Awesome video Amy! I see that you solved the same design issues that I had, with great aplomb! Love the fact that you pivoted from the Hot Wheel track to the needlepoint hoop! And many thanks for the spot-on pronunciation of my surname - that does not happen often! I have now produced good flats for my ASI2600MC Pro with this panel as well, in addition to my Canon DSLR! :-)
I am so happy you approved. Whew I feared the pronunciation. I just did not have the heart to cut the hot wheels track. Sentimental I guess. Thank you for allowing me to share this great DIY project with the world.
Bill, What are you using for a power source? Can you post a link? I have one from Technolight and I fear it is problematic as my flat histogram fluctuates and can go up >10K ADU (but sometimes it goes down), which I feel it is temperature related. Technolight says the problem is my EL panel (Ellumiglow). Have you had this problem?
@@carolsantulis1990 Hi Carol, sorry, not sure I can be much help here. I haven’t needed to shoot flats in a while, but when I did, I got good results with the 9V battery pack / inverter from Ellumiglow.
Thanks Amy! I saw the EL website just before I saw your video - perfect timing! I'm sure I could figure out something on my own, but why? This covers all the bases. Good video!
I'm considering building one of these but the 6" light panel with 12V Inverter Only (no battery/A/C adapter) is $100 before shipping. Suddenly the Flatmaster doesn't look too overpriced considering that it's ready to go!
I love these kinds of videos for us DIYer's. Mine is on order. I didn't like the Amazon flat panel. Too bright. Maybe I'll use it whenever I build a astronomy shed. Thanks!
Lovin' it! After you last video discussing the commercial panel, I thought I'd love to upgrade to that, wondered if I could build my own. Yesterday I was investigating EL panel suppliers, thought it feasible, and moved on to construction ideas. And what pops up today? Spot on!! Best wishes, Bob PS - love you visitors - you have sociable neighbors....
Bob, did you make one? How is it working? I just got my panel and I am surprised at how uneven the light is. It is very mottled on low or high light. I'm hoping the acrylic panel will make it even enough for a quality light panel.
@@carolsantulis1990 I did! Purchased a kit from Ellumiglow, 6" Astrophotography combo, which included a battery, charger, inverter (brightness, pulse...), the panel, and translucent stick-on overlays to diffuse the light. I didn't really evaluate the panel without the diffuser, but with it, the field was uniform and flat, and I've had no probs with my Flats. Nice, compact, and easy - a big improvement over using an large artist's sketch-panel. I built a housing for it out of black foam-core board, but ended up just plopping the panel over my dew-shield - quick-and-easy.
@@bobhehmann6666 I have made one from the Ellumiglow kit with the battery controller. I have been having problems getting consistent illumination. I changed to a lithium battery but that did not help. I also have a hard time controlling the light intensity with the tiny wheel. Do you know of a better power source. I don't want to take out my DC Power Tank, but I would consider something that can plug into AC.
Hi Amy, This is great and I just got the materials and made mine. Just a couple of questions for you. How did you get the clip off of the switch? I tried pulling it off and I'm afraid that it will break if I yank any harder. Also, when you put the unit over the telescope to shoot flats, are you concerned that the edges of the telescope will scuff up the plexiglass? I'll be using mine with a couple of different scopes, including one that is much smaller than the size of the plexiglass. Have you had a problem with this? Thanks for a great video.
Hi Amy, In your description you said "* get the new 12 vdc version, it works better*" Can you give a link to that product. I'm using the 6" EL panel but the 9V battery pack is giving me inconsistent lighting when running flats. A Lithium battery did not help. Optimally I would like to plug into AC.
Great job Amy. I built one 4 years ago as well and used a company called Technolight. They had all kinds of sizes and precut circles, squares etc. They have both 110 VAC ones and Battery I believe. I like the plastic housing you used. Nice job. Sean
Thank you Sean! The light panel itself was from Technolight. Looks likes Ellumiglow repackaged it for astro. I am thinking of using a 12vdc power supply and just power it from the scope power.
Amy Astro that would be a great way to do it. I've got mine set up in my office. So I just pull the scope and grab my flats that way. Sometimes I might have 3 or more images at the same angle, so I just get all the data and then grab flats
Hey Amy by the way. Do you have a good recommendation for a decent easy to learn video processing software. I've shot four videos but I'm stuck at the editing part. My last one was of Hurricane Ida wiping us out! Thank You Sean
I tried the Adobe Premier for a few months and that one just kicked my back side. My son is fluent in that program so I thought it would be easy. At least I had help close by. Turned out Mom's videos were not cool enough. lol I went back to Apple's Final Cut Pro. It was pretty easy to pick up and there are lots of plug ins out there for the fun touches. I hope life is getting better after Ida!
