IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Use this section to discuss "standard" Baader/Coronado/ Lunt SolarView/ Daystar, etc… filters, cameras and scopes. No mods, just questions/ answers and reviews.
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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by KMH »

GUS wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 5:03 am Terry, I lose detail in both my lunt BF's below 10 degrees celcius, a dew heater brings them back on band. I see no detail on the disc or proms before heating it, but plenty once warmed up. It could be an O ring issue, it could also be a BF issue. I also borrowed another BF from the local astro store where I purchased the scope from and it had the same issue below about 10 deg C. Using a Coronado BF filter with the Lunt scopes I don't have that issue, they work down to at least -5 deg C ( the lowest temps I get in my area) without any issue. Might not be the problem, but putting it out there that this is a known issue below 10 deg C.
This may not be an issue in the present case. But I would note just for general forum interest that my experience is the same as Gus reported - dramatic loss of contrast/detail for my Lunt below roughly 8-10C. I do go through a maximum in contrast as I increase pressure, at about the usual setting, the contrast is just very low. Using a heater does correct the issue.
Kevin


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

All noted Kevin and thanks.

Peter's initial-issue for this particular post - was only due to very-different SharpCap exposure-settings, which were talked through via a telephone link-up.

There are other issues which he and I are discussing, but with an image sent to me, he is well on the way to being able to produce some excellent images in due course. (Peter is already experienced in Deep Sky imaging).

Hopefully when all snags are sorted, Peter will be able to post some images on SolarChat himself...

Thanks again for all the feedbacks here.

Terry


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by KMH »

Glad it's sorted! Especially now that there are some nice features to image.


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Indeed Kevin, that is correct and suddenly changing too (as of tonight into Sunday)...

Peter is a tad limited on time at present and hopes to try imaging again in a couple of weeks time, so hopefully we will get to see how he has faired...

Cheers
Terry


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by DeepSolar64 »

I have read that the Lunt blockers are more affected by colder temperatures than those by Coronado. It may not be your pressure tuners at all but the filters. I have used my Coronado BF-15 blocking filters down to 23F ( -5 C ) with no issues. The dew heater may be heating up the blockers enough for them to work. Lunt actually makes a blocking filter heater.

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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Thanks James.
I have read-up on the Lunt issue of possible use of their BF heater, but clearly this was not an issue of Peter's set-up, which is the same as mine and I recognised the issue from the outset, as he was using settings in SharpCap, which were not correct for Solar-imaging. In fact the exposure-speeds were far too high, giving him a white disk, rather than initially looking for a surface-detail/granulation/porridge view.

Even though as recommended previously to just use an EP which had the correct result expected, for changing to the ZWO ASI-178MM camera, those settings need to be adjusted.

This was achieved by an arranged telephone tutoring, where notes were taken of the near-correct settings, whilst my own Ha scope was viewing the Sun and this had the desired effect.

The two attached images, show the first results, albeit the Surface detail image does show "dust-bunnies" which he is now aware of...

I know that in a couple of weeks, Peter will restart some more imaging and we will be discussing any further issues - as needed...

As Peter has already achieved some excellent Deep Sky imaging, there is of course no real-similarity in the programs and exposure-times etc., etc., than for Solar-imaging...

Cheers
Terry
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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by MapleRidge »

Hi all...

I wanted to comment on the temperature and heater strips applied to the blocker.

I wonder if it is more a case that this is a case by case issue for those who loose contrast in the cold? I seem to be the craziest for working in the cold, but I have never had any issue with the Ha or CaK blockers in the cold. Tuning on the Ha needs to be tweaked as the air temps change so much from day to day, but I have not had to heat the blockers. Any of the post I have between Nov/Dec though April most years have me starting with a cold observatory bound scope.

Operating between -26C to +36C I think I'm the one who needs temperature mods :lol:

Just my experiences on the subject.

Brian


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Hello Brian,
Many thanks for your input, which I will pass-on to Peter, as clearly he was being misled into believing that a heater was required for his blocking-filter. :girl:

In fact I even quoted to Peter that possibly in your neck of the woods in Canada, a B.F.heater might be required, but clearly that was not the case either - from what you say. :bow

The location that Peter lives would not normally get any temperatures much below freezing-point for any significant time and usually that would be during the night. In any case, like me, he would not really want to observe/image in temps below about +10C, as both of us are not young pups !! :(
In my case, about the only thing I would normally do in such lower temperatures, is to operate my OCULUS All-Sky-Camera from within the extreme-comfort of my observatory - c/w heating, TV, radio-music, drinks and fodder !!! I even can sleep there too - whilst the Oculus and computer is doing its' thing, which happened earlier this week... :oops:
I actually captured a meteorite streak across our skies heading towards the N.W. as attached image shows... :movie

