Leave Well Enough Alone

Discussion in 'Gadgets & Tech Talk' started by Bobby Cole, Nov 1, 2017.

  1. Hal Pollner

    Hal Pollner Veteran Member
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    Yo Bobby, m'Lad...

    If it's a Schmidt-Cassegrain, then it can't be a Refractor!

    My 20 incher WAS a sweet unit until I got tired of loading and transporting it to & from Star Parties!
    But the views you would get of Galaxies, Clusters, and Nebulae were fantastic!

    I lost over $3000 when I sold it.

    Say...how 'bout a picture of you with your Telescope?
    Hal
     
    #31
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2019
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  2. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    okay then, it’s a reflector. Makes sense.
    I’m shifting things around in the backyard and cutting some limbs so I’ll have a better view. In another week or so I’ll be taking it out back for the first time. I bought 3 new lens during the winter and only used the scope during the day just to start figuring things out.
    In short though, it’s an inexpensive gadget and not even close to the machine you had.

    It’s kind of like comparing my first desk eating computer to my small but much more powerful Ipad.
     
    #32
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  3. Hal Pollner

    Hal Pollner Veteran Member
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    I'd like to know more about your scope anyway, Bobby.

    You must be serious since you bought 3 more eyepieces!

    Here's a list of all the Astronomical telescopes I've owned since 1963:

    Hal
    003 (13).JPG
     
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  4. Hal Pollner

    Hal Pollner Veteran Member
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    I'm serious, @Bobby Cole...post a picture of YOU and your TELESCOPE please.

    To see those dim deep-space objects, you need LOTS of aperture!

    Astronomical telescopes are not just for making small objects bigger...they're for making DIM objects Brighter!

    Shown:
    16" Meade truss-tube dobsonian reflector
    16" Night Sky truss-tube dobsonian reflector
    17-1/2" Discovery solid-tube dobsonian reflector
    Hal
    264.JPG 244.JPG 241.JPG
     
    #34
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2019
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  5. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    I happen to prefer Tesla Coils. Their display packs PUNCH!

    Frank
     
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  6. Hal Pollner

    Hal Pollner Veteran Member
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    Frank, I used to build Tesla Coils, until I realized how dangerous the PRIMARY circuit was!

    The Secondary circuit, the one that produces the spectacular displays of long sparks, is harmless, producing extremely high voltages at extremely LOW currents...only in microamps. These discharges pack no electrical punch at all because of their feeble currents. only a visual punch!

    These high voltage, high frequency discharges are harmless to the human body. allowing a person to take the million-volt discharge into his fingertips with no "shocks", only a stinging sensation.

    However, the low-voltage 60hz Primary circuit which energizes the Tesla Coil and pumps up the voltage in the Secondary coil, is lethal to the touch, and will electrocute a person, depending on the primary's power.

    My last Tesla Coil employed a 15,000-volt Neon Sign transformer as the primary source, which would knock a person out (or worse) because the 60hz power line frequency would send several milliamps right through the body, causing violent muscular contraction (known as an "electric shock"), which could even be fatal with more powerful primary sources, such as the "Pole Pig", which some Tesla nuts use.

    The "Pole Pig" is the power transformer seen on neighborhood power poles.

    This is why I prefer Van de Graaff Electrostatic Generators, which use no dangerous primary circuits to develop the high voltage, but use triboelectric Direct Current discharges instead of the high-frequency AC from the Tesla Coils.

    Shown is the 1.12 million-volt VDG machine which I built years ago.
    The 30" discharge sphere is now a garden ornament!

    Hal
    158.jpg
     
    #36
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2019
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