1745 replies to this topic

[mlord]

Ah, one more thing that I had forgotten about earlier:  the 4.3:1 fine-focus knob:

 

 

It's not a 10:1 ratio like the FeatherTouch units, but this one is halfway there at a cost of, err..  $0. 

Yes, that's a peanut butter jar lid.  Not original, but a big thanks to whoever first suggested it!

Edited by mlord, 20 December 2020 - 05:31 PM.

[malemotives]

The Pier is finished... except for connecting the electric tomorrow. Ran some tests and there is ZERO vibration... even when the wind is blowing.  SInce the base always faces the Polar North and it is always LEVEL... Alignment is a breeze.

 

Notice that the Wedge plate is attached to a 10" x 1/4" steel plate with another 10" x ¼" steel plate just below it. The 4 rods that complete the attachment go through the Pier, which extends 3 feet under ground and are attached to another 10" x ¼" steel plate below the Pier. It is built to last.

Celestron Evolution 8 EdgeHD

 

 

Edited by malemotives, 20 December 2020 - 07:59 PM.

[malemotives]

Looking good!  Please share more photos when it's finished!

All done except for wiring the electric outlet.

 

[junomike]

I have recently acquired an "open box" Evolution 8 from B&H at a hefty discount.  A big thank-you goes out to whoever previously returned it.    The OTA appears to have never been opened/mounted before I got it.  The only fault I have found was a stripped tripod leg screw hole, which I have subsequently repaired.

 

There are now a few customizations on the mount:

 

evo8.jpg

 

On the right side, is a custom thing I made for attaching the HC-holder to the fork-arm, avoiding cord wrap issues.  On top of that I added a small shelf for holding two eyepieces in a more convenient place.  This all attaches with velcro, and is quite sturdy in use.

 

holder.jpg

holder2.jpg

 

On the left side, there's a box holding my ESP32-based scope enhancements.  Currently it provides a GPS receiver, plus a HomeBrew alternative to the built-in WiFi.  Someday (when I get to it) it will also offer Bluetooth as an alternative to WiFi.  This box plugs into an AUX port via a short patch cable running around the other side of the mount fork.  There are also three on/off switches on the box, one for the GPS, one for the HomeBrew WiFi, and a third for the built-in Evolution WiFi.  These enable fine-tuning power consumption to maximize battery run time on cold nights.  This is all covered in the HomeBrew Wifi/Bluetooth thread:  https://www.cloudyni...ry-for-aux-bus/

 

wifi_bt_box.jpg

 

Finally, below the ESP32 box, and attached simply with some black shoelace, is a DeWalt 20V Max battery holder, with a DC-to-DC converter to regulate the output to exactly 12V, plugged into the mount's DC-in jack.  This gives considerably extended run time on cold viewing nights here.

 

dewalt_power.jpg

 

One other minor thing:  for now, the stock Celestron Star Diagonal is in place.  But I took the two fat screws from the eyepiece side and moved them to the mount side of the diagonal, because they were interfering with my larger eyepieces.  Then I found two longer screws with the same thread, dabbed some hot-melt glue onto the ends to make mini-knobs, and used those on the eyepiece side of the diagonal.  Almost as good as a twist-lock now!  (well, not quite, but far better than stock).

 

knobs.jpg

 

That's it for now.

With an Ext battery plugged in, will the unit default to the internal battery once the Ext is depleted?

[mlord]

With an Ext battery plugged in, will the unit default to the internal battery once the Ext is depleted?

That's how I understand the EVO is supposed to work, with any external battery or external power supply.  My Dewalt battery has yet to ever be depleted in this situation, so I cannot confirm it for sure.

 

There's a separate thread for discussion of the battery adapter:

https://www.cloudyni...t#entry10725130

[illwhttail]

ground control to Major Tom!!!

 

 

 

[giganova]

Two ultra-cheap mods:

• Glow in the dark tape around your tripod legs so you never bump into it again, also mark the locations with the tape where the three tripod bolts go into the mount. 
• Put barn door handles on a second dovetail, they have then exact same width and are $70.- cheaper than the ADM handle. Now you can safely move your OTA.

EdgeHD_mods

Edited by giganova, 30 December 2020 - 07:12 PM.