Thank You I appreciate it. We're digging out but the damage to our swamps and marshes are horrible. I tried Adobe Premiere as well and it beat me up too. I've got my website built and all the gear to shoot video but learning post processing seems to be much like learning AP for the first time. I'll look into Apples final cut and see if that works. Thanks for all you do. Your videos are very informative and helpful. Where were you when I started!! Lol
Very ingenious Amy. Flats are sooo important and making it easier to take them is always better. Hey, what's with the woodpecker? (Patrick of Savannah)
The wood pecker was crazy. He attacked the camera for 10 minutes. Guess he saw himself in the reflection and was territorial. Totally caught us by surprise. I hope to see you at the Peach State Star Gaze Party 10/31 week. Just a short drive from Savannah.
@@carolsantulis1990 I ended up using science fair project foam board I had lying around to create a form that fits around my Redcat 51, and my husband put the gardening grate on the lathe to remove some material to make it a bit shorter and lighter. Have used it a few times and it works great.
@@cherylwilcox9648 I found some 1/4" thick dense closed cell foam in a roll at Hobby Lobby. I used several wraps of it inside the grate for a perfect fit and no light leaks.
It cannot be overstated how flimsy the connector between the power source and the panel is. Mine broke after a number of uses and no attempt to fix it could succeed. So take really good care to keep it from flexing at all.
@@AmyAstro So you have cost me money :) Just placed an order from Ellumiglow (sp?). You need a commission! I did something a little different and ordered a different kind of grate. I'm familiar with the green and black ones you showed from Lowes/HomeDepot. I went with a plastic and an aluminum model just to save weight. The black and green ones are seriously stout and being of the elderly every once counts :) I'll let you know how they do.
I wonder if the Technolight (without the controller) would work with jwellman80's ArduinoLightbox which will then allow it to be ASCOM controlled. Ellumiglow does have the nice frosted glass option however.
There are other controllers on amazon that might work. The frosted plexiglass is nice and kinda needed. I wish I got two to dim it down some. I'm sure you can get a plastic company to cut one and ship it.
NIce video! Does the controller have defined steps or clicks or is it just a gradual turning motion? I'm curious if I can turn it up a few steps for LRGB and then more steps for narrowband. So I guess the question is if the brightness level can be repeatable from session to session. Thanks!!
The 9v battery controller that came with it has clicks. You just have to count them to get the cycle right. I ended up changing to the 12vdc version. I always have 12vdc near, 9v batteries die when I forget to turn it off. ;p
Hey, anyone know of alternate power sources that will fit this EL panel plug? I have made a flat panel from the Ellumiglow kit with the 9v battery controller. I have been having problems getting consistent illumination. I changed to a lithium battery but that did not help. I also have a hard time controlling the light intensity with the tiny wheel. Do you know of a better power source. I don't want to take out my DC Power Tank, but I would consider something that can plug into AC.
@@Phillyo118 As I aim for 50% ADU for my flats, the light source has to be bright enough to achieve that target. Longer exposures won't make the light source any brighter. At least I think that is how it works.
@@stephen2615 no, you can expose for as long as you need to get the correct adu value. So long as the exposure isn't super short (sub 0.5s) then it doesn't matter if your exposure is 30sec long. It just means it'll take longer to collect all your flat frames.
@@Phillyo118 I use NINA's Flats Wizard (once I went to my QHY cameras) and if there is not enough light, it will not take the exposure. I can adjust the ADU down to say 25% and try to take the flats but it won't take the flat unless the light source is bright enough. I tried to lengthen the exposure time limit but it still refused to take the exposure. My light source has to be increased in brightness before the application will take the flat.
Thanks Amy! Great idea!
that's a great idea.but i have choosed the tracing board.EL panel has strobe problem need use a little bit long exposure
Thanks for sharing
Awesome video Amy! I see that you solved the same design issues that I had, with great aplomb! Love the fact that you pivoted from the Hot Wheel track to the needlepoint hoop! And many thanks for the spot-on pronunciation of my surname - that does not happen often! I have now produced good flats for my ASI2600MC Pro with this panel as well, in addition to my Canon DSLR! :-)
I am so happy you approved. Whew I feared the pronunciation. I just did not have the heart to cut the hot wheels track. Sentimental I guess. Thank you for allowing me to share this great DIY project with the world.
@@AmyAstro You are very welcome Amy! I'm happy to help contribute something back to the astro community, which has given us so much :-)
Bill, What are you using for a power source? Can you post a link? I have one from Technolight and I fear it is problematic as my flat histogram fluctuates and can go up >10K ADU (but sometimes it goes down), which I feel it is temperature related. Technolight says the problem is my EL panel (Ellumiglow). Have you had this problem?
