123 replies to this topic

[clamchip]

Thanks for thinking of me Dave. I have the tripod, problem is it won't fit through my shop door all assembled. Here it is the day it arrived at my house, it is gigantic. Notice its raining of course. We assembled it to make sure nothing was missing  and I never even thought about where I was going to keep it!!!!

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[davidmcgo]

Oh, right, forgot about that!

 

Dave

[bremms]

C14 amazing? Don't tell the Unitron folks.. A $400.00 used C8 is an amazing value if you get a good one. My C11 was $750. That's nuts. The price of an Average 80mm APO.The APO guy will tell you it has better images.. NOT.

[clamchip]

Its difficult to describe observing with the C14. I feel like I'm going to need a lot of time to understand its vast power, like I only just barely know it.

When you use it you get the feeling It is a very serious instrument for serious discovery and research and that it can do anything and take you anywhere you want to go.

[John Higbee]

First light, phase 2, was a complete success! In now, but will go back out at 0500 to observe the last quarter Moon...so more later!

Many thanks to all of you that helped walk me through the collimation process...couldn't have done it without you!

All the best, John

[John Higbee]

More on first light...

Having gotten tired of the motion-operated porch lights that come on brilliantly as soon as some one walks or drives into our circle, I decided to set up the C14 on my second story deck. It turned out to be a good idea - although the amount of sky visible is limited to the western half of the sky, the #%@& lights are masked by my house...and the vibration from walking on the deck damps out quickly (it'll be even better when I get some anti-vibration pads under the tripod legs). It's great that I can leave it set up and not break it down each night, as long as there is no rain forecasted.

Had the scope assembled by 8:15. Both drives are operating well, and the focuser is much smoother through the full range of motion (think the remaining grease has redistributed as the focuser has been used). Impressed by the 10x40 finder...nice image quality! (I have a University Optics 8x50mm RACI finder in Celestron orange that I plan to mount soon).

With Bob Piekiel's "Collimating SCT" in hand, I was able to get a reasonable collimation done in about 15 minutes, using a Celestron 40mm Plossl. (could have done it quicker if I hadn't had to shuttle between the secondary holder and the eyepiece). There's still room for collimation improvement - intend to work on that tonight.

Star images are good...still have a touch of coma, but nothing that can't be fine-tuned out. Arcturus and Altair looked good...Albireo was beautiful (brilliant blue and deep gold - more light gathered, more color!). Went out shortly before 5:00am and got tremendous views of the last quarter Moon. These scopes are incredible!

Thanks to everyone who chimed in to help me master the SCT collimation techniques (lesson learned - 40+ years of Newtonian collimations don't convey to good SCT collimation). CN Classic Telescopes Forum is the best!

John

[John Higbee]

The C14 on the rear deck...title this one "two cats"!

John

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Edited by John Higbee, 15 August 2014 - 07:40 PM.

[davidmcgo]

Sweet!  Glad you got it sorted out John.  I always loved the look of those but finally gave up trying to find one out here in San Diego when a used Obsession 15" found its way to me.

 

Dave

[CHASLX200]

One was enough for me.  Broke my back trying to force the OTA into the forks and the optics were not so great in my C14.  I still love the looks of them , but a Starmaster 14.5" Dob would just kill it on the planets.

 

Chas

[clamchip]

Scope looks great John. Your handbox looks a lot more compact than mine, I know mine is not original, and I'm finding very little info on the C14 handbox's so I have no idea what the original looks like. The C16 Blue/White has a drive base like the C14 and a handbox similar to mine. Others I have seen are push buttom rather than toggle switch. 

Chas I know what you mean about the "one man observatory" it can be done but its not a walk in the park. When you look at the ad photo of Mr. T.Johnson doing it you can see on his face he's maxed out. I didn't even try it because I  used the hydraulic lift table.

Here is my hand control. Top toggle switch is Left-Right, bottom switch is Up-Down. The box is too large to do commands one handed, you need to use one hand to hold the box,  your other hand to move the switches.  

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Edited by actionhac, 16 August 2014 - 08:18 PM.

[CHASLX200]

Lifting the OTA was not the prob, The pins would jam in the fork slots and make it a pain to setup.

 

Chas

[TCW]

John- nice scope!  I recently found a C14 myself and am now going down the same path as you are. I have  a question though. It looks like the cast metal parts and the wedge are painted black. Mine is black however it appears that someone either repainted it with some sort of black undercoating or the paint went bad in a strange way.  What sort of paint does yours have on it? Is it the same pebbly finish like the fork mount has but black?

[John Higbee]

TCW - sorry for the delay in responding, was out of area this weekend...just got back!

 

With respect to the paint...my drive base and fork arms are painted the standard Celestron "brownish gray"...the wedge and tripod top are painted black.  Both the gray and the black have a very slight "pebbly" texture - almost looks more like heavy paint overspray than intentional texturing.

