Obsession 15" UC Dob Telescope
Obsession 15" UC setup and precautions:
- Make sure that the mirror cover is in place and bungy corded whenever working above the mirror.
- Do not use a brush to clean the mirror. For on the spot cleaning use an photo air tool only.
- Place ground board on a level stable location which will improve goto's. I also place 9' x 12' plastic mat down to prevent dust, allow cables to drag easily, and to give my guest a nice place to walk.
- When it is necessary to disassemble make sure to place the mirror box bearings dead center on the rocker box avoiding the metal washers. If the bearing edge lands on a metal washer it may cause severe damage to the Formica on the side of the bearing. If damaged use 15 minute epoxy to repair.
- The shroud white cord should be on top at 6 o'clock when the scope is rotated downwards.
- Always attached the wheelbarrow handles so that the hinged section is away from you when you lift. This keeps the mirror centered better and more balanced. Make sure the rubber straps are engaged before using the handles. If not the bearings may get damaged as they will come out of the rocker box.
- The two light baffles need to be installed with shiny surface out.
- Do not use the scope manually or in goto without first making sure it is balanced. The eyepieces, paracor, and Argo Navis highly impact the balance of the scope. In the case of goto, if scope is not balanced the motors will probably stall from over current loading.
- Take careful attention to installing the altitude encoder arms as it is key to a good alignment. The altitude encoder hardware must be removed before using the handle bars. When storing the scope in the field during the day, it is also recommended that the altitude encoder hardware be removed. If the wind comes up or if for any reason the mirror box is knocked off the rocker box then severe damage will be done to the altitude encoder and hardware.
- Bearing Surfaces - two or three times a year clean Teflon (only) with alcohol and then use Armor All Protectant Original Shine Finish on all laminates. Do not use alcohol on the black bearing as it will dissolve the material, use Armor All only on the black bearing. Johnson paste wax can also be used before applying the Armor All. Cleaning and lubricating the bearing surfaces has a dramatic impact in reducing sticktion on the UC telescopes.
- Storage in the field - Put telescope near 180 degrees down toward horizon and engage two of the black straps to keep the scope from going up or down. Engage the altitude drive pin. Disengage the azimuth drive pin (hopefully scope will act like a weather vane but not come off the rocker box or tip over). Install a white cover over the scope to reduce heat build up and eliminate dust. Optionally install a bungee cord around tubes near the top and connect to a weight.
- Install Astro Crumb FilterSlde bracket to the Feathertouch focuser adapter. Point the white dots on the bracket down to the primary mirror. Do not leave filter trays in filter slide when transporting scope. Keep in filter box provided.
- Installing the Altitude Cable - If possible don't remove this as it is very difficult to re-install. To start with, the mirror box must be off the rocker and sitting on a piece of carpet. I sit the mirror box vertical so I can get at the rocker arm that needs the cable. I connect the cable on one end with the screw and then attach a rubber band with a hook on it to the other end of the cable. I now place the cable around the center of the bearing and connect the rubber band hook to some think on the rocker box to hold it in place on the bearings. Next I very carefully lift the mirror box using the handles and place it dead center on the rocker box so the cable aligns with the slots in the Teflon. Next I remove the rubber band and hook from the cable and string the cable twice clockwise around the drive pulley and then connect the end of the cable to the spring loaded lever. Note - this is almost impossible for me to accomplish unless I use the rubber band.
Argo Navis Setup
Must set up can be done manually. The commands are show below:
- go to SETUP/SERIAL/SERIAL1/baud and set to 19200
- go to SETUP/SERIAL/SERIAL1/startup and set "servocat"
- go to SETUP/GUIDE/ decimal places 2
- go to SETUP/DATE/TIME/ 24 hour format
- go to SETUP/LOCATION/ latitude N, Longitude W, add San Diego or where ever.
