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Posts Made By: MICHAEL BENZ

November 25, 2002 04:40 PM Forum: Lost Contacts and Personal Messages

Any dealings with Frank Grant?

Posted By MICHAEL BENZ
Has anyone had dealings with Frank Grant. I bought a diagonal from him on 10/31 that wasn't as advertised. We agreed that I could return it but now he is not replying to any emails. Its have been 2 weeks since last contact and over a week since he received the item back. Any help would be appreciated.
Mike Benz

May 7, 2003 01:04 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Need red mylar for computer screen

Posted By MICHAEL BENZ
Hi all,
Anyone know a good source of red transparency material for laptop screen?
Thanks,
Mike

June 27, 2003 05:40 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Using in portable pier inside observatory

Posted By MICHAEL BENZ
Anyone with any experience using a portable pier inside a observatory. My though is to pour 3 "footing" to match the layout of my AP pier. The footing would come up through my floor about an inch or so. Would frost heaving be a problem?
Thanks for your help.
Mike

June 30, 2003 12:49 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Le Seuer style or solid pier?

Posted By MICHAEL BENZ
Anyone try a Le Seuer pier. Concerned about flexure in the bolts at the bottom of their pier. Will be mounting a 1200 AP mount and 12.5" RC scope. My other option is to use a solid steel 8' long, 10" diameter pier, buried 48" deep in concrete. This my first observatory so any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike

July 25, 2003 01:37 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Struggling with height of roll off

Posted By MICHAEL BENZ
Hi All,
I'm struggling with the height of my walls of my roll off. I have the pier and foundation finished. The total height of my scope in the park position is going to be around 77". Right now that is the heigth that I have planned for my walls +1". This will allow imaging to no lower than about 30 degrees. Any sugguestions, is it practical to image any lower in the sky? What about a "hip" style roof that doesn't have rafters? Any one with a good design?
Thanks for your help.
Mike

July 25, 2003 11:50 PM Forum: Home Observatories

power / data cable distance

Posted By MICHAEL BENZ
Hi all,
Need some additional advice. I'm laying power and data lines to my observatory. I have heard that laying them in the same condoit will cause interferance. How far apart should I lay both the power and data condoit?
Mike

July 28, 2003 12:18 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Dampening vibration on my pier

Posted By MICHAEL BENZ
All,
The pier that I had fabricated from 1/2" thing steel tubing is rock solid (so far) however while working to drill holes in it for my mount I've noticed that it "rings" like a bell. I've hear people use sand to dampen out these artifacts. Is there a particular type of sand or other material I should use that would be better?
Thanks,
Mike

September 12, 2003 12:22 PM Forum: Home Observatories

New observatory nearing completion

Posted By MICHAEL BENZ
All,
Been following this message board for some time now. All the hints and pointers have been very valuable through the building of my own roll off. A pic is below. Here are some details:
-8 x 8 size for 12.5" RCOS ritchie
-Rolloff system using commercial garage door tracks and wheels
-10" diameter LeSeuer style pier ($225 at local fabricator)
set with 23 80lb bags of cement
-plan to finish off with vinyl siding and asphalt shingles
-Data and power lines will finish it up.
Thanks again for all your help

October 23, 2003 03:53 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Ideas on opening roll-off roof

Posted By MICHAEL BENZ
Looking for any ideas on a simple way to roll the roof off me new observatory. It rolls off fairly easily by hand but to do this I have open from the outside with a rope attached to the outside. Ideally I like some simple "crank" system using a cable. I'm kind of stuck right now. Thanks for your help.
Mike Benz
Waunakee, WI

October 24, 2003 11:05 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Power / data cross talk problems

Posted By MICHAEL BENZ
All, I'll be laying my data and power lines this weekend to my new observatory. I'm using 12-Gauge electric and Cat5e data lines. I'm laying then in separate conduits but in the same trench. Will I have any cross talk issues? or do I have to lay them in separate trenches.
Thanks for your help.
Mike Benz
Waunakee, WI

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