Deep Sky Dad Automated Flats Panel Full Review

Full review of the automated flats field panel by Deep Sky Dad, fully software controlled either in dedicated astro software such as NINA, using there own Ascom driver. or by using the control software provided by Deep Sky Dad.
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[@TexasEngineerScotty]

Thanks for the great review! Looks like I pulled the trigger two months too soon. I ordered mine for my Esprit 120 ED ($350) in July and it took six weeks to ship. The version I got is the old one. No removable panel. no lip. no wingnut adjustable tension screw.. mine requires a screwdriver to attach. I also love mine. It has greatly improved my flats hygiene. I add my flats to the end of my NINA sequence and it is effortless. One thing I will say is that my build quality probably not as nice as yours. The side of the servo motor panel/box has melted and sunk in a bit. Two of the magnets have popped out in the grass of my yard to be lost forever. Another one popped out and I hot glued it back in. Also, the self adhesive metal sticker came off immediately and I keep having to hot glue it back on. In case it sound like I'm being negative... I'm certainly not. I went ahead and bought a used one off of CN for my redcat 51 in October. Just want those who would read this to know some of the possible issues you may have to deal with.

[@Astro_Shed]

Thanks for the comment, I’m sure they would help you out if you needed spare parts, and it’s a shame you got the older version, although in saying that the performance is the same, so it’s just aesthetics really.. I will keep an eye on mine to see if I get any of your reported issues…. Thanks again 👍🏻

[@wonway551]

I have 3 of these and agree, they are great pieces for sure.

[@Astro_Shed]

Thanks for the comment, yes I am really finding it an excellent product….👍🏻

[@ronm6585]

Thank you. 👍🏻

[@siegfriednoet]

Looking nice for the money it costs. Have you tested it on the Esprit and can you show us a video working ? And don't you have a problem with this attached on the dew shield of the Esprit, I know the Esprit series have a dew shield that is not really sturdy/holding place. I have the same problem with my 120, that's why I think I would prefer an automated flat panel that is attached on the dovetail bar. Or did you found a solution for that Esprit dew shield tipping over ? One more question, does this flat panel use a servo motor or a stepper motor ?

[@Astro_Shed]

Thanks for the comment, yes all fitted and working very well, the dew shield on the esprit 100, is no where near as bad as on the 120, and it’s pretty rigid, as long as the two screws are done up pretty tight..my bottom dovetail comes up under the dew shield, and allows the dew shield to be supported underneath so the weight of the panel does not impact it at all. I just did not like the design of the primaluce version, also I wanted the manual opening button and, my dovetail rail I have fitted was fine for mounting it, but many people don’t have that option. The DSD version is servo motor same as the primaluce version.

[@julianmatthews3262]

Thanks for the review of the flat panel. I have the astro physics 130mm GTX flat panel and cannot get NINA current version 3.0 to find any Deep Sky Dad flat panel in their list? Can you help please?

[@Astro_Shed]

Thanks for the comment. So I assume you have the latest DSD ASCOM driver installed, then in NINA flats panel on equipment page you click the refresh button to refresh the list of available drivers, then click the drop-down list and the DSD driver should be there on the list…so if it’s not, then the driver is not installed at all or has not installed correctly. NINA will show all ASCOM drivers that are installed on these drop down-lists, so if they are not there then it’s not a NINA issue but a driver install one..🤔

[@julianmatthews3262]

@@Astro_Shed Thank you for replying Stewart. Not sure about the DSD ASCOM driver? I have installed from the DSD website the .net5 runtime file, also from 16 02 24 the FP1 control panel v1.0.5 & the FP1 Firmware v1.0.5. Do I then also need the ASCOM driver v1.0.2 from 14 11 22?

[@julianmatthews3262]

My error, thank you for the advice, I had missed the Ascom driver. Now downloaded and appears in NINA. Thank you. I can mirror you comments about the flat panel, I have the older version but still of good quality and will make taking flats so much easier. I have a 294C camera so need 2-3 second exposures to get my required ADU, so the brightness adjustments are essential.

