Power cable management, Guidescope, Computer - Starting Astrophoto for lazy people

[@damienf4581]

Another top video Cuiv - good work! Only thing I might highlight is checking the cable play in both RA AND Dec especially in the directions on the opposite side from where you have your cables bundled or attached to the OTA. Carefully swivel the OTA through 180 degress in both axes to check for bolt snagging or cables getting caught on other cables - moreso once you get those USB cables in the mix with the power cables. Agree with Bofra1 - a 12V Beelink mini PC (or similar) is the go and everything connected through a Pegasus Powerbox = only one cable coming off the mount. Comfortably lazy! Cheers dude!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

That's a very good point! I did it offline, and I should have recorded it... Even the next video doesn't mention it. I will pin your comment so that this is visible, as it is quite important - shame on me I didn't include that. So 12V PC, Pegasus Powerbox, and angry wallets and CFOs, that's the plan, right? :D

[@damienf4581]

Cuiv, The Lazy Geek - always angry wallets! Cheers!

[@pkwentworth]

I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!! I have a Beelink GT-R Mini PC and it takes a 19VDC Power Supply! Not everything is 12VDC! I Love the added features and specifications of this mini PC personally for astrophotography. I added a Pegasus Astro Power Box Advance and it tidies up some power supplies.......but not the Beelink at 19VDC! You make great videos and I really enjoy watching them from an Island off the coast of Maine in the USA.

[@dilipsharan8699]

Get a 12V cigarette splitter. I use one with my setup. I have the same AC power brick to 12V cable you plugged into your mount. But my 12V cigarette splitter plugs into the AC power brick to 12V cigarette output and splits it into 4 x 12V cigarette outputs

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Good idea as well -thank you!

[@johnjames378]

I have been using the ZWO guidescope with the ASI290MM Mini which worked just fine. But, I felt like I was missing out on optics, so I ordered the Skywatcher you have. Boy what a difference. That is one great guidescope!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Right?! I really should try to compare it with a non doublet 250mm FL scope to see whether guiding is actually affected, but it's such a pleasure to see nicely shaped, round stars with no halo in the guidecam!

[@nikivan]

Please add a link to the dew heater product page. Thank you.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Here it is! But Japanese only, unfortunately... www.moreblue.co.jp/shopbrand/ctc09/

[@nikivan]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek Thanks. I've tried contacting them, but there was no reply. Since I can't find this particular product anywhere else, I was wondering you'd be willing to help me get one. I will fully compensate you, of course. I am located in Canada. My email is 'nickivan at the most popular search engine'. Thank you so much.

[@VisibledarkAstro]

Super video again Cuiv. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Cheers!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thanks Shawn! I know we're of the same mind, but it's just so much fun to make those videos! Cheers & Clear Skies!

[@Bogfra1]

A good tip use the Pegasus astro pocket power box or the power box ultima then them you only need 1 power adapter.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yep! Those pegasus power boxes have been flirting with me for a while... My wallet has resisted for now though (plus I need to do overseas shipping, then deal with tax at customs, plus insane paperwork fees...). Still, I think I'll end up doing that in the future!

[@RobB_VK6ES]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek I bought mine from Cyclops Optics Hong Kong. they even threw in a UPB stepper port cable for free. the UPB will drive the EAF directly with a suitable cable. Very fast delivery and excellent service and tracking. Recommended.

[@Tomec86]

Great video and made me rethink some of the cable management I just got through doing (yay for rebuilding/upgrading scopes)... however I have to say that I'd love to see a similar setup video for your solar scope and a smaller mount. I have a HEQ5 and just a standard (well technically it's a Stellarvue so not "standard" lol) refractor scope so it's a lot harder to mount things as I'm a bit short of an 8" Newt OTA wise lol. Especially trying to mount both my mini-pc and the pegasus powerbox I have (btw +1 for the pegasus power box if you can find it in-stock) is trickier

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thanks for the feedback Tomec! Yes I want to automate by solar setup as well... but I will need a focuser for that. I'll be thinking about it!1 Smaller refractors make things much harder to mount indeed! Good luck!

