Re: [ATM] water drive

[Ulhas Deshpande <ulhas_ngp@sancharnet.in>]

Dominic 
I am sure you would have considered a winding spring drive like an old gramophone.
It can be good for a short duration
Ulhas

Dominic-Luc Webb wrote
>>Seriously, I wish to point out I have built and used motorized drives,
and generally like them. But where I actually use the scope is in an
rented space in agricultural area where electricity is not available
throughout the Winter. Because I am at about latitude 60, Winter is
the main time to use a scope for usual observations. During this time,
it is cold, often bitter cold. Temperature can have large fluctuations.

Batteries do not last long.
Motors stall.
Mechanical parts seize.

When you are out in the cold, seeing these failures, you start asking
questions like:

Can I eliminate the battery? (solar energy is not an option here)
Would a hydraulic/pneumatic based system, etc work better?
What is the minimal mechanical construct that will work?

For a small portable drive, I plan to continue using electric
drives. For the observatory site without electricity, it is
not clear. I could consider some of these alternatives. I would
like to have what batteries I have allocated to CCDs, heaters to
remove dew, and a computer.





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