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Overall
view of the pier from the front. Click on any of the images for a larger
view.
From
this view you can see the camera power and data cables routed back up
over the left declination bearing. There is just enough service loop to
allow the scope to swing back a little bit past the fork base.
From
this view you can see the guide camera cable and focuser cable routed back
over the right declination bearing.
This
view shows the cables coming over both declination bearings tied down to
the fork arms and converging close to the RA bearing.
A
different view of the routing described above.
The
cables are all tied to the forks just above the RA bearing. They hang from
here down to the altitude spreader bar on the wedge. Wire ties are used
to keep the cables draping loosely over this bar. The 30cm or so of cable
hanging from just a little off-center of the RA bearing produces negligible
torque to the drive system.
All
the cables drop directly into a junction box where they are converted to
Ethernet. The only wires going to the pier are an AC power line and a CAT5
Ethernet cable. All the power is distributed in this junction box, from
a high quality surge suppressed power module. Long cable runs are avoided
to minimize the chance of damage during lightning storms.