Collimating in the dark

[osbourne one-nil]

I've got my Sumerian Optics 10" Travel Dob being delivered this week, and can't wait. I've plenty experienced in collimating Newtonians, but this one's going to be a bit different, as being a truss, I'll be assembling it in the field, and therefore, generally in the dark.

I've had tuBlugs recommended to me, and the Catseye collimating system, but wondered if I'd still be able to collimate well just using my trusty old Cheshire eyepiece, and my son....along with some red dot LEDs to illuminate stuff.

Does anyone have any experience of collimating truss setups in the dark?

Many thanks!

[Doc]

I use a hotech and it's so easy in the dark, I struggle a little with a cheshire in the dark.

[osbourne one-nil]

Thanks Mick,

So no need for anything especially expensive then? I'm happy to get what I need, as I don't want to spend time and be hassled collimating. I've heard good things about the HoTech and Baader, but would be relieved not to have to go to something as expensive as a Catseye!

[Doc]

When I take my 16" truss tube to my dark site, it's stripped down and reassembled and takes just 5 mins, maybe less to collimate it.

[osbourne one-nil]

Thanks again Mick - sounds just the job to me. I've always thought of myself as a purist with just a Cheshire eyepiece, but I'd rather have a properly aligned telescope within 5 minutes!

[Chris H]

I have used the Baader and the Hotech, sold the Baader as it was not collimated on delivery and no matter what I did with it I could not get it bang on. Hotech came spot on and works a treat.

[xboxdevil]

A laser is easier in the dark, but so long as you have a torch a cheshire is fine too.