Installing a PlaneWave Instruments L-350 and CDK14 (CDK350)

Installing the PlaneWave Instruments CDK14 telescope and L-350 mount is covered in this video! This is such a fun system to work with and the performance is exceptional for astrophotography, research, and satellite tracking. For more information about our telescopes and mounts go checkout the PlaneWave website at www.planewave.com. #planewaveinstruments #telescopes #astronomy

[@Big.Ron1]

Come on Powerball! I would love one of these in my back yard. Sweet!

[@MattDieterich]

We'd love to install one for you someday!

[@caseyberger15]

The quality of your videos are great and I really enjoy your production style. This was another great video. Thanks!

[@miroslavk.5049]

Once again excellent job was done showing how it looks like when you love what you are doing. Well done Matt!

[@MattDieterich]

Glad you watched Miroslav and I hope you are doing well!

[@TagBackTv]

Great Video! But now I also need to have this 😂

[@MattDieterich]

Haha they're brilliant telescope systems!

[@jcims]

Life goals.

[@yosmith1]

wow...what a setup!

[@MattDieterich]

Thanks for watching Neil!

[@avt_astro206]

Wow Thats a Cool Set-up !!🔭

[@MattDieterich]

Such a fun system to run!

[@astrophotonics9470]

Fantastic setup, good job Matt.

[@MattDieterich]

Thanks for watching! Was a fun install!

[@sajjadahmed46]

I need a lottery win.. Beautiful setup 👍

[@MattDieterich]

Thanks for watching!

[@chrislewicki7516]

It looks like the pier location was a change in plans or perhaps a mistake. What is the trade between pouring a new pier location or having a large/stiff custom offset plate manufactured? I suspect the offset plate is cheaper/faster?

[@MattDieterich]

The original pier location was setup for a different system, so an offset pier is quick and simple to set the telescope back into the middle of the observatory.

[@marcosastrophotography100]

Simply amazing 🔭✨♥️

[@MattDieterich]

Thanks for watching Marco!

[@jcims]

Do you custom fabricate the wedge for the location?

[@MattDieterich]

Ya our standard wedges offer 6 degrees of adjustable range (+-3 degrees), so the client let's us know their observatory latitude. For example the 40 degree wedge can adjust as high as 43 deg and as low as 37 deg.

[@dasimcoes]

Matt , great video , man would i love to that setup in my backyard.

[@MattDieterich]

They're incredible systems to work with Dave!

[@M31glow]

Matt is the shoulder bolt position closest to the heel for heavy telescopes or is the position closest to the toe for heavy scopes... I'm confused.

[@MattDieterich]

Shoulder bolt closest to the toe would give you the farthest RA lever arm.

[@M31glow]

@@MattDieterich so, that is used for heavy scopes?

[@ppi57]

I'll be getting one of these (once the $CAD gets a little stronger) ;) Is there a template available for concrete pier/plate construction?

[@MattDieterich]

Hi Rich, yes we have a pier interface drawing for the system on our website, but also fabricate steel piers if you require one. Feel free to shoot me an email and I can get you the documents [e-mail]

[@MrTsukasashioten]

Hello Very nice videos! I am a amateur astronomer and I am using a relatively portable eq mount right now. However in future I hope I can get a plane wave mount like L350. I have some questions about plane wave mount. Usually we do the polar alignment by hand adjusting. Seasons and temperature changes will make Polar align less accurate. So constantly adjust PA is not inevitable. However big mount like plane wave L350 looks very heavy, I am wondering how client can help themselves if PA goes less accurate. Second question is about satellite tracking, current plane wave mount only support satellite tracking under AZ mode, is that correct? Thank you

[@MattDieterich]

Yes our PWI4 software allows inputting satellite tracking in either alt/az or EQ configurations. As for polar alignment we really don't see this shift much due to temperatures and then our pointing models help compensate for small variations.

[@MrTsukasashioten]

@@MattDieterich amazing technology! indeed!

[@MattDieterich]

@@MrTsukasashioten absolutely is!

[@mariospenard5125]

I want one... I want two!

[@MattDieterich]

Now that would be wicked!

[@M31glow]

Matt, sorry to keep bugging you. If you use the shoulder bolt closest to the toe that is the farthest RA lever-arm does that mean this is the position for heavy or a light scope? I interpret this two ways. Either you use it for heavy scopes because it gives you more lever-arm or you use it for light scopes since the long lever arm will support the L350 mount better. Can you please set me straight before I take everything down again? Thank you

[@MattDieterich]

Hi Walter, with the RA axis farthest away from the center of rotation, that means heavier scopes can be installed, such as CDK14 or C14 OTAs. Normally a couple iterations of balancing the RA axis is needed from what I have experienced in the field, so having a few friends to help lift the equipment off and move the shoulder bolts makes it a very quick, and safe job.

[@M31glow]

@@MattDieterich your the best! Thank you

[@MattDieterich]

@@M31glow you are welcome!

[@CAREFREEOBSERVATORY]

Matt, Wonderful Video, Luv the Music Too. What was the Music used? I have a Fundraiser effort in place trying to get the money together to purchase L-350 or L-500 for our Observatory Channel to complete my channels Build. Do you Know cost of the labor Installation above the mount cost or is that included? Some Day We will be up and Running . Thank You for all you share with all of us love the teaching videos.

[@MattDieterich]

Thanks! I'll have to check again on the music used. The daily rate for installs is $1,200 and then travel costs. That covers installation and user training to make sure clients are ready to go and comfortable with the equipment.

[@CAREFREEOBSERVATORY]

@@MattDieterich On Friday I ordered the L350 wedge, since I am on a shoe string budget, I will have to configure my own Pier build and configure optimum height. I need your Help on Height?? Are you are familiar with Technical innovation 10' Home dome? It has 36" shutter very slow slewing :(. I bought the full automation controller/interconnect. My biggest OTA will be Meade 16" LX200. I would if capacity allows? a secondary opposite for a 350MM separate. Do i Calc height so the bottom of the OTA to the shutter's lowest Horizon level plane??

[@MattDieterich]

@@CAREFREEOBSERVATORY glad you got the wedge on order! You can utilize our pier height calculator here to help with determining the offset location and also the optimal height for the pier at your latitude and dome size planewave.com/download/pier-height-calculator/ feel free to email me with any questions [e-mail]

[@StarlancerAstro]

Hell, I just want that TEC 140!

[@MattDieterich]

Haha ya that's a beautiful refractor!

[@larrymansfield9393]

One day