New IKI HiTec RoR in Kent

[rrb24]

Hello All

Thanks to all the information posted in these forums I have now managed to complete my RoR.  The shed, RoR system and installation was made by HiTec Astro of the UK earlier this month.  David and Cliff were fantastic and worked non-stop over two days come rain or shine to get everything set up.     I have been "moving in" over the last few days and thought I would post some pictures in the forum.

Obviously the weather is now atrocious but I am SO happy that my equipment is ready at a moments notice to start imaging or observing! 

The shed itself is 10x6' with two piers.  The northernmost carries an AP1100GTO with an AP 6" refractor for imaging. The southern pier has a SW Eq8 mount on it carrying a 10" f/20 TEC Mak in tandem with a newly built 94mm f/7 Moonraker refractor - both for visual use (double stars, wide field, solar, planetary).

HiTec installed the RoR motor and a cloud sensor unit together with their electronics.  I attached those to a Raspberry Pi and can "see" them from inside the house using VirtualHere (USB remote).   

At the imaging rig I have a digital loggers switch controlling the mount, dew heaters, a dehumidifier, the CCD cameras, etc.  I do my imaging remotely (no PC in the observatory) using an Icron Ranger LAN unit.

I am still to do most of the wiring for the imaging rig so that end of the obsy is a bit of a mess... 

Cheers

Roberto

[rrb24]

A few more pictures, bear with me...

[Gina]

Magnificent   Twin piers eh?   WOW!  And two mounts - and EQ8 I think and something that looks mighty expensive

[rrb24]

Cheers Gina - Your posts in particular have been most informative! I had too much stuff lying around and thought I may as well go for two piers. The Eq8 is a fantastic mount for its capacity/price ratio ... The AP mount takes care of the imaging though.

Roberto

[ollypenrice]

Looks very good. I just wonder about the wisdom of the threaded bar levellers, particularly in the case of the big AP. Are they really necessary?

Olly

[laser_jock99]

Your obsy and the gear inside certainly looks the business.

[sloz1664]

Super set-up Roberto. Here's to clear night skies and some first light images.

Steve

[laser_jock99]

Looks very good. I just wonder about the wisdom of the threaded bar levellers, particularly in the case of the big AP. Are they really necessary?

Olly

I've thought about this at length and the answer is both yes & no. For a permanent pier set-up levellers are not required for reasons we have previously discussed in other threads. However on a field tripod where you are using a software routine for final PA corrections then being level is good since the alt-az corrections are based on the assumption of a levelled mount.

I made sure my pier was level from the start - because that's the way I built it. There's no adjustment it just is level. Threaded bar levellers might add instabillty in an otherwise perfectly strong pier. But as Olly points out it doesn't really need to be adjustable anyway.

[rrb24]

I don't know Olly - I have not imaged since mounting the scope on the pier. I doubt they'll be a problem. The are M12 and I have them bolted with nuts on each side of the 1/2" plate. They are also welded into the top one. I worry more about the vibrations coming from the hollow steel pier (even though is 3/4" thick) or me walking around the observatory when doing visual with the other setup. Only time will tell...

Cheers

Roberto

[Daniel-K]

stunning

[Daniel-K]

I don't know Olly - I have not imaged since mounting the scope on the pier. I doubt they'll be a problem. The are M12 and I have them bolted with nuts on each side of the 1/2" plate. They are also welded into the top one. I worry more about the vibrations coming from the hollow steel pier (even though is 3/4" thick) or me walking around the observatory when doing visual with the other setup. Only time will tell...

Cheers

Roberto

i doubt vibration will be an issue, i had air ducting as a pier and that was solid

[michael8554]

Very nice

Wish I'd thought of handprints in my slab concrete, I've only got 2014 in Roman numerals.

Michael