I wanted to pass this by everyone here for some thoughts. I am putting an observatory out in the Sonoran desert at about 2000' elevation and about 65 miles west of Phoenix. I am using local contractors for any paid work I need since they are familiar with conditions and longevity of materials there.
The sky is a bortle 3 from S to W to N and Bortle 4-6 directly East. Thats the setup so you can see what kind of skies I will have. I want to do a 12'x12' building with a ROR system and want to use a garage door opener. The roof will be framed out and have metal roofing for the desert. I am figuring that a 3/4 horsepower opener will be fine but do offer opinions. The building is a prefab shed from a local vendor that will be built on site. The walls will be cut down from 7 to 6 feet and the telescope will have a view down to 10 degrees above the horizon. It is not a useful value but I want to have the option of a lower elevation in the desert skies which are outstanding and could prove useful ath that lower elevation. I have talked with Wayne Parker (SkyShed) and he can get me the jacks I will need for the occasional adjustment needed for the take up rail ends where the roof ends up on clear nights (grin). So I have done SOME homework on this and know what I want I just have a few little sticky points. One follows and it may be a no brainer.
I have looked at many links here and photos but none seem to show the opener to roof attachment in detail. I am going to center the opener at the end where the roof rolls off and have the long center rail go out to the ends of the roof take up rails. So effectively when the "door" or roof is OFF the building this will be in the closed position as far as the opener is concerned and when the roof is secured on the building it will be in the open position as far as the opener is concerned.
This seems logical thus far but please do weigh in if I am missing something.
Lastly I would like to know how the opener rail travel chain and gear is attached to the roof which will be above it. I know this is like a normal garage door so it cant be that difficult. It is the last point to all this before starting an install of building and opener. A few pics would be great I guess.. IF that is, my above question is clear... [scratching head]
Thanks for any help
Marc Dantonio