Observatory Safety--Ash Dome

I have an Ash dome and last night the cord that goes to the dome shutter got snagged
on the pier. I have the cord held by a wire to a point 1/2 way up the shutter. The
cord did not disconnect. I'ts actually two cords with a connector between the two. Is
there a better way to do this so that the cord stays out of my way when turning the
dome, and so that it does disconnect?

While trying to release the cord from its tension, I managed, for the first time, to
whack my head on the weight axis which protrudes from the equatorial mount. It may be
time to pad that weight arm. Any suggestions? I do have some bubble wrap on the end,
but I hit it from the side.
--
Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W
(Formerly Homo habilis, erectus, heidelbergensis and now sapiens)

Blue Whale population before human hunting: 239,000. Today: 1,700.

Web Page: home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews

Real BIG observatory domes use slip-rings to send power to the dome.
No disconnections occur because there are no turn limits. Whacking
things in the dome is very common. Put better padding on that weight,
and anything else that causes bruises.

Saul Levy


On Fri, 17 Sep 2004 19:10:41 GMT, "W. Watson"
wrote:

I have an Ash dome and last night the cord that goes to the dome shutter got snagged
on the pier. I have the cord held by a wire to a point 1/2 way up the shutter. The
cord did not disconnect. I'ts actually two cords with a connector between the two. Is
there a better way to do this so that the cord stays out of my way when turning the
dome, and so that it does disconnect?

While trying to release the cord from its tension, I managed, for the first time, to
whack my head on the weight axis which protrudes from the equatorial mount. It may be
time to pad that weight arm. Any suggestions? I do have some bubble wrap on the end,
but I hit it from the side.

"W. Watson" wrote in message
k.net...
I have an Ash dome and last night the cord that goes to the dome shutter
got snagged
on the pier. I have the cord held by a wire to a point 1/2 way up the
shutter. The
cord did not disconnect. I'ts actually two cords with a connector between
the two. Is
there a better way to do this so that the cord stays out of my way when
turning the
dome, and so that it does disconnect?

While trying to release the cord from its tension, I managed, for the
first time, to
whack my head on the weight axis which protrudes from the equatorial
mount. It may be
time to pad that weight arm. Any suggestions? I do have some bubble wrap
on the end,
but I hit it from the side.
--
Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W
(Formerly Homo habilis, erectus, heidelbergensis and now
sapiens)

Blue Whale population before human hunting: 239,000. Today:
1,700.

Web Page: home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews


For safe operations, you should really unplug the dome shutter cable once it
is open, and coil it up securely on a clip or post that you fix to the dome.
Leaving it connected during the night is asking for exactly the kind of
trouble you had.

You may have to make the necessary modifications yourself.

--
Mike Dworetsky

(Remove "pants" spamblock to send e-mail)

Mike Dworetsky wrote:

"W. Watson" wrote in message
k.net...

I have an Ash dome and last night the cord that goes to the dome shutter

got snagged

on the pier. I have the cord held by a wire to a point 1/2 way up the

shutter. The

cord did not disconnect. I'ts actually two cords with a connector between

the two. Is

there a better way to do this so that the cord stays out of my way when

turning the

dome, and so that it does disconnect?

While trying to release the cord from its tension, I managed, for the

first time, to

whack my head on the weight axis which protrudes from the equatorial

mount. It may be

time to pad that weight arm. Any suggestions? I do have some bubble wrap

on the end,

but I hit it from the side.
--
Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W
(Formerly Homo habilis, erectus, heidelbergensis and now

sapiens)

Blue Whale population before human hunting: 239,000. Today:

1,700.

Web Page: home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews


For safe operations, you should really unplug the dome shutter cable once it
is open, and coil it up securely on a clip or post that you fix to the dome.
Leaving it connected during the night is asking for exactly the kind of
trouble you had.

You may have to make the necessary modifications yourself.

Too simple!! Too obvious!! BUT a very good suggestion. :-) Thanks.

--
Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W
(Formerly Homo habilis, erectus, heidelbergensis and now sapiens)

Blue Whale population before human hunting: 239,000. Today: 1,700.

Web Page: home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews

In article ,
"Mike Dworetsky" writes:
For safe operations, you should really unplug the dome shutter cable once it
is open,

Somewhat less obvious... if there's any possibility that the dome can
rotate, you should also unplug the shutter cable after the dome is
closed. I won't give details here, but you might recall the
definition of "expert."

--
Steve Willner Phone 617-495-7123
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
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