Mini observatory build starting back

[Bubbles82]

Here goes nearly 5 years after my last post and build,life has settled down enough for me to get all my kit out again. So this will be just a brief thread with a few updates to show how I build this one and hopefully inspire and help anyone who needs ideas for a build. I will try as much as I can to share costs of things to give anyone interested an idea of how this adds up.

 

first up is the pier 

£18 for 2 meter length of duct

£80 balast and cement 

Hope to have bit of fun with this build as going to be very different from my others😎

[Zermelo]

Are you following a design that you can share here?

[Bubbles82]

2 hours ago, Zermelo said:

Are you following a design that you can share here?

Nothing on paper to post up as still few choices on final design. Due to space will either be counter weighted split flip top design or a split 50/50 roll off top half . The difference in this idea from my other builds is going to be the space available.  

[skybadger]

What are your basic requirements for this ? I'd like to compare with mine..

I want a small obbo I can use around my portable rig when I'm at home, so it only needs to be as big as the parked scope with a slide off automated roof. 

Is that what you are aiming at ?

[Franklin]

All looks a bit bananas to me😁.

[Bubbles82]

10 hours ago, skybadger said:

What are your basic requirements for this ? I'd like to compare with mine..

I want a small obbo I can use around my portable rig when I'm at home, so it only needs to be as big as the parked scope with a slide off automated roof. 

Is that what you are aiming at ?

Definitely a small size, I’m aiming to only house the mount and electrical components. This will simply be six 12v sockets and maybe a mains double socket for future things. I’m probably not going to run any data cable this time but that can be added if needed later.

[skybadger]

Cool. 

My thoughts right now are about 30" length each side in a square, about 30" tall with a roof sloping up to the north that rolls and slides down the north side out of the way in use. 

Power is whatever is needed, mine is distributed on the scope itself by an alpaca or usb device. 

Maybe the Christmas project...

 

[Bubbles82]

Little update today have been slowly gathering the bits for this when I’ve had a chance ,Here is the basic frame build.

cost of the frame £40

cost of hinges £12 in discount sale 

ive used stainless steel ball bearing type in the hope they might last a bit longer.

[Bubbles82]

Bit more added and a few more things brought today. Managed to grab couple of bits from screwfix as wholesaler'si use were bit pricey 😳.

double socket £12

distribution board £40 plus about £6 for extra 6a mcb

did manage to grab end of reel cheap armoured cable to run power over to the board £9 after a bit of guilt tripping the guy in the wholesaler .

 

[Bubbles82]

Finally got a bit more time on the build today.

In a drastic change of design after constantly thinking about my options .Before I got to far with this I have took a different path to help with some suspected problems with using my original design.

first up once I had build the frames it’s bothered me that working around parts of the observatory would be awkward when being used.

Secondly the way it was to flip meant permanently moving even more of the plants that are on the patio in large pots.

so in my head came to idea to actually make this a split roll off type observatory as considered in the beginning.

After mentally obsessing to adopt this I ordered these wheels from machine mart online 8 wheels that have 45kg capacity each. At a cost of £22.Next after some mods to the original base frame and repositioning the direction the observatory sits, I made the base points that it rests on solid and fixed it down along with the rolling rails.with the basics in place it took its first roll away from the pier smoothly but very carefully as some guide strips to the runners is a must as I complete this.

Next up it’s to add various extra structural support to the base frame and internal structure supports to attach power, cables and control equipment to, followed by finishing the panels and trim before moving on to the last stages.

Last pic shows inside space available around the mount to allow for future upgrades to a bigger mount or to add equipment.

 

[Mr H in Yorkshire]

We have just had 55mph winds, do you plan to add something to hold the obsy box down? 

[Bubbles82]

51 minutes ago, Mr H in Yorkshire said:

We have just had 55mph winds, do you plan to add something to hold the obsy box down? 

Yes definitely,We have had some strong winds here too and it’s currently cable tied down, I do plan to use turnbuckle type things to pull this down and to stop front and back movement too. Just didn’t have it in me to get in the car and fight the Christmas shopping traffic to go to screwfix to grab them yesterday 😂

[Alan White]

Looking interesting, love watching the varied design and site issues everyone has.

Good luck with the build.

[Bubbles82]

18 hours ago, Alan White said:

Looking interesting, love watching the varied design and site issues everyone has.

Good luck with the build.

Thankyou, There is so many options and ways of doing an obsy. I may well later in year or next year be building another type in a more remote location. 

[Bubbles82]

90% finished now few more pics for an updateoutside totally completed and now rolls away safely after adding some guide strips for the wheels to follow.power inputs for 12 v and mains power caravan type ip rated connectors cost £206 x 12v sockets fed from a bench supply giving 13.8 and upto 10 amps. This double socket for mains power is also has a built in wifi booster.

wifi socket cost £27

12 v sockets and box £25main incoming distribution board with 6 amp breakers one for sockets circuit and one for internal light circuit plus light switch. 
 

finally turn buckles for holding the roll off section in place m12 size x2 £3.75 each and the coach bolts for them pack of 4 £5.

So last bit to do is remove the paint from the pier plates that I made years ago for my old observatory and repaint them ready to attach my mount. 
 

I’ve really enjoyed doing this build and hope that others have got some ideas to help them with any builds they take on in the future. The only failing I’ve had really with this has been the felt for the roof, I grabbed this on a visit to b and q  whilst getting other bits as it was on offer, it’s the worst felt I’ve ever seen and it’s quality is clearly the reason it’s cheap. I will redo the felt when the summer arrives and as it kept ripping whilst just rolling it out, I’ve not done the best job with it as decided instantly that I would be replacing it in the future.

 

[M40]

How about leaving the felt in place and putting some of that tarred corrugated roofing on top. I used that on top of one of my sheds a good few years ago, very strong and no leaks.

[Naughty Neal]

Butyl pond liner is good for roof coverings, I use it on my sheds.