- go to SETUP/GOTO limits/ 12 & 90 degrees
- go to SETUP/ALT REF/ +090.00 encoder assumes dob
- go to SETUP/ALT STEPS/ alt=+0010000
- go to SETUP/AZ STEPS/ az=-0010000
- Use MODE CATALOG to guide to a new object to verify the the scope is pointing correctly.
- At some point enter the local time zone and local time into SETUP DATE/TIME.
- Also enter the SETUP LOCATION.
- Also enter the SETUP REFRACTION to "on".
- As a note of interest, when the DATE/TIME or LOCATION is changed the alignment is invalidated.
A software program called Argonaut is provided on the CD for AN. To load it a computer with a rs232 output is required or usb to rs232 converter. A special rs232 cable is also required. It can be used to upgrade firmware and catalog items. It can also be used to up load asteroids, satellites, anc comet data. Full instructions are available in the AN manual, see link below. As there have been no recent updates I have not found it necessary so far to load the program. I have the cable but will have to buy a usb to rs232 converter available at StellarCat or WildCat see lingks below.
Argo Navis Use
- Power up with telescope tube pointing 90 degrees up in altitude and in azimuth to the NCP
- MODE FIX ALT REF - ENTER - auto adjust on - ENTER - EXIT
- MODE ENCODER- ENTER - confirm encoders are working properly direction etc. when done -EXIT
- MODE ALIGN STAR - ENTER - select star 1 POLARIS - put in middle of eye piece - ENTER - EXIT
- MODE ALIGN STAR - ENTER - select star 2 ARCTURAS - put in middle of eye piece - ENTER - EXIT
- MODE CATALOG - ENTER - select object and use push to or the StellarCat to confirm a good alignment. If using the StellarCat and a plantarium program, then from the catalog mode select FROM PLANETARIUM. If alignment is lost to realign a MODE FIX ALT REF must be done again.
ServoCat Setup
- Setup is performed by ServoCat configuration software program. Below is a table of the setting for my 15" UC scope.
- The ServoCat control has several switches on it unlabeled because the original enclosure had to be removed to fit into the UC rocker box. Here is an explantion of what position each switch should be in and why:
1st switch on left - UP led's on, DOWN led's off - position doesn't matter, turn off if lights bother your viewing.
2nd switch from left - for future use, does not matter which position
4th switch from left - Emergency stop switch, leave up for normal or down for emergency stop.
ServoCat Use
- Connect all cables with the power off.
- Turn on power and confirm that the remote works properly.
- The goto will only work if the Argo Navis (AN) has been successful with a two star alignment. To goto an object, first use the AN in catalog mode to select the object. If it is above the horizon it is now ready for a goto. On the ServoCat (SC) hand controller (HC) press the goto button and presto it should slew to the object. The controls for the HC are all quite intuitive plus a card is provided with all the commands on it. Remember the AN does all the tracking and if it looses its alignment the SC will goto nothing.
ServoCat Use with EASY TRACK
- To use EASY TRACK you need the following; you must enter your latitude into the configuration file in my case 32.916, secondly you must be able to see and align on Polaris, thirdly place the StellarCat speed switch to down position 2, and fourthly level the ServoCat base as required with blocks if necessary.
- Power on the ServoCat and center the telescope eye piece on Polaris.
- Power off the ServoCat.
- Power on the ServoCat holding the HC CCW key. The SC should now be in EASY TRACK mode tracking. At this point you could begin to use the SC buttons manual to control the scope and it should track when arriving to your target. Note to continue tracking accurately the drive motors must stay engaged at all times or the EASY TRACK model will stop working.
- If you want goto, with out moving off Polaris continue on below.
- Power on the Argo Navis. Set the ALT REF angle value to your latitude 32.916, also do an AUTO ADJUST ON,
- Hit ENTER ON AN.
- Now do 2 a star alignment on the AN. The SC will be tracking which should give a better a alignment model. You are now ready to do goto's.
USEFULL LINKS:
Astro Systems web site - after market products for Obsession
Astro Crumb web site - filter slides
Markless Astronomics web site - after market products for Obsssion