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DSLR outside. Mount bolted to house


Guest peepshow

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Guest peepshow

I wish to install a DSLR permanently on my, soon to be,  new wall mounted EQ3  PRO mount, all remotely controlled.


 


The camera will be permanently switched on but using a mains power supply


I can turn it ON/OFF from indoors.


 


If everything were covered over and 30w up to 60w heaters installed inside the cover,


do you think that the camera could come to any harm in these conditions, all the year


round, with the heaters on in cold damp weather ?


 


What if I also left the imaging lens on it too, with a lens cap.


 


Edited by peepshow
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I would have thought that it is worth a try, since I know you want convenience and to stay warm whilst imaging.

Not sure what your camera warranty would say about it though.

I would suggest you keep the heating to a minimum and shut the heat off a couple of hours before imaging. Maybe some rechargeable dessicant would help remove any dampness as well - braces as well as a belt :)

Dessicant is very cheap on ebay.

I'm sure imagers will have more input on this.

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If you are leaving the camera out, then the lens should be no problem either.

I can visualise an eq3 on a tripod or a pier, but on a wall!?

That will be different, can't wait for the photos.

Edited by Tweedledee
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Guest peepshow

Thanks for all suggestions, Pete. 


 


I am expecting delivery of brackets etc next week so photos should be around a little


later of the wall supported pier.


 


I still cannot get PHD with ASCOM to work so will use ST4 as a work around.


 


Really looking forward to working it all from indoors now although I have some


big learning curves to climb as I am new to EQ guiding etc.

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Guest Tweedledum

The only thing I would be worried about would be dew, and it penetrating the camera body & the data card. Have taken DSLRs through monsoons (literally) and have used a Lowe rain cape to good effect. You have us all intrigued now Richard..

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Guest peepshow

With 30 to 60 watts of hearting in a confined spacejust around the mount and camera


 there would not be any dew.


I have 30w under my barn door tracker outside permanently and that always seems dew free.


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Guest peepshow

Here's the  pier with the EQ3 base mounted on it, and heaters.  The large gear is an old one being used as an adaptor plate for the EQ fixing and holding  an inverted bucket to retain heat and keep all dry.  Sqaure cutout in botton to slip down pier.  A top removable cover will then  drop over all.


 


Pier is about 3ft long. 2inch sq ali.


 


Bucket by courtesy of Wickes........"It's got my name on it.! "  :lol:  :facepalm2:


 


PierandEQ3base_zps594f8357.jpg


 


Bottonbucketcover_zps017b796a.jpg


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Guest peepshow

Here's the wall mounted pier. (The wire netting has nothing to do with the mount, nor have the cross pipes)

That's the small bedroom window at the west end corner of the house, behind which,
I will entirely control the mount and camera. That soil pipe is right on the western corner of the house.

Now working on a cocoon type enclosure, the top to be easily removed by just leaning out of the window.  :)  The small black area on the wall is a hole where all the control cables will go through into the house.



piermountedonwall_zps0bd488e1.jpg

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Guest peepshow

Now decided that the cocoon enclosure will be made from two silver coloured flexi tubs,
one inverted onto the other forming a cocoon with a small rain proof overlap.
Top one to be removed from house window for imaging.

 

Max/min thermometer now awaiting to be installed together with a de humidifying egg. 

(Thanks Pete for descriptions)

 

A security camera will be fitted near to mount with tiny monitor

in the control room !.....standing on the wife's dressing table.  :)  

 

...........Because I wish to see when slewing that nothing untoward is happening to cables etc ,

without having to be continually poking my head out of the window.   :D     Brrrrr.

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Guest peepshow

Here's the cocoon indoors nearly ready have its' innards' fitted. :)


 


Also a carefully :D  drawn circuit of the wiring between it when outside and the house.


 


Photos of 'innards' to follow soon.....


 


 


Topofcocoon_zpsfac15f43.jpg


 


poshcircuit_zpsbcdd2683.jpg


Edited by peepshow
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Guest peepshow

Here is the mount, imaging camera and lens,  guiding camera and its lens in the stowed position in the bottom section of the cocoon. 


 


It was a tight squeeze to fit it all in.......just couldn't get the kitchen sink in, I'm afraid. :D


 


Also picky showing it raised up in the imaging position.


 


If I motorise the top section of the cocoon to swivel up and away for imaging I shall not even have to open the window at all. 


 


Be able to do everything from inside the house, including focusing.   :)  


 


 


 


Stowedposition_zps1fd9b47e.jpg


 


Imagingposition_zpsa603451b.jpg


 


 


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Richard I am a little concerned with the positioning of your resisters for the dew band.


Being in front of the lens instead of around it will they not cause thermal currents inside the dew shield ???.


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Guest peepshow

Graham you may be right but I have had them working before like this and the stars look


to be OK but I will bear this in mind again once I get it working. 


Slight focus errors may tend to hide any thermal current errors too.


 


I should really paint them matt black as well.

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Guest peepshow

A little more progress, cocoon now mounted on top of pier.
The tongues in the top section are for guiding the top onto the bottom after stowing camera away.
The cocoon Is positioned right on the SW corner of the house where the soil pipe is.
 

Directly behind the window will be the control consol. :)  
Don't anybody dare say that the house wall needs redecorating. :D 

mountedcocoon_zpsbd9d16b4.jpg

Edited by peepshow
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That is looking good Richard.


 


Hope you've thought about making sure the lid stays secure during a storm.


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Guest peepshow

 

 

Hope you've thought about making sure the lid stays secure during a storm.

There will be a swivel forked arm, hinged from the wall, going  over the top to hold it down when windy.

All last  night I had 60w of heating and no sign of any condensation so I will reduce that.

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There will be a swivel forked arm, hinged from the wall, going  over the top to hold it down when windy.

All last  night I had 60w of heating and no sign of any condensation so I will reduce that.

That's good. Thought you'd be on top of it, or something would :) to protect your gear.

60 watts! Did anything melt? Did you fry your eggs on it this morning? :)

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