@@carolsantulis1990 Hi Carol, sorry, not sure I can be much help here. I haven’t needed to shoot flats in a while, but when I did, I got good results with the 9V battery pack / inverter from Ellumiglow.
@@billschlein Thanks Bill
Hello Amy, your video is exactly what I was looking for. Now I just need to make one myself :-D
Just finished mine yesterday. Of course, forgot to buy the 9v battery. Works perfectly.
Made mine! Have had a chance to try it yet, but it looks great. Just like yours.
Terrific! Share your results when you get to use it!
Great build, nice and portable too.
Thanks!
Thanks Amy! I saw the EL website just before I saw your video - perfect timing! I'm sure I could figure out something on my own, but why? This covers all the bases. Good video!
Don't get the 9vdc battery version. It failed after a couple months. Go for the 12vdc upgraded version. It works much better.
@@AmyAstro Agreed. Will do. And thank you!
Sry for not already being subscribed .. this channel looks great!
Huge honor for you to say so. Great chatting with ya.
Nice. I just use the light of my kindle paperwhite.
Great easy solution!
Fantastic Amy.
Thank you!
I'm considering building one of these but the 6" light panel with 12V Inverter Only (no battery/A/C adapter) is $100 before shipping. Suddenly the Flatmaster doesn't look too overpriced considering that it's ready to go!
Always good to check all options and make the choice. I own the flatmaster also.
I love these kinds of videos for us DIYer's. Mine is on order. I didn't like the Amazon flat panel. Too bright. Maybe I'll use it whenever I build a astronomy shed. Thanks!
Thanks, It was a fun build.
Lovin' it! After you last video discussing the commercial panel, I thought I'd love to upgrade to that, wondered if I could build my own. Yesterday I was investigating EL panel suppliers, thought it feasible, and moved on to construction ideas. And what pops up today? Spot on!! Best wishes, Bob PS - love you visitors - you have sociable neighbors....
Thank you so much.
Bob, did you make one? How is it working? I just got my panel and I am surprised at how uneven the light is. It is very mottled on low or high light. I'm hoping the acrylic panel will make it even enough for a quality light panel.
@@carolsantulis1990 I did! Purchased a kit from Ellumiglow, 6" Astrophotography combo, which included a battery, charger, inverter (brightness, pulse...), the panel, and translucent stick-on overlays to diffuse the light. I didn't really evaluate the panel without the diffuser, but with it, the field was uniform and flat, and I've had no probs with my Flats. Nice, compact, and easy - a big improvement over using an large artist's sketch-panel. I built a housing for it out of black foam-core board, but ended up just plopping the panel over my dew-shield - quick-and-easy.
@@bobhehmann6666 I have made one from the Ellumiglow kit with the battery controller. I have been having problems getting consistent illumination. I changed to a lithium battery but that did not help. I also have a hard time controlling the light intensity with the tiny wheel. Do you know of a better power source. I don't want to take out my DC Power Tank, but I would consider something that can plug into AC.
Hi Amy, This is great and I just got the materials and made mine. Just a couple of questions for you. How did you get the clip off of the switch? I tried pulling it off and I'm afraid that it will break if I yank any harder. Also, when you put the unit over the telescope to shoot flats, are you concerned that the edges of the telescope will scuff up the plexiglass? I'll be using mine with a couple of different scopes, including one that is much smaller than the size of the plexiglass. Have you had a problem with this? Thanks for a great video.
Hi Amy, In your description you said "* get the new 12 vdc version, it works better*" Can you give a link to that product. I'm using the 6" EL panel but the 9V battery pack is giving me inconsistent lighting when running flats. A Lithium battery did not help. Optimally I would like to plug into AC.
Great job Amy. I built one 4 years ago as well and used a company called Technolight. They had all kinds of sizes and precut circles, squares etc. They have both 110 VAC ones and Battery I believe. I like the plastic housing you used. Nice job. Sean
Thank you Sean! The light panel itself was from Technolight. Looks likes Ellumiglow repackaged it for astro. I am thinking of using a 12vdc power supply and just power it from the scope power.
Amy Astro that would be a great way to do it. I've got mine set up in my office. So I just pull the scope and grab my flats that way. Sometimes I might have 3 or more images at the same angle, so I just get all the data and then grab flats
Hey Amy by the way. Do you have a good recommendation for a decent easy to learn video processing software. I've shot four videos but I'm stuck at the editing part. My last one was of Hurricane Ida wiping us out! Thank You Sean
I tried the Adobe Premier for a few months and that one just kicked my back side. My son is fluent in that program so I thought it would be easy. At least I had help close by. Turned out Mom's videos were not cool enough. lol I went back to Apple's Final Cut Pro. It was pretty easy to pick up and there are lots of plug ins out there for the fun touches.
I hope life is getting better after Ida!
