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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

Pages: 1

armond
sage

Reged: 12/28/10

Glow in the dark tape? new

#4399941 - 02/20/11 06:08 PM

I've seen them sold but not sure if these were recommended items. These special tapes you put on your tripod so people don't trip over them at night. Anyone use these? Are they good?

If not, is there an alternative?

Thanks!

Post Extras:

RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: armond]
#4400041 - 02/20/11 06:51 PM

Scope Stuff has this; http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_glot.htm

Stan

Post Extras:

nemo129
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/03/10

Loc: WMass

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: armond]
#4400263 - 02/20/11 08:20 PM

Quote:

If not, is there an alternative?

There are also Kick-Me-Nots.

Post Extras:

Billydee
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/23/08

Loc: Winter Haven, FL

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: nemo129]
#4400314 - 02/20/11 08:47 PM

Memo129's alternative are great. Here is a CN post:

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3476422/page/156/view/collapsed/sb/7/o/all/fpart/1

Luck, Bill

Post Extras:

Cotts
Just Wondering

Reged: 10/10/05

Loc: Toronto, Ontario

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: armond]
#4400524 - 02/20/11 10:29 PM

Quote:

I've seen them sold but not sure if these were recommended items. These special tapes you put on your tripod so people don't trip over them at night. Anyone use these? Are they good?

If not, is there an alternative?

Thanks!

I have this type of tape and it works great, lasts all night, is cheap, doesn't use batteries. There is no downside to glow in the dark tape.

The lights are gaudy, expensive and use up batteries.

Dave

Post Extras:

armond
sage

Reged: 12/28/10

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: Cotts]
#4400527 - 02/20/11 10:33 PM

Thanks for your heads up guys. I went ahead and purchased the tape and lights. They were so cheap I figured I'll get both!

Post Extras:

Billydee
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/23/08

Loc: Winter Haven, FL

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: armond]
#4402432 - 02/21/11 08:05 PM

Armond,

The Kick-Me-Nots use 2 different sized Batteries. When yours start to dim go to eBay and enter the Bat numbers. You can buy replacement for about $.05 each in the 25 quanity area.

When you get the little red wonders dont forget to pull the little white plastic tab out that is between the batteries or they won't work. That company is really great.

Luck, Bill

Post Extras:

armond
sage

Reged: 12/28/10

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: Billydee]
#4402512 - 02/21/11 08:52 PM

Thanks Bill. Appreciate the advice!

Post Extras:

Fred1
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/19/07

Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: armond]
#4402877 - 02/21/11 11:48 PM

At dark sites, there is a down side. Other astronomers have complained to me about how bright the glow tape is on my observing chair. Likewise with the Kick Me Nots. At public outreach they're fine.

Glow in the Dark Rope is a much, much cheaper alternative and much more dark adaptation friendly but still bright enough to do the job well enough without annoying others. Wraps around chair and tripod legs very easily.

Post Extras:

Starhawk
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/16/08

Loc: Tucson, Arizona

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: Fred1]
#4403269 - 02/22/11 08:08 AM

Glow in the dark tape works, but there are many amateur astronomers who mistakenly believe any non-red light will instantly destroy night vision, and some become extremely angry if they see a non-red light. Anyone who has been fully dark adapted when someone turned on car brake lights knows red isn't a panacea. The army has been using dim blue-green lights for the past 20 years since the eye is very sensitive to that color and an extremely dim light will give all the illumination needed. At the sky center on Mount Lemmon run by the University of Arizona, the standard is using white lights and lighting an area well enough to get your work done quickly without fumbling, and turn the lights off completely.

It's actually possible to see equipment if it just isn't black- colored. So if you just bought white colored tape and made stripes on your tripod legs, this is visible at night, and no one complains.

-Rich

Post Extras:

Starman27
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/29/06

Loc: Illinois, Iowa

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: Starhawk]
#4411277 - 02/25/11 05:56 PM

I use "Johnny Glow". Lasts all night with very little exposure to light and glows a light blue. Comes in strips and dots.

Post Extras:

avarakin
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 07/13/09

Loc: Parsippany NJ, USA

Re: Glow in the dark tape? new

[Re: Starman27]
#4417750 - 02/28/11 07:33 PM

Thanks for good pointers!
I want to apply something like "Johnny Glow" to clutches of my GEM mount. I always have trouble finding them in the dark.

Alex

Post Extras:

eric_zeiner
Phoenix's Dad

Reged: 12/09/06

Loc: Georgia USA 34 31'57.18N 83 53...

Re: Glow in the dark tape? [Re: RTLR 12]
#4418522 - 03/01/11 06:30 AM

Quote:

Scope Stuff has this; http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_glot.htm

Stan

Yep

Post Extras:

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