Cable Management for Astrophotography

I put off cable management for years. In retrospect, I should have managed my cable mess much sooner! Find out why in this video.
Part 2 -Review of Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox: • Review: Pegasus Astro ...
Part 3 -How to make a custom travel box for your telescope: • How to make a padded t...
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Website: nebulaphotos.com
Patreon: / nebulaphotos
Twitter: @nebulaphotos
Instagram: @nebulaphotosdotcom
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Music in this video by Blue Dot Sessions - www.sessions.blue/

[@NebulaPhotos]

10:35 Ha, just realized that should say "9 hours" of time savings in 2019, as I forgot to double it for system teardown at the end of the night!

[@gonegator3635]

Great job, Nico. Even for those who've devoted some time to this wonderful hobby, I always find something useful in your videos. I just want to say 'Thanks!' for your time and attention to detail.

[@NebulaPhotos]

Thanks gonegator! I hope to make more in 2020. My list of videos I want to make is long and just keeps getting longer.

[@siberx4]

I'm currently using the "cable harness" method you mention near the end where you velcro all your cables together into one unit, and this has proven to be a huge timesaver. Since I'm using a 6 inch newtonian the whole package is impractically large if I were to leave everything wired up as you show earlier, but this approach is very nearly as fast and has worked great for me. Another big timesaver is that since I use a coma corrector, I keep the corrector, off-axis guider, guide camera and main imaging camera all assembled as one "unit". After I'm done collimating I simply slide the corrector and its attached components into the focuser without having to screw anything together, then I just plug my cables in which are all harnessed to the appropriate lengths to prevent snagging and act as "hinting" as to what goes where. Since I shoot an hour away from home, every minute saved during setup and teardown is another minute of time I can put towards my exposures, and it really adds up! One additional trick I use: where my cable bundle runs off the mount head I have attached a small carabiner using a velcro strap. This allows me to clip the harness to one of the tightening knobs for the vixen/losmandy clamp on the mount head, which helps relieve all most all the weight/strain from the cable bundle that would otherwise be dragging on some of the more delicate connectors plugged in up top. If you're using the harness method, definitely consider how your cable will hang down and try to ensure the tail end both can't snag and won't put undue pressure on any connectors.

[@NebulaPhotos]

Good tips!

[@PeterClarke55]

I am now using a cable tidy to keep the loose mass in check plus it looks neat...

[@mathiasboehme]

Great idea of video series! Especially the third video will be interesting for me, looking forward to be watching your experience.

[@NebulaPhotos]

Thanks Mathias!

[@samk2630]

Nice to see you back!

[@NebulaPhotos]

Thanks Samuel!

[@jeffmarcks3256]

Good video on cable mgmt. I also have a PPB and its awesome. Since everything on the rig runs off 12vdc, the PPB now delivers power to all those devices and I can ditch the AC/DC power bricks except for the one that powers the PPB. Now I have two cables to plug in when I setup, power to the PPB and USB to my laptop.

[@NebulaPhotos]

Yep! Review coming soon. I don't really have anything bad to say about the PPB. Great product!

[@johnmart]

Great video, I use and love the PPB, but also like that you share some alternatives as well. I’m still having trouble with automatic meridian flip so still have some cable mgmt work to do on this. It’s a fun journey. Thanks!

[@NebulaPhotos]

I plan to talk a bit more about alternatives in my review of the PPB. Should be up early next week. What kind of problems are you seeing after the meridian flip?

[@jackhardt1]

Thank you, good video.

[@04Stefan07]

Pocket power box is the best thing to buy for your telescope. Bought one over a year ago and my rig is a dream to set up.

[@KB2AT]

Nico.. .great seeing you back doing videos. Love my pocket powerbox. I'd love ultimate but too expensive lol.keep up great videos. PS what sive guidescope rings u using for that orion 50mm guidescope under the other mount

[@NebulaPhotos]

I was skeptical that I needed a PPB, but I love it too. It just works! The guidescope rings are the smallest they make: 75mm. www.admaccessories.com/product/r75-75-mm-adjustable-rings-delrin-tipped-thumb-screws/

[@seanmolony-redstickastro238]

Nicely done. I did a video on this a while back but was using a rig runner power pole setup. I think once that dies I'm gonna switch to a power system like this. It's so nice to just grab a scope and mount it and be done isn't it? Great video.

[@NebulaPhotos]

Thanks Sean, I'll check out your video. Even though it's just a 5 minute difference, it feels so liberating to not be fumbling with cables in the dark and cold!

[@astrophotonics9470]

Great Vid and thanks for not being a "Fast Food Astrophotography shill" for some company, way too much of that going on.

[@NebulaPhotos]

Thanks

[@angelrobertsson]

Great video! If that is a DSUSB you’re using to control your Nikon’s shutter, you should be able to shorten the “attached” cable. The connection inside the case is a USB 2.0 type B. I’m using a 0.5m cable for my setup.

[@NebulaPhotos]

Ah, I don't have the Nikon anymore, but still might have the DSUSB around. That's good to know, thanks!

[@cmas-astronomy4715]

I have a PPB and I really like it. If I was going to do it over again, I would just buy the Ultimate version. It's wicked expensive, but it does a lot of stuff. Cable management is a pain. Great channel BTW, really appreciate the content.

[@NebulaPhotos]

I'll talk a bit about the Ultimate and other alternatives in my review, which will be up soon. The PPB is all I really need, but for people who have had USB issues, I see how being able to turn ports off and on remotely would be useful.

[@cmas-astronomy4715]

@@NebulaPhotos In my case I could have gotten rid of a USB hub and purchased a the less expensive Pegasus focuser. The PPB is a great piece of equipment though. Looking forward to more content.

