Losmandy group on Astrobin
Hi All!
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I have created a Losmandy mounts group on astrobin so we can share our pictures and experiences!
Cheers and CS!
Carl
--aka Palmito
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Re: G11 bearing lubrication
Hi Vahe,?
WD-40 is not really a solvent though it is often called up for the task. WD-40 is a Water Displacement spray, it has some low level lubricity but it is not a good lubricant by any means.?
Please do yourself a favor and stop using lithium based lubricant on your mounts! Use a synthetic oil based (PAO) grease with anti-friction additive Teflon, SuperLube fills the bill perfectly. Losmandy uses a similar lube but with moly (MoS2) as the anti-friction component. SuperLube is a better lubricant, inexpensive and widely available around the world on Amazon.?
-- Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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Re: PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction
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Re: G11 bearing lubrication
Hi David,
What is paraffin called here in the USA? Kerosene? Petrol I'm thinking is gasoline which is not a safe solvent by US standards for numerous reasons.?
I use mineral spirits in a small jar for soaking bearings and small parts and blow them dry in a clean towel with shop air. For a bearing I like lacquer thinner is a good last "clean" rinse solvent as it leaves minimal residue.?
These days I always wear nitrile gloves when working with solvents or hydrocarbon based anything to avoid health issues from contact or absorbtion.?
?
--
Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
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Re: G11 bearing lubrication
I would strongly advise against lithium grease.? Use Superlube or a synthetic Moly grease. ? Paraffin and or petrol work well to remove old grease as do proprietary engine cleaners such as ¡°Gunk¡±. ? David ?
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Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Vahe
Sent: 15 October 2020 16:38
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io] G11 bearing lubrication ? My first post.
I have a real old circa 1992 Celestron G11, I do annual clutch cleaning but I have not done much to the four bearings on RA & DEC axis and they are in need of cleaning and re-lube. My question; for removing the old grease is WD-40 the right solvent? I have White Lithium Grease for lubrication after clean up.
Appreciate any other tips in connection to this basic maintenance issue.
.
Vahe
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Re: G11 bearing lubrication
Hi Vahe
>>>My question; for removing the old grease is WD-40 the right solvent?? Yes
>>>I have White Lithium Grease for lubrication after clean up.
I definitely do not recommend Lithium grease. there are a number of posts here with bad results using lithium.?
At the shop for bearings we use Jet Lube MP-50 moly paste. others have used superlube?successfully
Brian
My first post.
I have a real old circa 1992 Celestron G11, I do annual clutch cleaning but I have not done much to the four bearings on RA & DEC axis and they are in need of cleaning and re-lube. My question; for removing the old grease is WD-40 the right solvent? I have White Lithium Grease for lubrication after clean up.
Appreciate any other tips in connection to this basic maintenance issue.
.
Vahe
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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My first post.
I have a real old circa 1992 Celestron G11, I do annual clutch cleaning but I have not done much to the four bearings on RA & DEC axis and they are in need of cleaning and re-lube. My question; for removing the old grease is WD-40 the right solvent? I have White Lithium Grease for lubrication after clean up.
Appreciate any other tips in connection to this basic maintenance issue.
.
Vahe
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Re: Losmandy Gemini 1 questions
Hi Lei Refer to the , paragraph 5.3.6.2: Enter Ra/DEC.? "This command allows you to enter the RA and Dec. coordinates for a point in the sky.As in the previous menu item, selecting "Enter RA/DEC" displays the telescope's currentRA and Dec. coordinates. You can now enter a new set of coordinates by changing the displayed numbers"
Also you can bookmark up to 10 objects via coordinates, save them and go to them at any time its above horizon.? See page 59, para 5.2.6.5 "Set Bookmarks":
"This menu item allows you to store as retrievable bookmarks, the coordinate position ofup to 10 objects. To mark the first object, center it in the telescope's field of view andexecute "Coordinates¡úSet Bookmark #0," where 0 is the number of the first Bookmark.The process can be repeated 9 more times for Bookmarks #1 to #9."
So yes you can enter Ra/DEC coordinates and it will goto them.???
You can use use Gemini ASCOM? to connect and control the mount with USB/Serial and use ASCOM to go to the desired coordinates.?? You can amend the object Gemini ASCOM object file "guc" file I think its called.? save and name the desired object you want and it will be remembered and you can recall and goto it.?
But all this said.....you have to align your mount before any goto is accurate especially if you have just set it up. ? This is true for all mounts. ?? If your mount is set-up up not moving between sessions, then you can use warm start and resume the previous alignment modelling and accuracy.-- Brendan
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Losmandy Gemini 1 questions
Hi,?
