StarWomble

Have to say the Miady batteries are super lightweight and at 960Wh total for the two 32A LifePo4's in parallel they have way more than enough for a night in the field. I was using 75Ah AGM which was 20KG and I'm now down to 8KG for the batteries and 11 overall for the box. took a day to put together but works a treat. I could probably make it smaller in reality and will most likely do a "V2" version that is smaller in the new year as the batteries are way smaller than the box. Really like the 12V buck boost as it gives 13.8V steady when the batteries are down to 12V so I know the mount (AZEQ6) is getting the right V for guiding etc.

Bit of a long shot but does anyone in the UK have the original packaging their AZEQ6 came in that they dont use? I've spoken to SW and they don't sell the packaging for it - i'm building a transport case for mine and threw the box and packaging away eons ago 😞 anyway, if anyone has some they dont need could they ping me as I'd gladly take it as where I live I have to go to another location for my observing and having the mount in the boot covered in a duvet isnt ideal. cheers all

Hi everyone, I have a Meade 6000 115ED that I'd like to turn into an imaging platform. At some point I'll be getting a dedicated Astro Cam, most likely ZWO unit as I'm waiting on my ASIair Plus to come to the UK via FLO (its on preorder ATM) I have a Canon 600D that I use on my WO 73II but I'm really seeking advice on how to couple the Meade with the Canon. Meade do a flattener for the 115ED but there is no stock with no timeline for when it could be available so I'm a bit stuck... mine is also the earlier gen OTA so has the 3" focusser. I'm really looking for the easiest way to use the Meade as its a superb instrument for visual. Appreciate any advice anyone can give so thanks in advance !

Relative newbie here so thought I'd just post up some info on my power tank that I recently finished. Built around a Dewalt box that previously held my son's SDS drill (he gave me the box as he didnt need it!) and houses 2x Miady 32Ah LifePo4 batteries in parallel, giving just shy of 1000WH of power. I changed to the LifePo4's from the original AGM 75Ah battery due to the enormous weight of the battery - the Miady batteries are incredibly light at around 4KG each. Box has 2x cigarette outlets, one of which is power-regulated and boosted to 13.8V for the mount (AZEQ6). There is then both USB3.0 and USB-C as well as 2x Anderson Powerpole 12V outlets for future use. I also added a charger port, 20A breaker on the main +ve as well as a 6 way fuse box. On top of that I added a great find which is the power information screen. Lastly I decided to add 4 Red and 4 White LED sidelights and both can be switched independently. Fairly easy to make and the batteries obviously the most expensive part at £119 each from Amazon. Without anything connected but all lights active and outlets active it runs 360-ish mA... I'm reasonable happy with that as the lights run at 250mA alone. Should easily see me through a night in the field, away from home with DSLR, mount, 2x dew heaters, ASIAIR Plus (when it eventually arrives in the UK from FLOv - they are still preorder) and some other bits and bobs..

Can anyone advise on options for a field flattener for my Meade 6000 115 ED 'frac? I have the 3" focusser variant and the dedicated Meade unit isn't available anywhere I was wondering if any of you knowledgeable folks could offer a relative newbie some advice on what other options could work for the flattener? I'm hoping to use my Canon D600 with the OTA but could really do with that flattener option. Many thanks to all in advance !

Many thanks Mark !

Yep, certainly is ! its not too bad though - i now have the AZ-EQ6GT and I wish they'd retained the handle idea. Superb Mount though and easily copes with my Meade 6000 115 'frac

Yep - Dave was a lovely guy to deal with on and the Meade is in great condition with no flaws to its operation and optics. The 3" focusser is great to use I must admit.. Was too good a deal to pass on with the case, finder scope, 25mm Meade ED eyepiece and mirror diagonal. Very happy with it and gave it a whirl on Saturday night between the clouds... Very impressed. It's actually the review scope that BBC sky at night used for their review on the Meade 6000... bit of 'provenance' haha ! All that said, I'm 90% sure I'll get the StellaLyra or larger scope for planetary as well as a xmas present to myself - might go for the 8" to try and get some decent views of Jupiter etc. The StellaLyra just seems to be a really good deal and slightly easier to live with than a Mak..

I think the skywatcher 120ED is great but outside my budget right now. I really am torn between the StellaLyra which will save a lot of £ and produce great views or the Meade which I'm going to see on Saturday as it's just down the road from where I live. And the Starwave as I can use my WO guiderscope and diagonal/eyepiece... I just worry no the Meade being 6-7 years old now and will most likely have the old focusser. @Johninderby - the Technosky comment re Rupert testing everything is really useful as it gives a lot of confidence - the 125 is currently a long way out of my budget but the 115 could be a good option as its only £50 more than the Altair

Thanks John - you're not making the choice any easier hahaha! Thats a lovely setup you have there. I have an AZ-EQ6 mount so will be somewhat similar with the triplet. You have both a CC6 and a CC8?

How would you rate that vs a 115 frac John? I guess its things like ease of use that keeps me thinking i should stick with Fracs???

I was thinking more to adapt for a carry handle on the CC Nik. I can stretch to the refractors and don't really think the magnification advantage of the CC will be useful for me on visual so your advice is sound. Now the only consideration is the Meade over the Starwave as I already have the additional diagonal and eyepiece. For some reason I'm thinking the Meade is a bit overpriced at £1000 for a 6 year old scope when comparing to a new Starwave at £1199?

After reading through lots of posts and speaking to the great folks @FLO, I'm still in a bit of a quandry over my first large scope purchase. My interest is mainly visual and all-round interest - some planets, galaxies, nebulae etc. A wide range until I can narrow down my interest more. I have a WO 73 III for imaging I love the appeal of grab and go astronomy and hence my thoughts have largely been in 'fracs. I am torn between a used Meade 6000 115 ED triplet and a new Altair Starwave Accent 115 ED Triplet. The Meade is a bundle with case, diagonal, 25mm lens and finder - the Altair is the OTA alone. However, I can use the guidescope from the WO 73 III and also the WO diagonal and 12mm BST Starguider for it. Case I'm not worried about. I love the lesser cooldown in the fracs and the general ease of living with. However, my third choice is the StellaLyra Classical Cassegrain 6" from FLO. The only concerns I have here are the maybe narrower useage - its more a planets and narrowfield use and also requires more 'management' in potential collimation and cooldown, dew shield etc etc. The cost is a LOT less than the fracs but when you add things like an extra dovetail, balance counterweight etc on it's not going to be that much cheaper overall. The Stella however does have the advantage of higher potential magnifications and might stir a lot of interest in planetary observing...? Thoughts and opinions HUGELY welcome as I am really stuck as to what route to take.

Hi starslayer and thanks for the welcome ! Debating over either a bresser 150 refractor or a skywatcher Maksutov 150… there is almost too much choice ! One thing I do know is I need some advice as I think I just need an all rounder at the moment ! I did pick up an AZ-EQ6 mount at the weekend so I think I have a mount that will take most scopes and will hopefully do me for the rest of my stargazing lifespan haha !

Just getting back into astronomy at the grand old age of 55! Currently just observing through a pair of Vortex Diamondback 8x32 binoculars and have to say I'm slightly hooked at the time-machine we have above us at night. Did a Bsc at the OU in physics many years ago and really looking forward to getting my first telescope and just enjoying some hours getting lost in the view. Not 100% sure what I want to focus on right now but will certainly do the 'usual' of close-by bodies [moon] and then go from there. Anyway, thought I'd say 'hello' to you all !