Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

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Marco Michelassi
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Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by Marco Michelassi »

Hi solar friends !
This is my first thread,so I take this opportunity to present me and my current solar setup.
I'm Italian (from Florence I'd like to point out),
and I began my solar observations one year ago,with a Lunt 35,soon replaced by a standard Lunt 60.
Now I'm an enthusiast owner of a Lunt 100PT DSII with 3400 Lunt blocking filter.
Here they are,on my Az-Eq6,customized with ADM dual saddles,which I regret are not directly imported in Italy :

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... v0D54t.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... TYRbi4.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... x4r2fZ.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... p8Pq8X.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... e13amt.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... puOBKJ.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... dIQPoh.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... rOLK1p.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... udOmKg.jpg

After much reading about thermal issues with the biggest scope I was pretty afraid I had to face similar troubles but,
and I'm very happy about that,on a decent seeing day I managed to obtain spectacular views just from the beginning of the observing session.Even both pressure tuners (the DS module being the second) perfectly did their job,
although the scopes is 1 year used one.
However,as you can read in the topic title,I guess I have an issue
with one component of the built in 3400 blocking filter,
(excuse my inadequate photographic ability and equipment-smartphone):

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... SIg2Kg.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... Sx7RvH.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... izz3AA.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... CCyIZ6.jpg

Now you see it as it is after I managed to clean some kind of encrustation,not actually "dirt" strictly talking.
I didn't noticed that at the moment of purchase,mine fault,I was excited and the last thing I minded was
to unscrew the focuser to check what was on the inside.
As I said,the views were pleasant,but,even if not concerned about safety issues as written in other threads and eventually pointed out By Andy lunt himself,I'm here to ask for advice about
which options I should follow to obtain a perfect instrument.
Please let me know if I'm correct :
That component of the BF is an UV/IR cut filter,or IR cut only.
Assuming this,are this options the only I have ?

1 - Contact Lunt solar systems,ask for a new one or for assistance on this.
2 - Choose first option,and in the meantime use a 2" UV/IR cut filter,for instance from Baader.
3 - Go directly for a 2" UV/IR cut filter.
4 - None of the above,I missed the point.

Thanks in advance for patience and replies,
clear skies to you all !
(and excuse my english,maybe awful!)


OTA : Lunt 100 DS BF 3400
Mount : Skywatcher Az-Eq6 custom
ZWO-ASI174MM
Visual setup includes Baader Mark V Binoviewer-Zeiss prism and several pairs of Orthos
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Re: Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by grimble_cornet »

Hi Marco and welcome to SolarChat.
Your English is fine.
I have just bought a Lunt 100 but mine is just the Single Stack PT version with an 1800 blocking filter.
Your customised EQ6 mount is very impressive. I am using the HEQ5 Pro at the moment but thinking of upgrading so that I'm able to mount several solar scopes together - the ADM saddles look very interesting.
There are several people here who have knowledge of filters etc. so I'm sure you will get good advice.


.

.



.


Mike Garbett

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Re: Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by marktownley »

hi there and welcome to the forum. My advice would be to contact Lunt directly, they will send you out the replacement filter.


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Re: Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by Marco Michelassi »

Hi and thanks to both !
Yes,I contacted Lunt a few minutes ago,in any case it's a zero cost option!

About the mount :
The ADM saddles are very well made,confirmed by my dad who's a mechanical engineer.
The saddle for the counterweight shaft,in particular,corrects a big (to me) fault of the original one.
The Skywatcher Az-Eq6 instruction manual itself points out that "there is no way for users
to adjust the convergence
in AZ" (or something like that) ,"they must find some other way by themselves".
Well ADM found this other way,their saddle is fully adjustable in AZ,the important side if we consider that
once done that,the adjustment in ALT can be accomplished simply untightening the screw
that blocks the shaft and subsequently move it up/down .
Is also a smart solution the position of the screw that tightens the saddle to the shaft,pointed ON
the shaft and not INTO the shaft,the last being honestly useless unless you're about to experience
Neptune-force winds !
Apart from this my mount works very well,the last 3.36 firmware is a big step forward.
Day tracking was a problem,not now that an australian forum suggested me the right way to obtain it!
However I always use it in Alt-Az mode : A good CCD is out of budget at the moment !
The bronze knobs you see are made by 3A-Shop,a small manufacturer here in Italy.
They produce many fine components/replacement parts,but we mostly know them for low mirror shift focusers for SC,
nice low cost solution to external crayfords (But I'm OT).


OTA : Lunt 100 DS BF 3400
Mount : Skywatcher Az-Eq6 custom
ZWO-ASI174MM
Visual setup includes Baader Mark V Binoviewer-Zeiss prism and several pairs of Orthos
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Re: Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by Montana »

A very warm and sunny welcome :hamster:

You must use the blocking filter with the hydrogen alpha filter, you must not replace it with a UV/IR cut filter. The etalon breaks the light into a series of peaks which looks a bit like a comb. The blocking filter is what blocks all the peaks in the light comb apart from the exact peak where hydrogen alpha is. It is essential for the functioning of the equipment.

It is best to contact Lunt and see what advice they have, it may be just a specific cleaner :)

Kind regards
Alexandra


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Re: Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by GUS »

Welcome to the site Marco.


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Re: Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Marco

welcome to that wonderful site. Have fun in the sun.

Contacting LUNT is the best way. I'm sure they will send you right away a new blue filter. Don't mess around with a scope you use visually. If you use it striktly for imaging, you could use an UV/IR cut as replacement


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

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Re: Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by Marco Michelassi »

Ok,no further question,
I'll be waiting for their response about that filter.
I strongly rely on them!


OTA : Lunt 100 DS BF 3400
Mount : Skywatcher Az-Eq6 custom
ZWO-ASI174MM
Visual setup includes Baader Mark V Binoviewer-Zeiss prism and several pairs of Orthos
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Marco Michelassi
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Re: Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by Marco Michelassi »

Thumbs up for Lunt ! :hamster:
The european assistance (Explore Scientific/Bresser),
has quickly provided a new blue filter.


OTA : Lunt 100 DS BF 3400
Mount : Skywatcher Az-Eq6 custom
ZWO-ASI174MM
Visual setup includes Baader Mark V Binoviewer-Zeiss prism and several pairs of Orthos
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Re: Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by marktownley »

Always good to hear things have turned out well!


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Re: Presentation and Lunt BF 3400 question

Post by swisswalter »

Bravo


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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