[@MrBengourben]

Thanks. Very informative video, much appreciated. I've been thinking about ther power box for a while now. Have you seen those guitar pedal power distribution boxes? There's one that outputs 4 x 12v. Half the price of the power box, but no dew heater or dslr options. Cheers.

[@NebulaPhotos]

I haven't, but sounds like an intriguing option. For me, combining the dew heater controller with the power controller in such a lightweight device is worth it. Will have to wait a few years to see about durability and longevity.

[@MrBengourben]

@@NebulaPhotos Hi again Nico. So I decided to bite the bullet and go for this: www.amazon.co.uk/ammoon-Isolated-Outputs-Station-Protection/dp/B0777MLQ7F It has 9v to 12v switches, so plenty of power options. The power supply i use for my dslr is 9v at 1.5 amps. So thats available on this box too. Only drawback is it's mains power requirements. But I power my set up from my mains anyway. I'll let you know how i get on. Peace. Jason

[@francesthrash5334]

You could win a Tim Roth look-alike contest

[@dennismichels7194]

I watch all your videos there great Question you said that previously you went DC to AC back to DC at power box. With this system DC voltage should stay constant at about 12 volts. Albeit not very efficient. Then switched to straight DC (battery i assume.) Much more efficient but you start sestion at say 13.2 VDC and end at 12.1 VDC. Have you seen any side effects due to voltage vereation. Thanks

[@NebulaPhotos]

Hi Dennis, I haven't seen any issues, no. I know some people will add a meter to their battery so they can monitor the voltage. I should also mention that these days, I actually have AC power available more than half the time, so I run an AC extension cable to a good power supply that plugs in to the Pocket Power box, which then distributes the power to all the devices on my scope and mount. Cheers, Nico

[@woody5109]

The other thing people miss is that plugging and unplugging each cable is hard on them, ware’s them faster.

[@chemtrail_brew_Que]

Does the mount give you any issues with the power delivery from the PBB?

[@markbennett7259]

Thanks so much Nico! I am a beginner and have made all the mistakes you mentioned. My cables are a shambles and my family laugh at me :) How do you attach your PPB and USB hub to the saddle please? Also lens to dovetail? Also would it be possible to give us the links to the ADM parts you use please, especially dovetail and saddles?

[@NebulaPhotos]

Thanks Mark! The PPB and USB Hub are both attached with weatherproof fasteners similar to velcro (but much better!): amzn.to/2RSKVkN For the lens, I'm using a 3rd party lens collar: amzn.to/2RSKVkN and then washers, nut/bolt from the hardware store to securely fasten it at the right height. I also use the ZWO collar so that it is secured in two places along the dovetail. The ADM stuff is just their standard D-series stuff. I believe these are the saddles I'm using: www.admaccessories.com/product/dsad-m6-d-series-saddle-6mm-counterbored-version/ ADM is a bit expensive, but very well-made. Just letting you know there are cheaper solutions out there. I just had those lying around from a past project.

[@markbennett7259]

@@NebulaPhotos Brilliant, thanks for the detailed response :)

[@strelnikoff7]

Do you transport your scope with everything attached (camera, filter wheel, auto-focuser, guide-scope and cam, Powerbox etc)? If that so - Pelican box? I would worry things will get shaken out of position or something if everything is attached and moved around together even if it is in Pelican box with custom cut foam...

[@NebulaPhotos]

Yes, I made a custom box with anti-fatigue mat at bottom and 3” high density foam on all sides and top. It works well. I have a video that shows the box and the build process coming out later today.

[@TheHelicapt]

Can you post links to the losmandy plate and spacers to raise scope off plate. Thanks

[@NebulaPhotos]

What scope do you have, and are you trying to use existing rings? I bought my risers as an add-on from Stellarvue when I bought my scope. They do sell the risers and plates seperately, but you will have to measure the spacing on the holes on your rings to see if they would work: www.stellarvue.com/risers/ if not, check out prima luce lab, they make some nice riser/ring/dovetail sets that may work for you.

[@TheHelicapt]

@@NebulaPhotos I’m using a Meade 80mm series 6000. I’d like to use the existing rings if I could. Link to my scope. agenaastro.com/meade-6000-80mm-ed-triplet-apo-refractor-261001.html

[@woody5109]

I do exactly the same thing, the easier the better, that way I’m more inclined to use it.

[@mikehardy8247]

Did you ever create a video on making a custom travel box?

[@NebulaPhotos]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2GpkJZ4nr-jfpo

[@MrUnbekannter111]

He reminds me on Steve Carell. 🙂😃

[@XPFTP]

drives me nuts. i need neatness .. yet i know i cant .. grrrrrr lol also ... tripplite and astron make power supplys..7amper are cheap. ac to dc 12v out. i use a tripplite i think it is been awhile lol.. works great 5 amps at 7amp peak no issues at all

[@NebulaPhotos]

Good to know, thanks

[@XPFTP]

@@NebulaPhotos very welcome.. good vids as always..

[@ghulands]

is the audio out of sync for anyone else? i tried a couple of different browsers

[@NebulaPhotos]

Is it way out of sync or just a bit? If just a bit, might be my fault. I use double system audio, and then rely on the software to sync the tracks, but I think it sometimes gets slightly (but maddeningly) off. I'm bad at seeing it, so I might not have noticed. Sorry

[@ayubruknani9036]

Why one dislike :(

[@ragrabau]

Well that was not what I expected. Sorry, but that is sloppy wiring.

[@nettyvoyager6336]

4 hrs over 12 months your a bit OCD with the power m8 you can use solar cells if your that bothered

[@NebulaPhotos]

I did the math wrong, it was actually 9 hours, which is substantial to me. I'd always pay what I paid for the Powerbox for 9 hours of my life back.