[@Tomec86]

So much to think about both in the automate the solar and also just what to get, how to mount, etc. After re-visiting everything having been inspired by this video I was able to get both my power box and mini-pc mounted on the front dew shield by using both the top and bottom. This does create a slight "deadzone" rotation wise for my camera/focuser due to the guidescope (I have to rotate the whole focuser assembly and the focus motor hits the back of the guidecam) however I think I have enough freedom to just adjust by 180 if needed... Plus there are always rotators for the ultimate lazy and automated imaging!

[@romans9249]

Great videos Cuiv! Any chance you could show us a very lazy collimation?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I wish I could! I can show a collimation on my SCT (even then, seeing is usually garbage here, so it is hard to show something relevant), but not on my Newt - since it is pre-collimated and not officially user-collimateable!

[@Bogfra1]

Another tip most Beelink mini PC works on 12V dc

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I've been looking at 12V PCs as well - but then I would really need more DC ports, more amperage, and the Pegasus Power Box (which is why the Prima Luce Eagle 3 is so tempting to me! But it is so expensive...!). Sigh.

[@rodmingo4937]

Love the humour- keep the video’s coming. Need to look further into a micro pc solution myself and would appreciate any help or pointers 👍

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thanks Rod :-) More videos are in the pipeline :-) For the PC, I've detailed my own criteria in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/roTLpaCbnJWhpas . Just my personal opinion on the matter though. I am looking into having very low power-consumption mini-PC for on-the-go imaging as well.

[@gococoful]

Thank you. Love it.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thanks for the feedback! Glad it's helping :)

[@papalovesmia]

What is the strap you used?

[@AnakChan]

Doe the computer have a fan? Any concerns on vibration?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

The computer does have a fan, but it doesn't ramp up often. I don't think the vibration will matter much (after all the camera has a fan as well, and vibrates further away from the center of gravity!). However, I am thinking the heat exuded by the computer may harm the guiding since the hot air would rise right in front of the guidescope - so I may be moving it to the back...

[@AnakChan]

Oh that’s a good point about the heat from the miniPC! I didn’t consider that!!

[@RobB_VK6ES]

How many software engineers does it take to change a light bulb? None. It's a hardware problem :) Seriously the single screw attachment of the guide scope WILL bite you, two screws are the minimum for a solid mounting. Take a look at the Astroquest 1 channel. He has added a simple aluminium plate to carry the guide scope and other accessories to the top of his scopes.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thanks Rob! I was having exactly the same worry - but then I used it like that for a few sessions with no issue. But I will end up putting such a plate on top, sooner or later!

[@Aerostar509]

I'm sitting under the stars clicking away and looking for meteors while watching your video.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

How many meteors did you see??

[@Aerostar509]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek Only 2 but maybe tonight (the 12th) I will see more.

[@TheNewfiePilot]

What kind of PC are you using? If it is an Intel NUC, then it will run from 12V just fine. I do it myself.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

It's a Japanese-made mini-PC, not a NUC. I don't think it will handle 12V well, but I can try :D Thanks for the tip!

[@MacEliot]

8:30 cut the cigarette plug off, solder the wires and and attach it to a DC plug connector. Don't convert it from AC to DC. Just stick with DC. It's easy to do. Then just plug it into a Pegasus PowerBox or an external battery with a DC power connector output. I believe positive is the center and negative on the outer. Done deal. Plugs: www.amazon.ca/VIPMOON-Female-Connector-Adapter-Camera/dp/B01JZ3O36O/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=dc+plug+connector&qid=1595959936&sr=8-5

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thanks Mac! Yeah that's something I'm considering longer term - that Pegasus PowerBox has been looking at me with doe eyes for a while, but my wallet is barking at it! I'm a bit leery about damaging/modifying the original adapter for the mount in case I ever want to sell it in the future though... Something more for me to ponder. Thank you!

[@Steve-br7wt]

Omg I was just going to request this lol

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Awesome :D Glad it's useful!

[@Steve-br7wt]

Cuiv, The Lazy Geek I find all your knowledge very useful. Mostly because I’m lazy 😉

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

@@Steve-br7wt Laziness, my favorite attribute :D

[@jimwaters304]

Another great video. Do you ever sleep? :)

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thanks Jim! :) I do sleep - I just need to manage my time very carefully :)