[@Astro_Shed]

@@julianmatthews3262 glad you have it sorted, you will not be disappointed with it..👍🏻

[@philippeangers69]

Hello, Thanks for this presentation of this impressive device! Indeed it's quite expensive and unfortunately I've got the surprise to find out that the price was VAT not included, but I understand that except for Europe, countries have different system of taxes and it's certainly less expensive than in France... Furthermore, alternatives are even more expensive... I've just ordered one for my TS 102 714mm Apo refractor as well as an adapter ring for my "small" TS 76 EDPH. I also have got an RC 8 and a Mak 180, but can't use it with them, but no problem. However, I plan to use the motorized flat panel with NINA in my advanced sequence. How do you manage the opening of the flat panel when you start a photo session as I think you probably let it screwed permanently on your refractor? Do you have to go straight to the Flat panel management section in NINA and I suppose ask it to open up or do you proceed differently ? Furthemore, when you want to plan a flat panel session at the end of your photo session, did you simply add a section at the end of the whole sequence? I also have got an ASIair pro and plus, and will see how to use the panel with it as I've just also taken a look to the Deep Sky Dad KZbin video. The management of the motorized flat panel in NINA would be a good idea for an additional video! ;-) Thanks for your feedaback, Philippe

[@Astro_Shed]

Thanks for the kind words Much appreciated 👍

[@Astro_Shed]

I tend to do my flats every few weeks as my imaging train does not move so no need to do every session I open the panel Manually at the start of a session

[@philippeangers69]

@@Astro_Shed Ok, thanks for your quick reply ! 🙂 It doesn't tend to damage the mechanism at the end, because of course, you'll have to open and close more often the device to only shoot, and less to end-up the advanced sequence with a flat sequence!? I'll probably be in the same approach as you, as on top of that, I've got my own observatory and most of time I don't interact with my imaging train, therefore no need to generate flats for each session, at least before a few months! Philippe

[@Astro_Shed]

@@philippeangers69 yes my set up is in an obsy No worries of any damage through overuse though they are robust items and the servos are of good quality too 👍

[@tomstahr3272]

Have you ever found that the light used is not diffuse enough? In other words, that your flats end up showing the pattern of the light itself, from under the opaque layer?

[@Astro_Shed]

Thanks for the comment, actually no, I have owned 2 of these over the years, and never had that issue, I always use 4 second flats, as that is better with modern CMOS cameras, so maybe that helps…I just set it at 4 seconds, and let NINA pick the brightness to suit….👍🏻

[@tomstahr3272]

@@Astro_Shed Thanks for the reply. Turns out, I wasn't getting the pattern of the underlying light emitter, the flats simply had a bullseye pattern that came from the brand new filters!

[@Astro_Shed]

@@tomstahr3272 glad you got it sorted, but shame on the poor filters, I use Optolong 3nm and have been superb…👍🏻

[@AlexRanous]

My question is how bright does the panel get? I have the Optec Alnitak flip-flat, and it uses a USB powered EL panel, which has very poor red response. When taking flats for Ha or SII filters, it takes several minutes per flat, even at full brightness. I want a solution that can handle narrowband filters without taking an eon.

[@Astro_Shed]

Hello, then this is fine, I have 3nm filters and get flats of 2-5 seconds on them all without issue..👍🏻

[@Astro_Shed]

Also the flats panel has brightness settings of 0-4096, and even with my 3nm Narrowband filters the brightness does not go above 2500 and that is with 3 second flats, I could get 1 second if needed, but CMOS cameras are better with flats 2-5 seconds long..Hope that helps

[@AlexRanous]

@@Astro_Shed Good to hear the panels are up to NB. I guess my only reservation about the panel is the fact it uses micro USB. I loath micro USB. They should have used USB B, as most astro accessories use, or move to USB C as that's where the world has moved to. Even Apple has been dragged kicking and screaming into the USB C world, there's no excuse for any new product to use micro USB.

[@Astro_Shed]

@@AlexRanous that’s not there choice it has an arduino inside for control and that’s the socket that comes on that as standard