[giganova]

Since the Evolution mount and StarSense camera don't care or even know what is mounted, I created a second astrophotography rig that I can quickly slide into the mount. It holds my Leica Telyt 250mm f/4 on my Fuji X-T3 (350mm equivalent on a full frame camera). The contraption consists of a V-style doveplate, a 1.5 inch x 3 inch rectangular aluminum tubing that holds a quick release plate for the camera and a 3D printed wedge for the StarSense camera, all securely bolted together. The parts cost me less than $50.

 

The Leica lens and Fuji camera are a killer combination, can't wait to try it out on M31.

 

Celestron_Mount_Fuji

Edited by giganova, 09 January 2021 - 07:20 PM.

[fishingflorida727]

My Evolution 9.25 with starsense. Adding a dew heater and shield with Pegasus controller next week.

She’s tucked away in a pelican 1690 for transport and storage.

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Edited by fishingflorida727, 16 January 2021 - 04:36 PM.

[fishingflorida727]

Her home...

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[Scott123]

Her home...

What case is that? it looks like it will keep your scope safe and dry.

 

Scott

[fishingflorida727]

What case is that? it looks like it will keep your scope safe and dry.

Scott

It’s a Pelican 1690

[junomike]

It’s a Pelican 1690

What's the total weight (with everything loaded)?

[giganova]

Here is my case for the EdgeHD 8. Total weight is 60 pounds. Costs almost half than the Pelican 1690.

 

Celestron Case

Edited by giganova, 17 January 2021 - 09:52 AM.

[fishingflorida727]

Here is my case for the EdgeHD 8. Total weight is 60 pounds. Costs almost half than the Pelican 1690.

 

Celestron Case

Nice!

 

The 9.25 unfortunately wouldn’t fit 

Edited by fishingflorida727, 17 January 2021 - 02:45 PM.

[fishingflorida727]

What's the total weight (with everything loaded)?

I’d estimate it at 85lbs but I will put it on a scale and let you know next time I break it down.

[junomike]

I’d estimate it at 85lbs but I will put it on a scale and let you know next time I break it down.

I was guessitmating 80 - 90lbs which is the same as my CGE case.  Not an issue to wheel around but a little but to lift into/our of a vehicle

[fishingflorida727]

I was guessitmating 80 - 90lbs which is the same as my CGE case. Not an issue to wheel around but a little but to lift into/our of a vehicle

Yep 82.2 lbs. and my truck is lifted so getting into the bed is a chore but I can do it.

[Eclipsed]

Here is my case for the EdgeHD 8. Total weight is 60 pounds. Costs almost half than the Pelican 1690.

 

Celestron Case

Have to see if that fits into my small car.  If so, I think its a great case for the 8 EdgeHD!.

[Eclipsed]

Just added cooling fans to my 8 EdgeHD.  The idea is to reduce the cool-down period when taking the scope outdoors.

 

Ordered from Xiaolue, who is a member here and he sells kits for some different sizes of Celestron scopes.  Fitted in 5 minutes and they are nice and quiet.  12V DC at about 250mA.  I am using the Celestron 12V charger to run them but they could be operated from USB, with a suitable USB to 12VDC converter.

 

 

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[giganova]

Does it have fans on both sides to blow air in+out?

 

Edit: scratch that, I can a second fan at the bottom in the pictures.

Edited by giganova, 30 January 2021 - 03:54 PM.

[Eclipsed]

Does it have fans on both sides to blow air in+out?

 

Edit: scratch that, I can a second fan at the bottom in the pictures.

YEd, as you can just see there are fans top and bottom.  I installed them with the bottom fan pushing air in and the top one pulling air out.  They are whisper quiet and I’m hoping there’s no vibration at all (yet to be tested due to weather).

[Dave Mitsky]

Here are two iPhone photos of my 6" f/10 Celestron NexStar Evolution, which I use primarily from my red-zone driveway.

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[fishingflorida727]

Added a Celestron Dew Shield, Dew Heater, Pegasus Dew Heater Controller, Celestron Power Tank Lithium Pro, and Celestron Vibration Dampening Pads.

 

Still waiting on my Baader Hyperion Zoom Eyepiece 😬

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Edited by fishingflorida727, 01 February 2021 - 06:53 PM.

[Majestikkal]

Telescope: Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25 w/ StarSense AutoAlign

Mount: Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm w/ HD Pro Wedge

Focal Reducer: Celestron Focal Reducer 6.3 (94175)

Guiding: Celestron OAG w/ ZWO ASI120MM-S

Imagers: ZWO ASI533MC Pro or Canon EOS 60D DSLR

Filter: Starizona Filter Slider w/ Optolong L-Pro Filter - 2" Mounted

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