I am new to the group and I just have two questions regarding Gemini 1 system.?
1. Can I power up the mount and just use the tracking function without doing alignment or GOTO, just like using the non-GOTO version?
2. Can I enter the coordinates (RA/DEC) of an objects and do GOTO, for example, I know the coordinates of a binary star, instead of looking through the on board catalog, just go directly to it?
Thank you for your help!
Lei
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Re: PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction
Hi Brian ? Now trying to remember the sequence of what I did. ? Pretty sure I tried the night¡¯s before curve then tried it inverted. ? Then generated a whole new curve PEC OFF, uploaded to Gemini and straight away ran it PEC ON. The two pics previously sent. ? OK, hand full of files from last night, attached. ? Cheers ? ? ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Thursday, 15 October 2020 12:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction? Richard there should be two logs - one for the "PEC OFF" and one for "PEC ON" - they aren't labeled which is kind of a pain in the butt, but the on one should be dated later ? Hi Brian ? Please see attached. Thanks again. ? Regards Richard ? ? [Edited Message Follows]
[Reason: typo] Not the?PHD logs, i'm looking for the PEMPro logs they are usually in My Documents->CCDWare->PEMPro V3 you can also use the log zipper under Tools ? Hi Brian ? PHD2 log files ?? That was going to be my next point, PEC ON or OFF just doesn¡¯t give me a different, good enough tracking result. ? Cheers Richard ? ? Hi RIchard can you post your before and after log files? this doesn't really tell me much ? Hi Brian
Is this a good result. Using G11GT. PEC OFF then PEC ON.
Regards Richard
? -- ? ?
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Re: PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction
Richard
there should be two logs - one for the "PEC OFF" and one for "PEC ON" - they aren't labeled which is kind of a pain in the butt, but the on one should be dated later
Hi Brian ? Please see attached. Thanks again. ? Regards Richard ? ? [Edited Message Follows]
[Reason: typo] Not the?PHD logs, i'm looking for the PEMPro logs they are usually in My Documents->CCDWare->PEMPro V3 you can also use the log zipper under Tools ? Hi Brian ? PHD2 log files ?? That was going to be my next point, PEC ON or OFF just doesn¡¯t give me a different, good enough tracking result. ? Cheers Richard ? ? Hi RIchard can you post your before and after log files? this doesn't really tell me much ? Hi Brian
Is this a good result. Using G11GT. PEC OFF then PEC ON.
Regards Richard
? -- ? ?
? --
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Re: PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction
Hi Brian ? Please see attached. Thanks again. ? Regards Richard ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Thursday, 15 October 2020 11:42 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction? [Edited Message Follows]
[Reason: typo] Not the?PHD logs, i'm looking for the PEMPro logs they are usually in My Documents->CCDWare->PEMPro V3 you can also use the log zipper under Tools ? Hi Brian ? PHD2 log files ?? That was going to be my next point, PEC ON or OFF just doesn¡¯t give me a different, good enough tracking result. ? Cheers Richard ? ? Hi RIchard can you post your before and after log files? this doesn't really tell me much ? Hi Brian
Is this a good result. Using G11GT. PEC OFF then PEC ON.
Regards Richard
? -- ? ?
? --
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Re: PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction
Not the?PHD logs, i'm looking for the PEMPro logs
?
they are usually in My Documents->CCDWare->PEMPro V3
?
you can also use the log zipper under Tools
?
Hi Brian
?
PHD2 log files ?? That was going to be my next point, PEC ON or OFF just doesn¡¯t give me a different, good enough tracking result.
?
Cheers Richard
?
?
Hi RIchard
can you post your before and after log files? this doesn't really tell me much
?
Hi Brian
Is this a good result. Using G11GT. PEC OFF then PEC ON.
Regards Richard
--
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?
--
Brian?
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Brian Valente
portfolio
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Re: PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction
Hi Brian ? PHD2 log files ?? That was going to be my next point, PEC ON or OFF just doesn¡¯t give me a different, good enough tracking result. ? Cheers Richard ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Thursday, 15 October 2020 10:41 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction? Hi RIchard can you post your before and after log files? this doesn't really tell me much ? Hi Brian
Is this a good result. Using G11GT. PEC OFF then PEC ON.
Regards Richard
--
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Re: PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction
Hi RIchard
can you post your before and after log files? this doesn't really tell me much
happy to look at them
Hi Brian
Is this a good result. Using G11GT. PEC OFF then PEC ON.
