Celestron Auto Focuser

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Greg6498
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Celestron Auto Focuser

#1

Post by Greg6498 »


Hello all

I have a Celestron 180mm Maksutov and am considering installing the Celestron Motorized Focuser. Do any of you use one and if so, how do you like it? I have found that when using high magnification the image wobbles making manual focus very difficult!

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Re: Celestron Auto Focuser

#2

Post by Chich »


Do not have one but have you tried using a peanut butter lid or clothes pin? Certainly cheaper and does not add any appreciable weight to the back of the scope.

Peanut butter lid (Several sources but here is one): https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/7716 ... b-for-sct/

Clothespin - you just clip a clothespin on the focusing knob and use the far end.

Something to try before spending a pile of money.
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pakarinen United States of America
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Re: Celestron Auto Focuser

#3

Post by pakarinen »


I think somebody over on CN used a chopstick - drilled a small hole in the side of the focuser wheel et voila.
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Re: Celestron Auto Focuser

#4

Post by jrkirkham »


Thanks for the conversation. I've been curious about the best way to fine focus my C8. I wondered if that tuner was worth the expense, if others used it, and what they thought of it. I'll have to try a peanut butter lid, clothespin or something similar.
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Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
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Re: Celestron Auto Focuser

#5

Post by Graeme1858 »


I've got one on my Celestron 9.25 SCT and it's brilliant!

I'm not too sure it would be easy to use for visual work since you have to control it with the CPWI software or the Celestron utility. But for astrophotography work it's spot on. Very easy to control to a very fine level of accuracy.

HTH

Regards

Graeme
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Re: Celestron Auto Focuser

#6

Post by pakarinen »


jrkirkham wrote: Wed Oct 16, 2019 1:23 pm Thanks for the conversation. I've been curious about the best way to fine focus my C8. I wondered if that tuner was worth the expense, if others used it, and what they thought of it. I'll have to try a peanut butter lid, clothespin or something similar.

My old C8 is laid up in storage, but I think a 1-inch thick or so slice of foam pool noodle might work.
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I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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Re: Celestron Auto Focuser

#7

Post by drgui »


I recently installed it on my C-8. I love it! I have recently done away with Mikysoft in my Observatory and made the switch to Stellarmate. I made sure that Indi supported the focuser (it does), and now I can use the auto focus feature in Kstars/EKKO's. Now I just need to get that little focuser that ZWO sells (INDI supported...YAY!!) and my 80mm ED refractor will have the same capability!
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