Equipment

Here is a list of all of the equipment I use in various combinations for acquisition of my images. Currently I am running my setup in “The King” configuration with the 70mm APO mounted on top of the 200mm Newton. If you are interested in the history of this setup check out my timeline.

First, for a few images.

“The king” from the computerized side. A view on the technical side of the mount containing the computer and all major components.
Full wiring and connection diagram. Solid lines are physical connections. The CCD and DSLR can be physically interchanged.
The backside of “The King” – a closer look on the Apo, CCD and guiding solution.
The Kings brain – Orbsmart AW-08 with an attached raspberry pi display for debugging purposes. Also visible is my DIY EQDIRECT cable going towards the mount on the other side. The PC shares a power supply line with the mount itself.
A closer, if a bit darker, look on the CCD with filter wheel. It looks slightly messy but the whole setup is powered by one single power line coming from the battery and being split up into 3 parts: the CCD, Filterwheel and a cable for the dimmable flat panel I have. Everything. including the D5100, is connected to the USB hub mounted on the backside of the CCD.
A view of the attached DSLR. Two cables lead out of it, one for the bulb shutter (which sadly doesn’t work with the D5100 with USB) and one for data, going back to the CCD. In the background visible is my DIY Li-Ion battery. What is not pictured is the DIY dummy battery power connector
The connecting side of the EQ6-R. Visible is my DIY EQDIRECT cable going to the mini-PC on the other side and the shutter cable of the D5100 which can be triggered with the SNAP port of the 6-R and be still fully controlled with USB.

 

The current full and extensive list of equipment as of 2018-12-20 (will be continuously updated)

Imaging Cameras

“The King”‘s left side
  • Atik 383L+
    • Kodak KAF8300, cooled, monochrome
    • 3354×2529px resolution @ μ4/3 sensor size
    • 0.48e/ADU gain
    • 28k e full well capacity
    • 10e read noise
    • 55% QE
  • ZWO ASI183MM Pro
    • Sony IMX183, cooled, monochrome
    • 5496×3672px resolution @ 1″ sensor size
    • 1e/ADU @ 120 gain
    • 4096 e full well capacity @ 120 gain
    • 2.3e read noise @ 120 gain
    • 84% QE
  • Nikon D5100
    • Sony IMX071, RGGB bayered, astro-modified
    • 4928×3264px resolution @ APS-C sensor size
    • 1.4e/ADU gain @ ISO200
    • 22.8k e full well capacity @ ISO200
    • 2.8e read noise @ ISO200
    • 54% QE
    • Custom True Dark current firmware
    • DIY regulated power supply instead of batteries
    • DIY shutter cable that attaches to mount

Filters/Filterwheel

Mount

“The King”‘s Computing Side
  • SkyWatcher EQ6-R
    • 20kg maximum payload
    • <1″ guiding accuracy with 16kg payload (tested)
    • DIY EQDIRECT cable for PC control
    • EQMOD driver
    • 10kg of counterweights (+8kg dumbbell counterweights)
  • SkyWatcher Star Adventurer
    • 5kg maximum payload
    • <3″ guiding accuracy with 4kg payload (tested)
    • Mounted on a Manfrotto tripod

Guiding

Telescopes and Correctors

“The King” from the front
  • TS Optics Photoline APO
    • Refractor telescope, 3-element FPL53
    • 70mm aperture
    • 420mm focal length
    • 2″ Rack and Pinion focuser with 1:10 translation
    • TS Optics Field Flattener FLAT2
      • 128mm backfocus for 420mm focal length
    • DIY ASCOM MyFocuserPro2
  • TS Optics Photoline APO
    • Refractor telescope, 3-elemtn FPL53
    • 130mm aperture
    • 910mm focal length
    • 2.5″ Rack and Pinion focuser with 1:10 translation
    • 2.5″ TS Optics Reducer 0.79
      • 55mm backfocus for 910mm focal length
  • SkyWatcher PDS
    • Newtonian reflector telescope
    • 200mm aperture
    • 1000mm focal length
    • 2″ Crayford focuser with 1:10 translation
    • TS Optics GPU Superflat
      • 55mm backfocus for 1000mm focal length
      • 4-element corrector
  • Samyang 135mm f/2
    • Fixed Prime Lens
    • ~70mm aperture
    • 135mm focal length
    • Nikon-F mount

Power Supply

  • DIY Battery Box
    • Outputs: 1× Cigarette Plug, 1× DC Plug, 2× USB
    • Power Supplies (interchangeable, accepts anything DC with XT60 connector)
      • DIY 18650 Li-Ion 16p4s 40Ah battery
      • Rotek 35Ah AGM Deep Cycle battery
      • 12V 9A DC Adapter
    • Information and Safety
      • LTC3780 power regulator for constant 12.6V power output
      • BMS for Li-Ion battery
      • Heavy duty power switch
      • LED display for voltage
      • LCD display for power usage
    • Box base is a large lunch box

Accessoires

  • Orbsmart AW-08
    • Mount-PC for full mount and camera control
    • Intel Celeron N3450 Quad-Core
    • 4GB RAM
    • 32GB eMMC
    • 3× USB3.0, 1×SD
    • Windows 10
    • Runs off main Power Supply
    • 5″ Mini-Display attached for Debug purposes
    • Rii i8 Wireless Keyboard for Debug purposes
  • GL.iNet Mini Router
    • WiFi network for mobile usage (to connect to mount-PC)
    • Runs off USB power
  • Acer TravelMate B117
    • Remote control for Orbsmart AW-08
    • Intel Celeron N3250 Quad-Core
    • 4GB RAM
    • 128GB SSD
    • 2× USB3.0, 1×SD
    • Windows 10
  • 70mm Bahtinov Mask
  • DIY 200mm Bahtinov Mask
  • Lacerta 8″ Flat-Field box
    • dimmable
    • LED

Software