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Replacing a thru the mount cable whilst scope is on an AP 1600GTO
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I have a simple question about cabling thru the mount but first some context.
A few months ago I purchased a complete setup (scope, mount, computers, etc.) from an astronomer who was moving on from astronomy. I am now setting it up in a permanent observatory. The 1600 will have a 17” reflector weighing about 100# mounted on it. The base mount is about 7’ off the floor of the dome observatory thus, mounting and dismounting the scope will always be a major effort. In the future I will likely move the control of the rig from a desktop computer in an adjacent warm room to an Intel NUC mounted on the telescope. As such, I will need fewer cables but perhaps different one, e.g., Ethernet, USBs (of different lengths). The current setup will have two power cables, a couple of USB cables, a temp sensor cable (for the focuser) running thru the mount. This was the setup the original owner had and I want to get it up and running before I make any major changes. Everything was setup and working properly with his desktop and I need/want/will plug everything into this computer and ensure everything is working. So here is the simple question: Can one add (and remove) cables which are going through the mount whilst the telescope is mounted? Or is it necessary to remove the telescope from the mount? Thanks for any real world advice, this is my first AP mount and thus far I am in awe of its design and build quality. Kevin |
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R Botero
Kevin
It will depend on the gauge of the cable and how flexible it is. I left a spare USB cable inside my 1600GTO to pull new cables in if necessary - and have done this once. More recently, I mounted a new camera and had to run a power cable to the camera which was not flexible so the whole - tandem - refractor set up had to come down: https://www.astrobin.com/38qeb1/E/ But I run many cables through my mount - perhaps too many (https://www.astrobin.com/38qeb1/D/). If you have fewer it may be easier to use an existing cable to pull new ones through. Roberto |
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Frank Widmann
You can fish a cable through the mount if you have a reasonable cable count. System design is important. A NUC mounted on the scope for a simple portable setup makes sense, but for an observatory setup a NUC located at the pier is a better choice. You can run a couple of USB cables to one or two hubs at the scope side. Run a couple of power cables to distribution units on the scope side. Run another power cable for dew heaters. An Ethernet cable would only be needed if you have ethernet devices on the scope side.The Ethernet connection to the mount controller would not have to go through the mount. This approach would support a tandem setup.
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Frank On Jan 12, 2023, at 7:48 AM, Kevin via groups.io <fourstar4sale@...> wrote:
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Rick Darden
It is possible.
I have an AP1100AE and when I originally installed it, I ran my data and power cables through it before mounting the OTA. But subsequent to that, I had connection issues running my 2 imaging cams on an onboard usb hub, so I decided to run the 2 new usb 3.0 cables down through the mount to connect the cameras directly to the computer. The AP1100 has 2 slots (fore and aft) right below the dec saddle and the front one was open for me so I tied a small weight to a string and lowered it down the front slot until I could see the weight up through the RA axis from the back of the mount. Then reached up in there with a coat hanger with a bend at the tip and grabbed it and pulled it out the back of the mount. Now I had a string running through the mount that I attached the end of the usb cable from the top and fished it through the mount. Needed to do this twice. Once for each cable. I have 2 power, 4 usb and 1 ethernet cable running through my AP1100 now so it is pretty cramped. If you have an issue with not having enough space at the dec end, you can release the dec saddle clamps and carefully lift up the OTA to give you more room if those slots are too small to run your cables through them. But make this a 2 person team if you do that. Rick Darden. -- Telescope location: Dark Sky New Mexico Equipment: Mount: AP100AE Main Scope: AGO 12.5 f6.7, asi6200mm, Chroma LRGB, 3nm Ha/Oiii/Sii, Optec Leo Piggyback Scope: TS80mm, ASI2600MM, Baader LRGB, 7nm Ha/Oiii/Sii, Rigel NSTEP Software: APCC Pro, NINA, Stellarium and all the peripheral pieces |
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Hi,
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with a Pegasus Ultimate Powerbox V2 you can reduce the cables through the mount and still has lots of free connections; USB, Power and Dew Heater. You should have a look.
Konstantin v. Poschinger
Hammerichstr. 5 22605 Hamburg 040/8805747 0171 1983476
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Greg McCall
Also look at celestron 4x controller. It has better dew heater control with its sensors under each dew strap providing individual control of the heat to that dew strap keeping each dew strap of different sizes just above the dew point. On Fri, 13 Jan 2023 at 10:35 am, Konstantin von Poschinger <KPoschinger@...> wrote:
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Thanks to everyone for their comments. I went ahead and put some extra cables in that I could (likely will) use when I put an Intel NUC on the mount (or the pier). The OTA has its own dew heater and fan control system (AGO 17" iDK). When I convert to an on-mount computer, I will be able to abandon (likely cut and remove) some cables. I am not using the polar scope, so I have lots of room in the lower (RA axis) portion of the mount.
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