Thank You I appreciate it. We're digging out but the damage to our swamps and marshes are horrible. I tried Adobe Premiere as well and it beat me up too. I've got my website built and all the gear to shoot video but learning post processing seems to be much like learning AP for the first time. I'll look into Apples final cut and see if that works. Thanks for all you do. Your videos are very informative and helpful. Where were you when I started!! Lol
Very ingenious Amy. Flats are sooo important and making it easier to take them is always better. Hey, what's with the woodpecker?
(Patrick of Savannah)
The wood pecker was crazy. He attacked the camera for 10 minutes. Guess he saw himself in the reflection and was territorial. Totally caught us by surprise. I hope to see you at the Peach State Star Gaze Party 10/31 week. Just a short drive from Savannah.
This is amazing! Even though I have a Redcat 51, I will make this work for me!
Wonderful. I'm sure you can downsize this! Clear skies.
Cheryl, I'm building one too for my RedCat51.
@@carolsantulis1990 I ended up using science fair project foam board I had lying around to create a form that fits around my Redcat 51, and my husband put the gardening grate on the lathe to remove some material to make it a bit shorter and lighter. Have used it a few times and it works great.
@@cherylwilcox9648 I found some 1/4" thick dense closed cell foam in a roll at Hobby Lobby. I used several wraps of it inside the grate for a perfect fit and no light leaks.
It cannot be overstated how flimsy the connector between the power source and the panel is. Mine broke after a number of uses and no attempt to fix it could succeed. So take really good care to keep it from flexing at all.
Nice DIY tutorial.
I think lens caps (especially for the multi-thousand dollar OTAs should have one of these incorporated don't you :)
Totally agree
@@AmyAstro So you have cost me money :) Just placed an order from Ellumiglow (sp?). You need a commission! I did something a little different and ordered a different kind of grate. I'm familiar with the green and black ones you showed from Lowes/HomeDepot. I went with a plastic and an aluminum model just to save weight. The black and green ones are seriously stout and being of the elderly every once counts :) I'll let you know how they do.
I wonder if the Technolight (without the controller) would work with jwellman80's ArduinoLightbox which will then allow it to be ASCOM controlled. Ellumiglow does have the nice frosted glass option however.
There are other controllers on amazon that might work. The frosted plexiglass is nice and kinda needed. I wish I got two to dim it down some. I'm sure you can get a plastic company to cut one and ship it.
This is a great project! I'm going to get the EL kit but I'll see about creating my own mount hardware for it. What bird is that ?
That was a woodpecker. I have been enjoying this flat panel. I converted it last night for a 12vdc power supply. I always have 12vdc with me.
NIce video! Does the controller have defined steps or clicks or is it just a gradual turning motion? I'm curious if I can turn it up a few steps for LRGB and then more steps for narrowband. So I guess the question is if the brightness level can be repeatable from session to session. Thanks!!
The 9v battery controller that came with it has clicks. You just have to count them to get the cycle right. I ended up changing to the 12vdc version. I always have 12vdc near, 9v batteries die when I forget to turn it off. ;p
Have you noticed if you leave the battery pack plugged in that even when the power is off, the battery drains?
I have not had it plugged in long enough to notice that. I typically have it unplugged when not using it.
I think you have to leave it unplugged. I held it close to my ear and even when the lights were off, I could still hear a bit of a whine.
Hey, anyone know of alternate power sources that will fit this EL panel plug? I have made a flat panel from the Ellumiglow kit with the 9v battery controller. I have been having problems getting consistent illumination. I changed to a lithium battery but that did not help. I also have a hard time controlling the light intensity with the tiny wheel. Do you know of a better power source. I don't want to take out my DC Power Tank, but I would consider something that can plug into AC.
Does it have enough brightness for something like a 3 nm Ha filter? I struggle to get enough light when doing my flats with that filter.
I ended up dialing this down to it's dimmest setting for mine. So I would believe it is plenty bright.
Can't you just expose for longer?
@@Phillyo118 As I aim for 50% ADU for my flats, the light source has to be bright enough to achieve that target. Longer exposures won't make the light source any brighter. At least I think that is how it works.
@@stephen2615 no, you can expose for as long as you need to get the correct adu value. So long as the exposure isn't super short (sub 0.5s) then it doesn't matter if your exposure is 30sec long. It just means it'll take longer to collect all your flat frames.
@@Phillyo118 I use NINA's Flats Wizard (once I went to my QHY cameras) and if there is not enough light, it will not take the exposure. I can adjust the ADU down to say 25% and try to take the flats but it won't take the flat unless the light source is bright enough. I tried to lengthen the exposure time limit but it still refused to take the exposure. My light source has to be increased in brightness before the application will take the flat.
you can alway get 3d printer and make you on that will fit for the 102 telescope @amy astro