 

I've got some significant cosmetic restoration to do...one of the fork arms has its paint peeling around the fork "holes", and it doesn't look like the surface below was ever primed (it's bare metal).  The other fork and the drive base are both showing "spotty" paint deterioration...at some point I'll have to strip, prime and repaint the "whole shebang" (once I figure out how to reproduce Celestron "brownish gray")! 

 

The wedge is in good shape...just normal "wear and tear" on the wedge surface.

 

thanks, John

[John Higbee]

Robert - here's a close-up of my handbox for drive slewing...believe this is original issue with the telescope!

 

Sorry for the delay in responding...John

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[TCW]

TCW - sorry for the delay in responding, was out of area this weekend...just got back!

 

With respect to the paint...my drive base and fork arms are painted the standard Celestron "brownish gray"...the wedge and tripod top are painted black.  Both the gray and the black have a very slight "pebbly" texture - almost looks more like heavy paint overspray than intentional texturing.

 

I've got some significant cosmetic restoration to do...one of the fork arms has its paint peeling around the fork "holes", and it doesn't look like the surface below was ever primed (it's bare metal).  The other fork and the drive base are both showing "spotty" paint deterioration...at some point I'll have to strip, prime and repaint the "whole shebang" (once I figure out how to reproduce Celestron "brownish gray")! 

 

The wedge is in good shape...just normal "wear and tear" on the wedge surface.

 

thanks, John

Thanks John.  I have to investigate the paint to see what went wrong.  Do know what year your scope is? I suspect mine is early 80's. The serial number on the drive base is in the 800's.

[John Higbee]

TCW - my serial number is 655.  Believe that puts my scope in 1979 as the year of manufacture.

 

John

[bob midiri]

Robert - here's a close-up of my handbox for drive slewing...believe this is original issue with the telescope!

 

Sorry for the delay in responding...John

 

Yep thats the original Hbx...just like mine. I can't tell you how essential that little box is in the enjoyment of the scope. To be able to slew and re-center...or if using digital setting circles, having that handbox makes centering a star for alignment a snap...otherwise to do it with the manual slo motion knobs...would be a chore at best

[clamchip]

 

Robert - here's a close-up of my handbox for drive slewing...believe this is original issue with the telescope!

 

Sorry for the delay in responding...John

 

Yep thats the original Hbx...just like mine. I can't tell you how essential that little box is in the enjoyment of the scope. To be able to slew and re-center...or if using digital setting circles, having that handbox makes centering a star for alignment a snap...otherwise to do it with the manual slo motion knobs...would be a chore at best

 

Its much smaller than my non stock box. Yes it is very essential because your always using medium to high power since the C14 has a 3910mm focal length. I usually center the object in the finder, and by the time I lock the drive base and get back to the eyepiece I've got to hunt for  it with the handbox to bring it back into the field of view. I guess  I'll become better at doing this.

 

Robert

Edited by actionhac, 02 September 2014 - 10:04 AM.

[TCW]

I have the big orange Celestron drive corrector with a orange hand box. The drive works but I don't' think the slew works. When I get a chance I am going to take the base apart and see why.

[John Higbee]

Latest news on the C14...I've picked up a set of Orion anti-vibration pads, and (since I can't find the original Celestron tube weights) two Meade 5 pound OTA weights.  

 

While I'm at it, do any of you other C-14 owners have the utility light that came with the scope? (it's the one that plugs into the socket on the front of the drive panel).  If you do, and can post a picture, that would be great...I'm trying to make/buy a copy.

 

 

thanks, John

[TCW]

I have a couple of lights that came with my scope but have not checked them out yet - just a red LED on a cord with a plug. I have several 3# weights and a bunch of small 1#? weights that came with mine. The 1# weights thread to each other with a 1/4-20 (I think) stud on one side and a corresponding threaded hole on the other. I have not had a chance to figure out their exact use.

 

I will try out the lights and post a photo. First light for me and on this scope hopefully will be tomorrow.

[nexstar11]

I have the big orange Celestron drive corrector with a orange hand box. The drive works but I don't' think the slew works. When I get a chance I am going to take the base apart and see why.

 

I'd like to see some pics of this thing.  Assuming this is the heavy duty one from Sidereal Electronics?

[TCW]

 

I have the big orange Celestron drive corrector with a orange hand box. The drive works but I don't' think the slew works. When I get a chance I am going to take the base apart and see why.

 

I'd like to see some pics of this thing.  Assuming this is the heavy duty one from Sidereal Electronics?

 

Will do. It says Celestron on it but I will check the label.

[TCW]

Here is the drive corrector that came with my scope.

[TCW]

The back. Now I need to find a manual for this.

Edited by TCW, 05 September 2014 - 07:56 PM.