Power and lighting

All observatories need power. Typical telescope and CCD imaging equipment can use anything from 3 volts to 240 volts. You may want to have a computer in your dome to run telescope guidance and image software. Think also of lighting and motor drives on the dome and its door/s. 

I was lucky enough to acquire a power box that was bound for the tip. The box has a 240v in and a fuse, with 3x240v out and a 12v out. That will come in handy as it comes with a halogen lamp, the kind you find above jeweler's display cabinets, and a twin fluro light. These will be great in the dome with some red Perspex in front. Better for your night vision. I'm thinking a slide on/off Perspex cover for white/red light when you need it.  I have buried the power underground via electrical conduit, (orange PVC pipe) from a power point in the back verandah. I used about 30 meters of twin and earth wire and PVC conduit to go the distance. Make sure you use PVC elbows and proper glue to join pipes and corners. Don't buy second-hand wire, it's not worth the risk. You can dig your own trench, thread the wire through etc, but it is advisable to get a qualified electrician to check your work and connect the power.

Make sure that the conduit is buried 600mm deep if it runs under lawn and gardens. This does not apply if it runs under concrete. Alternatively, if you cannot dig the trench deep enough, pour concrete over the pipe then fill to surface with soil. Make sure you acquire the plastic warning tape to lay over the pipe before you bury it, to warn anyone who may be digging in the vicinity in the future. It would probably be a good idea to leave the pipe exposed until an electrician has sighted it, then you can fill it in. Check for your own local regulations on new electrical installations.

I installed the power box in the stairwell, with one 12v halogen light to light up the stairs. I fitted the twin fluro lights into the inside wall of the observatory to light the dome room.