AllSky Optics
I have been doing all sky photography and time lapses for awhile now and I am always on the lookout for things to improve or enhance that realm of photography. I started out with a ZWO ASI120MM (2.0 USB) on top of a tripod with a small PC in a plastic box next to it to record images. You can see those first steps here on another tab. (https://daveshorizon.blogspot.com/p/zwo-asi120mm-s-as-allsky.html)
Now the camera I use is determined by the Moon. During 1st-3rd Qtr I use a ZWO ASI290MM mono since color is often bleached out by the light of the Moon. During 3rd-1st Qtr I use a ZWO 178MC to add color. Both cameras have good resolution for all sky work and both cameras are fitted with a 1.55 Arecont lens. The camera is connected inside the house to the PC which runs a program called AllSKeye (great program and highly recommend it and it's free). The camera is on a telescoping pole because when it's windy I keep it low for rigidity and when calm I raise it to almost roof level. You may ask why not just permanently mount it. Well, that's a great question and the answer is twofold. One, I sometimes prefer to move things around and two my wife says NO! She has seen my DIY ability aqnd would rather not have the house destroyed😂. Happy wife, happy life as the saying goes.
The problem with my setup is it's a fair weather only kind of thing. Clouds come in, rain or snow is in the forecast and down it comes. I even attempted to build a setup in a plastic box for weather proofing, but had limited success and it looked ugly.
I had joined a Face Book page called Allsky Camera run by a fellow all sky enthusiast by the name of Jason MacDonald. Recently Jason and his friend and fellow all sky enthusiast Tim Duke(https://www.dewcontrol.com/) began a company named AllSky Optics. Jason runs the show and Tim helps with the design and 3D printing. They can provide you individual parts to build your own if you are a DIY or they can give you a full build based on your needs. They are currently using ZWO ASI cameras (not minis or the cooled ones) for their design, but are starting tobranch out into other cameras. As of this writing they are awaiting the Altair Astro GP-Cam delivery. You can also supply your own ZWO camera and just have them build the box with dew heater and camera cable and your choice of mounting styles. Either a tripod mount or wall mount.
Since I have a "few" ZWO cameras I decided to have Jason build me the box full build minus the camera. I was going to use a ZWO ASI290MM as my all sky camera. I contacted Jason and discussed what I wanted. After a couple of days he sent me a PayPal invoice which I immediately paid and the wait was on. It wasn't a long wait because Jason had it built in about 4 days and contacted me it was shipped by Royal Mail UK to USA Boyertown, Pa.It took it about a week and the package arrived in great shape and was ready to open.
The case is plastic rated IP66 for all weather protection. There are two cords of the bottom. One is for the dew heater and ends in a car cigarette lighter adapter and the other is a computer connection that ends in a 3.0 USB male connector.
I chose to run my dew heater using an AC adapter to a 12 volt female cigarette plug which I bought from Amazon. The link to that unit is below.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078RZQ9WY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I protect the AC adapter from the elements by having it in a plastic box which I have cut notches out to allow for the cords to enter and exit.
When outside I leave the dew heater on constantly to keep everything dry.
With the camera installed the inside looks like this with the USB 3.0 attached to the camera and the other cord is the dew heater.
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When you put the two halves together it seals along some weather stripping by turning the four locks in the corners a quarter turn with a flat bladed screw driver.
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ReplyDeleteI was looking for such blog from a long time, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletePole Cam