lumpy darkness

Observation notes (with equipment details), photos, sketches, reviews, software tips, random thoughts, by an amateur astronomer.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2022

builds and hacks

I guess I'm a maker. I've always thought of myself as a do-it-yourself person. I've always tried fixing things, repairing things, extending the life. And I'm not afraid to adjust, change, enhance, improve, or do things beyond what the original developer or designer thought of.

To keep a long story short, this DIY page will collect together all the do-it-yourself projects I've undertaken, whether new builds, or hacks.

In general, the links will go to a "project" page which shows details of the new build or modification with costs, time lines, plans, etc. A big part of this, the raison d'etre is that the individual steps for big projects are sprinkled through the blog over months or years. The project page collates all related articles.

Enjoy. Make. Hack. Learn. Reduce. Reuse. Do it.

 

 

made

  • modelled the DDO 74-inch telescope at 1:100 - Mar '21
  • polar scope cap for Vixen SP ocular end - Apr '20
  • custom Dec motor cover 3D printed - Apr '20
  • custom Meade ETX-camera finder adapter - Aug '19
  • dew strap for 2" eyepiece/camera lens - Aug '19
  • dew heater controller - Feb '19
  • solar filters for binoculars - May '18
  • alt-az base for barn door tracker - Apr '18
  • 3D print upper polar axis cap Vixen SP mount - Nov '17
  • Canon mirror control cable - Sep '16
  • barn door tracker with motor control (pre AAB) - Mar '15
  • eyepiece case 2 - May '13
  • focusing Y-mask for camera - Feb '13
  • Optec focuser cable
  • data control cable for N11
  • control cable for Kendrick Premier
  • solar filter for Oberwerk binoculars
  • focusing Bahtinov mask for C8
  • deep red flashlight (or torch) - Feb '11
  • power plugs with gauge for marine battery - Jan '11
  • red lighting for cases
  • red LED light box for maps and charts
  • custom Telrad dew heater - Dec '06
  • eyepiece case 1

 

 

hacked

  • external battery pack for OneWorld
  • external battery pack for Oregon Scientific
  • external battery pack for ETX
  • external DC power for ETX
  • GoToStar drive on Vixen SP mount
  • occulting eyepiece
  • lithium booster battery
  • cup warmers for heaters
  • 12 volt power supply from computer
  • USB keyboard light to red
  • solar lights to red
  • new finder scope to C8
  • clamps on Vixen tripod
  • converted loupe to red
  • LED KMN lights
  • cooler buggy
  • thumb screws on Edmund Scientific
  • Polaris reference circle tool
  • LED head lamp - 21 Aug '14
  • new power plug SynScan Dob - 1 Jul '12

 

 

fixed / repaired

  • no response 3 key on SynScan keypad - 12 Nov '19
  • CGEM mount intermittent freezing - 20 Mar '18
  • SBIG 11000 camera - 14 Jul '15
  • SLA battery pack - 11 Apr '15
  • Sky-Watcher EQ3 mount power cord - 25 Jan '15
  • 8" Dobsonian focuser - 28 Dec '14
  • NEQ6 Pro mount rebuild - 14 Dec '14
  • collimated AstroMaster 114 - 23 Aug '14
  • collimated binoculars - 23 Aug '14
  • Celestron CGEM power problem - 23 Aug '14
  • collimated Celestron 15x70 Sky Master binos - 22 Aug '14
  • 8" LightBridge Newtonian - 22 Aug '14
  • Meade 10-inch LX 200 - 21 Aug '14
  • Celestron polar scope - 3 Aug '14
  • Celestron power cord damage - 2 Aug '14
  • Celestron CGEM backlash - 22 Jun '14
  • Celestron tripod north pin - 22 May '14
  • Celestron CGEM power cord - 22 May '14
  • dropped/damaged Meade SCT - 30 Aug '13
  • 12" Dobsonian - 19 Aug '13
  • visual back cross-threaded on CPC 8 GPS - 10 Aug '13
  • collimated Celestron SCT - 20 Jul '13
  • collimated Celestron NexStar 11 GPS - 12 Jul '13
  • RC 8 focuser - 14 Jun '13
  • collimated SCT - 1 May '13
  • collimated Celestron SCT 9¼" - 8 Nov '12
  • rebuilt NexStar 11" GPS mount - 2 Sep '12
  • aligned Celestron polar scope - 18 Aug '12
  • Orion counter-weight bolt - 15 Apr '12
  • collimated Celestron 15x70 Sky Master binos - 18 Mar '12
  • CPC 1100 circuit board - 5 Feb '12
  • Sky-Watcher motor - 24 Aug '10
  • Kendrick dew heater controller power cord - 18 Sep '09
  • loaner scope Telrad - May '09

 

 

 

 

links

    lumpy darkness sites:
    blog proper
    lists home
   
    telescopes:
    SP-C8 SCT
    GoToStar system
    Edmund 6" newt
    ETX90-RA MCT
    FirstScope 3" newt
    accessories
   
    life lists:
    planets, moons, etc.
    constellations
    notable stars
    double stars *
    Messier objects
    NGC objects
    other deep sky objects
    eclipses
    occultations
    photo gallery
    magnitude limit
    to do
   
    resources:
    SkyTools
    Stellarium
    TheSky
    NexStar 11
    Aladin quick query
   
    other lists:
    Greek alphabet in HTML
    judging angular size
    atlases, books, software
    what's up for the year
    meteor showers
    with just your eyes
    assessing darkness
    observing preparation
    presentations
    articles
    tips and tricks
(*)   builds and hacks
    wx dashboards
   
    web site links:
    magazines
    sky conditions
    predicting aurora
    science and research
    space telescopes
    double stars sites
    retail stores
    clubs and associations
    DIY observatories
    miscellaneous