Observatory Lighting

[kirkster501]

Hi all, any suggestions regarding red lighting in the obs please? I was thinking a normal, cheap as chips bulkhead kind of light with a dimable red bayonet type light bulb? Happy to hear what others may have done please?

rgds, Steve 

[Pete Presland]

I have a couple of dim red lights in mine, but I don't use them much when I am in there to be honest.

[martin_h]

15 minutes ago, bunnygod1 said:

I have a couple of dim red lights in mine, but I don't use them much when I am in there to be honest.

Same here, I rigged mine out with red and white LED lights, and never use them.

[baldeliftman]

Hi you can get a red sleeve go over a florescent tube from lighting shops ,different shades of red are available looks ok too 

[r3i]

I went for this type, one in the scope room and one in the warm room:

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/AABH100RED.html

I also got the equivalent white light ones:

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/AABH100.html

All are operated with dimmer switches.   Nowt fancy but it works well enough for me.

[m.tweedy]

this works well. dimmable and remote controlled

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IJ04WE8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

even has a disco mode if you are in the mood

[michaelmorris]

I use a red rope light attached to a dimmer - works for me.

 

[Pete D]

I just use an old lamp without the shade on with a fire glow bulb, it was only ment to be temporay but it works just fine.

[michael8554]

I have r3i Mike's red and white tlc setup in my warm room, with a pull-cord switch wired as a changeover.

In the dome, no built in lighting. I hang a 17" LCD screen on the lip of the wall. With no input it's an all-white display that illuminates the dome while I set up and break down, with a mirror input of the warm room I can check SCT coarse focus and move the guidescope onto a suitable star, and later without an input I can take Flats.

Rest of the evening I use a led penlight, hand or mouth held !

 

Michael

[nytecam]

In my small 2 decade old DIY dome I have a regular 100w tungsten lamp for opening up/closing down + a low wattage red-coated bulb for general use to see laptop keyboard.  I work in the dark during cam exposures with a pen light to hand.

Nytecam

[Gina]

I use dimmable white lights but I'm imaging exclusively and mostly control remotely from indoors once an imaging run is set up.  The dimmable light in the warm room is useful for setting up and I use it dimmed for using the laptop.

[saac]

I have two bulkhead lamps - one  low watt red LED (4W) one white (yet to be wired in).  I have a temporary car inspection lamp (white) hanging from the roof that I use for initial set-up/closing down  and when I get scared in the middle of a dark winter night

I 'm only really getting familiar now with using the observatory (visual at the moment) but already I'm thinking I would like to have a low level dimmable red led light at floor level to help navigate around and find things.  I like the idea of the rope lights that some folk have mentioned.

I know it's also a bit silly but I have plans to put these into the obsy - I'm a big fan of the steam punk look and I think these will give a bit of a Victorian (think HG Wells) type feel to the observatory.  Silly I know, and yes the money could be better spent on more useful astronomy accessories but hey ho - each to their own.

Jim

 

 

[Tinker1947]

Couple of Red LED strips that run off a USB connector, tuck them out of sight so there not in direct view, cost around a fiver of EBay

[Starlight 1]

I use a red, green, blue, 3ft led light so you can change this to any colour you like   what go inside fish tank lid so it have a good seal from water.

[gnomus]

I use Red and White LED bulbs in a bulkhead style lght fitting.  I think I got them from Amazon.  I use the lights all the time.  Because they are on the walls, of course, I always seem to have the critical area in shadow.  My light panel gets called into service too, therefore.  Even then I still need to use a torch from time to time.