Ideas for Motorizing a Dobsonian Telescope.

A video for anyone looking for some ideas on motorizing a dobsonian mounted telescope. I hope you find it useful.

For the benefit of those new to the hobby who are considering astrophotography with a dobsonian mount; you would be better served using any number of the German equatorial mounts or other types designed for astrophotography. A dobsonian mount, even when modify, still presents many additional obstacles and challenges when used as an imaging platform.

Clear Skies

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Equatorial Platform
• Equatorial Platform Tracking
• Polar Alignment
• Telescope

[IndyTom]

Great video and great mods on the Z10. One question, what did you use for the rack gear around the bottom of the base?

[jess38martin]

@IndyTom, Thanks. Check out Servocity (dot com) I got just about everything there, including the gear rack.

[json2040]

wowww!!!! that's amazing! excellent creativity and craftsmanship! did you design all the control systems by yourself??? must've cost you a lot I guess.

[jess38martin]

@json2040

Thanks. Yes, I did the design work myself. It was kind of an organic process. Come up with the idea work out the obvious bugs in my head then build it. Test, refine and refine some more. Cost was about 400 US I’m guessing, probably more. Most of that was in the digital speed controllers. It’s a great way to learn about these things. And it’s very satisfying to image using equipment you made yourself.

Astronomy is looking up!

[ihccab]

Great job on both the motor mount and the video production. I'm considering buying a Z10", or Z8, and I was wondering about powered tracking. Thanks for the ideas.

[jess38martin]

@ihccab

I started using two 12V battery jumpstart boosters but found that I needed more to last a night long imaging session with lap top, cameras, and mount requirements. I since got a Yamaha Inverter EF1000iS. It will run all night on a ½ gallon of gas and it’s quite too. I never run out of power now.

The Z10 or Z8 are good choices offering some nice features for the money. But if you've got a little to spare go for the 10 or 12 as later on aperture fever is sure to kick in. ;-)

[gmanw3]

Well done Sir

[blobrana]

good upload

[BalassaV]

Great Video!

[notubeplease]

excellent job! ;) design, practical sense, operation... i like the way you got thie 10"-er EQ-ready :D i was curious how would planetary imaging work with it, now that you can follow them rightly for longer periods of time. clear skies!!

[jess38martin]

@noswonky

Yeah, I saw the Orion version of that and thought is was a good buy for what you get.

Clear skies

[noswonky]

Very nice setup. I went for the lazy option and bought a 12 inch Skywatcher dob with tracking and goto built in.