrence:

Celestron Lithium 13.2 Ah LiFePO4 Powertank Pro | First Light Optics

Tested it with everything running including cooling at still getting a steady 12.6V input and 12.4V from the two ports in use. 

I was worried it might be the expensive one 😅, I think I'd get away with the next one down as I'm still able to run the mount from another Talentcell power bank.

17 minutes ago, bomberbaz said:

Just had a data clearout, didn't realise just how much I had (239GB). 

To be honest none of it was really good as it was learning material but I got my best efforts and saved them before dumping the data it came from. 

Bear in mind the longest amount of main RGB data is about an hour as I was initially trying to see how far I could get off lower amounts of data.

Going forwards I shall be taking more and also using UV/IR and UHC filters as appropriate.

Double Cluster

M82, too much red left in.

M81,82. Was actually quite pleased with this although not sure if there was an issue with my darks & bias files here.

California Nebula. Very over processed but only had 25 minutes data.

Anyway I promised a picture of the new rig once mods have been applied. The camera as you can see is a pro version, the ZWO 183MC pro. I have the powertank straps to the centre pillar and finally I have added an additional counterweight as the one wasn't enough. 

Guestimate of total weight around 4kg inc weights.

Nice setup, I think I'm having power issues in that the power bank/Asiair connection seems to die suddenly, I think the power bank is dropping from 12v.

What power tank are you  using there?

Well, my attempted first light came to nothing yesterday when I discovered that I'd forgotten how to effectively operate my WO wedge, after 2 hours I gave up and re-acquainted myself with the operation of the wedge this morning. I also set up too close to the house so my second position in Asiair plate solving was pointed at the kitchen😅.

Onwards and upwards..........

2 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

I had one of the original 'maroon' OMC-140s with ⅛ PV optics. The optics were great but the focuser was dire with ¾ of a turn required for it to engage either way.

On collecting it from the factory for a second time, Barry Pemberton was extremely rude to me. That will be my last encounter with him and OO.

Actually I think it's John Pemberton the proprietor I was dealing with. When I phoned to check on the progress of the repair I started by saying that I was calling about my 130PDS, he immediately cut in to remind me that they don't sell anything so cheap! Probably one of the rudest people I have ever dealt with. When I complained about the results of their "expert" collimation and the inability to focus on anything he said it was a manufacturing fault and that I should contact Skywatcher.

Which brings me to the question, are there any professional telescope engineers in the UK at all?

10 hours ago, herne said:

 

I'm also experimenting with how to attach my ASI air to the mount or scope, rather than leaving it lying loose on the tripod spacer plate, with associated trailing cables.  There seems to be sufficient room on the end of my Z61's dovetail, mounting it underneath.  A little awkward to get at the hex bolt, but not impossible.  I also have a load of metal L brackets from a DIY shop which may be useful - kind of like @AstroNebulee's DSLR L bracket but much more home made.  Something to try out and will post a pic once cobbled together.

Because my setup has been designed to be light and "cheap" (as if...) I found it difficult to mount the Asiair on the dovetail bar with the optional clamp as it collided with the mount. In the end I've cobbled together some bits and mounted it vertically with the mini wifi router. I've also mounted 2 Talentcell power bricks on the mount itself as it seems that the mount and the Asiair should have separate power sources, the whole lot weighs in at 2.7Kg, I'm not sure what influence the power bricks have on balancing. As mentioned earlier I've followed Andrea Minoea on YT for the final balance process and it seems OK. Just waiting for first light with this!

My experience, apologies for butting into your thread @jaspalchadha but I thought it was relevant, I'll delete it if you wish.

1 minute ago, jaspalchadha said:

Yes that’s correct 

They utterly screwed up my Newtonian 130pds recently for a "simple" collimation that I was unable to do myself. Due to other more important distractions at the time I didn't pursue it other than telling them what I thought. Scope now gone to recycling😢. I wouldn't send them a knife to be sharpened.......

Before I comment, just to be clear, I'm assuming this was Orion Optical of Newcastle under Lyme?

Ooh, the William Optics clamp looks great, never really thought about one of those.

We had plans for a getaway in the motorhome for a few days but covid and dog surgery have put paid to that. I'd be very grateful if anyone can recommend CL type sites in the  home counties or south east generally that would be ideal for astro stuff.

28 minutes ago, Elp said:

That'll be good for polar scope aligning. I bought a short dovetail instead as I'm using an Asiair for PA.

I discarded the polar scope bit and simply used mounting plate, I also use the Asiair.

I saw these links for obtaining a plate from Germany, probably easier than from China:

Teleskop-Express: Artesky Polar Finder Adapter for Skywatcher AZGTI mount

Amazon.com : heirui az-GTI Polar Adapter for skywatcher az-GTI : Electronics

Edit: just seen that Amazon won't post this to UK

I managed to get one of these plates from a kind forum member but before I did FLO suggested a short dovetail plate.

I think that one can be obtained from Aliexpress, it's blue plate I believe it's called a latitude base mounting plate. Im not sure that they ship to the UK at the moment.

The plate is called a Hercules

Do you mean the plate for attaching the AZ GTI to a latitude base like the William Optics wedge?

I arose like Lazarus from my covid sick bed 😅 at 0515, went downstairs to make a cup of tea and was greeted by a beautiful clear moon in the dawn sky. The el cheapo Startravel 102t was already on the AZ5 with the Baader zoom in place so within 30 seconds I was in the garden. It was beautiful and raised my spirits no end. Even better with the barlow in place. The colour fringing was almost non-existent, possibly because the scope may be a good copy in that respect but also due to the Neodymium filter in place.

Back to bed happier.......

To my mind the 2 scopes are different animals completely, I love my Maksutov 127 for what it gives me. I can observe the planets and the moon in some detail and also use the 127 for lunar and planetary imaging. However much I wish I cannot use it for wide field observation. For that I have my Startravel 102t or my 130pds.

Your WO73 will knock spots off my 102t and so it should, it's a lovely refractor and I'd get one in a heartbeat but my manager would kill me 🤣.

I suppose that you really have to decide where you're interests lie in the immediate future, you could always get both telescopes!

These are the words of an absolute beginner so it might be better for you to listen to someone who knows what they are talking about 🙂.

6 hours ago, Mike Q said:

Which finest?  They have so many good choices lol

The finest I can afford which usually turns out to be the cheapest single malt special offers at my local Waitrose!