Electric filter Wheel.

[ribuck]

Hi All,

I'm thinking about upgrading my Atik Manual filter wheel to an electric one so i can control it remotely. When using the filter wheel, is it possible to get a filter or some plastic cover for one of the filter wheel slots so you can use it when imaging to do dark frames.

Rich.

[ottUp]

I covered one of my holes with several layers of flat-black masking tape and it works fine.

[ribuck]

Not a bad suggestion, but ideally i want somethingmore permanent with an even surface, as i dont like the idea of putting tape inside the filter wheel. so i'll have to see if i can find a black plastic filter of sorts.

[barkis]

Cut yourself a disc of black felt, and stick it over the aperture with fast tack adhesive.

A milliners shop will sell you a small piece of smooth black felt. They may even give you a piece free when you tell them what you need it for.

Don't bank on it though. :mrgreen:

Ron.

[ribuck]

Is there no purpose built cap that can be obtained. surely someone must sell them

[barkis]

You could try a motor factors for a large blanking grommet. Or a breakers yard where there are scrap cars lying around. Most of them have blanking grommets in the bulkheads, where drillings have been made for cable harnesses to pass through, but were not used, and therefore blanks were inserted. Or you could find a 1.25" filter that is going spare, and matt black the glass.

An old moon filter for example.

Ron.

[ribuck]

yeah i think buying a cheap filter and painting it is the best option.

[Roy]

My old Truetech wheel came with one of the holes blacked out with felt, a bit like this

[ribuck]

The felt is a good idea, just not sure how i would stick it to the filter wheel. Astronomik do actually make a special blank filter for darks but they want $25 and there is no way i'm paying that, so i'm just going to order a cheap filter and paint it with some thick black nail varnish. That should do the trick.

[ringz]

rubuck,

can't you find some nice person that has recently flocked their scope, and ask if they have a small offcut that you could have. :santa:

--

Martyn

[ribuck]

i'll just order a cheap filter when i order my filter wheel.