lumpy darkness

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2019

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

• dew strap for eyepieces - Aug '19
• dew heater controller - Feb '19
• alt-az base for barn door tracker - Apr '18
• solar filters for binoculars - May '18
• 3D print upper polar axis cap Vixen SP mount - Nov '17
• barn door tracker with motor control - Mar '15
• Canon mirror control cable
• focusing Y-mask for camera - Feb '13
• eyepiece case 2 - May '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
• 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

fixed / repaired

• no response 3 key on SynScan keypad - 12 Nov '19
• loaner scope Telrad - May '09
• Darcy's Meade 10-inch LX 200 - Aug '14
• dropped/damaged Meade SCT
• SkyWatcher mount rebuild
• Nicole's battery pack

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