|
Base: |
3' x 3' x 3' |
|
Column: |
10'' |
|
Concrete: |
In all, thirty five 80lb bags of concrete mix where used to pour the base
and column. |
|
Steel: |
As seen in the photos a lot of steel and wire was used, easily to the point
of overkill. |
|
Power: |
Power is underground and goes to the wooden pier first and is then
distributed underground to the concrete pier. |
|
Concrete: |
3 Cat6e cables go to the wooden pier - 1 is used for a dedicated network
connection and the other 2 are used to extend a USB connection from the
office computer out to the wooden pier. To observe I only need to pull the
cover off the scope. If I need to work at the scope then I will bring a
laptop outside and remote to the indoor workstation that is permanently
connected to the scope; this is a completely opposite configuration from how
most people use remote desktop software. |
|
USB Connections: |
USB connections are extend across CAT6e Cable for about 120ft. At the scope
each USB connection is two a high power industrial strength 4 port USB hub.
These hubs are directly powered to 12V DC and have no problem providing as
much power as any device can consume. This eliminates any USB problems
with power, speed, protocol, and can withstand colder temperature much
better than a typical hub. |
|
RS232: |
To eliminate the problems of COM port re-assignment I use a USB-to-RS232
adapter that retains the com port permanently. As I do not use a hand
control and only use EQ Mod to control the mount it is important to retain
the com number otherwise anytime the adapter is moved in position on the USB
hub a new number will be assigned and the EQ MOD connection settings would
otherwise have to be changed. |
|
Trey: |
For a trey I used a 2" deep 18" in diameter round cake pan. |
|
Vibration Reduction: |
I used a 1/4” of vibration damping material between the MMAB (Mount Mate
Adapter Base) and the Pier. It was cut from a sheet of High-Capacity
Vibration Damping Fiber-Reinforced Neoprene. It has a 1500 PSI Max Load for
each of the three mounting bolts. The Durometer rating is 80A which is
consider just under extra hard and comparable to some shoe heals. It works
quite well and has no noticeable flexure. |
|
MMAB: |
The Mount Mate Adapter Base allows you to quickly place the mount on/off the
pier. Because you can buy different adapters based on you mount type this
means that any of your mounts regardless of manufacture or model can be
placed on the pier. The base also has an indexing system so that alignment
is always retained when switching out mounts or just removing the mount and
placing it back on the pier. |
|
Base Extension: |
Between the MMAB and the mount is an 8" extension that lifts the mount above
the pier to accommodate refractors. To reduce vibrations and prevent flexure
the extension has been filled with concrete. |