Right at the beginning of Peter's post, as his gear is more or less identical to mine, I recognized the problem and stuck with that - which proved correct, even though I was well aware of Lunt being able to provide a heater, but they themselves referred to temperatures from freezing and below for that... Brrrr!!! I'll let your good-self experience those temps Brian... :lol: :cat

Also as Peter was keeping the scope indoors and then when trying it out in his observatory, the Sun alone would/could or should be able to deal with a temperature as low as said previously. Obviously there would be little or no reason to have the scope - except to point it at the Sun for any Solar-imaging...!! :hamster:

Thanks again Brian for your excellent feedback..

Regards
Terry
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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by David Fox »

Terry,
Quick sidebar here?
Do you ever had issues with connection dropping between the O and the PC?
I'm constantly waking up to minimum frame captures as the usb connection has been interrupted during the night. I'm using Surface / USB2 repeater.
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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by MapleRidge »

Terry...

I was just showing my experience and the stability in the cold without the heaters.

I do believe others have found they helped, just a matter of many factors that can influence the system as a whole.

Brian


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Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
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Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Thank you for your question David.
I imagine the ""O" refers to the Oculus camera and if so, the answer is no and even after 8+ hours.

As you are using a "USB2 repeater" cable, I have two of these fail, so could possibly be the reason, or a poor connection (especially if any connectors are outside in the open). If that is the case, then the connections must be sealed, as damp/rain and even wind could be interrupting the signal-path.

USB-A - plugs and sockets are not the best for keeping good-contacts in any case, just cheap and cheerful over many years - unless manufactured to the highest standards and where most come from places like China - where QC often fails to exist.

I have a ordinary USB-2 cable from my computer (not a PC) in the observatory to an outside weather-proof box. From that box, a second USB-2 lead from the Oculus camera to that box enters through the bottom & through a sealing membrane to make a connections inside. The same applies to the Dew-Heater thin 12Volt power cable. Total cable-length is approximately 4-metres from computer to camera with no problems at all.

If you have or can get a long-enough USB-2/3 cable(s) up to say 15-feet and try that out instead of the powered/repeater, to see if that clears the fault, probably the easiest and cheapest way to go forwards.

Best Wishes
Terry


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Thank you Brian for your further comment and yes I have to agree with you that some might have a problem in better than freezing-point conditions.

As you say there are those other factors which could be the reason, such as poorer-quality Etalon, albeit for Lunt items (as in this scenario), this may or may not be the case...

Your experiences with Ha etc,, certainly show what can be achieved in your extreme-cold environment and I seriously believe that you should get a medal for doing what you do so well...
I used to brave our warmer (but still very-cold) weather for visual and imaging night-sky stuff, but when one gets older, it can be more of a punishment - rather than a hobby...

Regards
Terry


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Also David F., which download program are you using for the Oculus ??

Terry


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Good Terry, it's not the blockers or tuning after all. The first bright image looks like one I would do exposing for prominences. The second obviously the " surface " chromosphere. :)


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Yes James, that is absolutely correct and as I thought at the beginning of Peter's post. Just a SharpCap setting problem...

Thanks vm
Terry


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by David Fox »

EGRAY_OBSERVATORY wrote: Mon Apr 26, 2021 1:14 am Also David F., which download program are you using for the Oculus ??

Terry
Terry,
Using the impressive looking AllSkEye software direct to the Oculus.
Had the Ocupi wifi addition working great for years, until recently, just not longer connects to network.
I'm ok re elements, housed with electrics but my repeater is quite long, well over 25'.
0F67D523-B092-4EE2-992C-F626D0C54FA6.jpeg
0F67D523-B092-4EE2-992C-F626D0C54FA6.jpeg (105.93 KiB) Viewed 1843 times
I changed over to SurfaceBook around the same time - had to change my not too old usbDVD as just would not entertain it - so maybe was thinking this is more of it.
I've come across another smaller one here so I'll try that and if not will do as you suggest.


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Re: IS MY PRESSER TUNER OK

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Ok David thanks for the update and image.

As they are not expensive, would suggest to try a non-powered 3M extension USB-3 and/or the 5M version if you can get one in either USB-2 or 3, to see if that solves the problem. At least the cable could well come in use later if not solving the issue...

I also have AllSkEye and SharpCap can also and very-easily do the downloads too. Both much easier than the SX program...

Keep me updated please on the issue...

Cheers
Terry


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