Regards Richard
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Re: PREVIEW Part 3 of Practical Periodic Error Correction
Hi Brian
Is this a good result. Using G11GT. PEC OFF then PEC ON.
Regards Richard
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Re: Height of G11G on folding tripod
Hey Bill Here at ESP and a great night last night.? My G11T is set up next to friend Tim's TEC180 on Paramount, and I do recommend an extension.? The 180 is a pretty good sized scope.? It showed Mars in detail when the sky finally settled down.? I'll try to get a photo?of our set-ups tonight.? Your friend Mike with a 16 inch Dob is set up next to us. I'll be back, Wes
On Sun, Oct 11, 2020 at 10:00 PM wes Bolin < k5apl41@...> wrote: It will be a reduced number this year, Bill.? I'll measure when I set up there (legs fully extended).? My largest scope is an AP130edfGT.?? I'll be in touch. Wes
On Sun, Oct 11, 2020 at 11:55 AM Bill Tschumy < bill@...> wrote: Wes,
Oh man, I¡¯d love to go to the Eldorado SP.? When I lived in Austin that was one of my favorites.
If anyone has a G11 with the legs extended and can make the measurement, I¡¯d appreciate it.? However, if it is 51¡± collapsed, I suspect I will be fine.
Bill On Oct 11, 2020, at 10:38 AM, wes Bolin < k5apl41@...> wrote:
Sorry Bill.? Just packed it up for Eldorado Star Party.? The legs were minimum height.? And I have the G11T model. Wes On Sun, Oct 11, 2020 at 9:44 AM Bill Tschumy < bill@...> wrote: On Sun, Oct 11, 2020 at 07:41 AM, wes Bolin wrote:
My "flimsy" tape measure shows 50.5 inches with the legs at minimum length.? Measured from the floor to the separation of the two clamp pieces.? Hope that is close enough. Wes,
Yes, that is accurate enough.? This is with the legs at ¡°minimum¡± length?? That seems higher than expected.? Do you know what it is with the legs extended?
Basically, I¡¯m thinking of putting a TEC 180 on it and want to make sure I¡¯m not totally sitting on the floor when looking near zenith.
Bill
--? Bill Tschumy Otherwise -- Longmont, CO
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We're certainly are spoilt downunder this spring for the planets. Jupiter and Saturn are at the zenith at dusk, Mars is up around 21:00 and passes the meridian around midnight at 50 degrees altitude in the North. The only downside is the seeing. We have a fair bit of jetstream at that time of year and it's hard to juggle pockets of steady air with holes in the clouds.?
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Hi Brian,
Yeah despite the best of our efforts, we are often at the mercy of things beyond our control. While we can work for clean optics, good collimation and focus, seeing and other factors can thwart our efforts.
Showing that sometimes things work in our favor, I observed Mars last night under skies of variable, poor transparency. After observing some clusters and doubles in Cassiopeia with my C-11, I saw Mars rising higher through the muck. Since it was closest last night, I wanted to have a look before wrapping up the observing session. I was expecting the usual seeing-induce orange blob. Was I ever surprised. It was the best view of Mars I'ved had in a decade or more. I wished that I didn't have focal reducer in place, since higher powers seem to show more and more. With a 5mm Olivon eyepiece @ 350X the view wasn't very good. But this was expected since that eyepiece @ $78 shouldn't be expected to produce the excellent image provided by a multi-hundred dollar Nagler 11mm T6 @ ?160X. But the view was so sharp I tried a 9mm generic Plossl 195X which helped. But an old Celestron 7mm Orthoscopic gave the best view at 250X.?Among the visible features were Syrtis Major, Sytris Minor, Mare Cimerium and Mare Tyrrhenum. Ocasionally a tiny remnant of the south polar cap was suspected.?
Since Michael has repaired my Gemini-1, and all seems to be functioning well, I'm inspired by last night's Mars experience to dust off my planetary imaging rig - ZWO ASI290MC OSC color video camera, ZWO ADC. I have until tomorrow night to put it all together. Early in the evening I'll touch up collimation while waiting for Mars to get high in the sky. Its circumstance are much better than Jupiter and Saturn residing low in my sky (about 23 degrees elevation). My C-11 has a 115mm refractor riding piggyback. That will serve as a finder of sorts to get Mars on the camera's tiny sensor.?
That's my plan anyway. I'll see how this all works out.
Best Regards,
Russ
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Re: Yahoo Groups Shutting down
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Chip Louie
David C. Partridge
Russell Milton