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Post by davy on Nov 16, 2013 1:27:24 GMT
have had this bit of kit for a year now,, thoughts on the use of it,,essential for adjusting focus when doing astrophography/video photography, I currently have mine on my skywatcher startravel 102 refractor telescope....easy enough job to fit to your scope what you find is that you have no manual control as such, if you try and focus manualy its stiff because your are driving the motor by hand and the scope shakes so its electric focussing or nothing in my view...you have forward and reverse mode via switch's and a speed controller,,,this I would have liked to have been faster in the fast mode..run from a 9 volt battery ,perfect on slow focus..would be better if handset was wireless....davy
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Post by Dragon Man on Nov 16, 2013 15:49:40 GMT
I have the same Electric Focuser and can highly recommend it. Mine is labelled as an 'Orion Accufocus'. I remotely control mine from inside the house by means of a 25 metre telephone extension lead with the correct plugs put on each end. Attachments:
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Post by davy on Nov 16, 2013 16:36:07 GMT
made up an extension cable for mine as well...was thinking of linking it to a remote control for a 4x4 winch motor available from ebay to make it wireless..davy
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Post by johnno on Nov 19, 2013 2:37:02 GMT
Its on my Christmas list, was trying to make one out of a RC servo like the one on my Mak 127 just need some metal to make a bracket
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2013 21:14:36 GMT
I am a great fan of this accessory - like others I have extended the cable and use it from indoors. But even when out in the cold I find the focusing so much easier and it cuts out the vibration factor.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2013 13:11:20 GMT
I got one for christmas (ok i bought it), $89 Skywatcher Electric Focuser. Fitted it to my SW Dob in short order - don't bother with instructions use this youtube video as a guide!
Only question i have for Ken or others that have one, when the focus tube hits its 'end of travel', does the motor keep trying to drive it or will it 'stop', i'm not keen to try and see what happens..
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Post by davy on Dec 26, 2013 13:45:56 GMT
I have one on my st102 and it stops..but its hard to say really because it moves very slow even on fast speed..
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Post by Dragon Man on Dec 26, 2013 14:42:33 GMT
WOW! That is nothing like mine!!!! When I bought mine it came with only the small Reflector bracket. I had to make all my Refractor brackets. It didn't come with a bag of accessories, instructions or that big silver thing that is on the end of the motor shaft! Mine only came with the motor, the hand controller, the cable, the small bracket, and a small black Flexi-drive to attach between the motor shaft and the focuser shaft. That's all they used to come with when they were marked 'Orion Accofocus'. It appears Skywatcher adds their own bits to their version. Nev, when I assembled mine I had to make my own adaptor out of a piece of plastic from a Petrol filter, and I made sure there is slip on the adaptor between the motor and the focuser shaft so I can turn the focuser knob on the other side by hand if I need to. Because of this slippage my motor keeps turning even with the focuser locked. Which is good because I will never burn the motor out. I don't know what it would do using all the correct parts. So you can understand what I mean, here is an old thread I made about mine: www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=10782
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2013 0:49:12 GMT
Ah! I certainly wasn't up to making things last night, im glad come with the adapters. I had the same left over parts as the video, but my install was easier as I didn't have to pull apart the focuser, just slipped on the motor and tighten
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2013 0:15:39 GMT
I can vouch for these too as I have them fitted to 3 scopes. I have one on the Equinox 80ED, Celestron 120XLT, and even fitted one to the Feathertouch focuser on the Lunt 60T. I did have to make brackets for the Lunt and the 80ED as the supplied brackets don't fit the focusers. The 120XLT and the Lunt are belt driven. My only gripe is that there is no on/off switch on the controller and the batteries seem to drain if not disconnected.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2013 0:18:34 GMT
I can vouch for these too as I have them fitted to 3 scopes. I have one on the Equinox 80ED, Celestron 120XLT, and even fitted one to the Feathertouch focuser on the Lunt 60T. I did have to make brackets for the Lunt and the 80ED as the supplied brackets don't fit the focusers. The 120XLT and the Lunt are belt driven. My only gripe is that there is no on/off switch on the controller and the batteries seem to drain if not disconnected. I Agree Alan it's an excellent addition to my kit. I'm looking at the Equinox 80 now and may order soon and for sure another one of these focusers will be coming with it!
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Post by johnno on Dec 31, 2013 1:48:56 GMT
Allan can you not fit a little on / off toggle switch to it or is there not enough room for it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2013 10:57:49 GMT
I haven't had the control box apart to see whats inside, but a small switch could easily be fitted on the outside if I extend one of the battery wires. For the moment, I just unplug the battery between sessions.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2013 11:08:27 GMT
Spacedout; the supplied brackets won't fit on the Equinox focuser so you will have to make a simple bracket for it. You can fit the autofocuser to the spindle with the supplied black sleeve.
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Post by Dragon Man on Dec 31, 2013 11:23:05 GMT
Interesting about the battery is draining on yours Allan. I have been using mine for 7 years now and I am only on my third 9 volt battery! I never disconnect it or take the battery out.
And I use it a lot.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2013 12:54:21 GMT
Hmm, that is interesting. i put a new battery in mine when i got it and I used it for testing. A few days later I tried to use it again and the battery was dead. I'll have to look into this some more.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2014 22:03:04 GMT
Spacedout; the supplied brackets won't fit on the Equinox focuser so you will have to make a simple bracket for it. You can fit the autofocuser to the spindle with the supplied black sleeve. Thanks Allan, I had to make one for my current focuser and guessed I'd need to do another mod but I do like to tinker with metal and drills in the shed Cheers Karl
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2014 22:04:21 GMT
Interesting about the battery is draining on yours Allan. I have been using mine for 7 years now and I am only on my third 9 volt battery! I never disconnect it or take the battery out. And I use it a lot. Yeah same for me on this I've not had to change mine yet and I've had it since February last year.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2014 8:37:55 GMT
My battery is flat too! After installing and testing a couple of weeks ago, I grabbed the controller to test out new cable and battery was dead!
I had thrown it in a box with the cable attached but not connected at the other end... I didn't notice but unless someone was pressing on a switch while in the box something is weird..
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Post by Dragon Man on Jan 6, 2014 8:56:26 GMT
Yes Nev, that is weird. With no buttons pressed there should be no connection to the battery.
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