CB-245 CCD Telescope Camera

I built this camera in about 1995 but have only recently begun to use it. I wanted everything to be "first class" and spared little expense in its construction. The camera is designed from Richard Berry's Cookbook Camera plans and circuit boards. I purchased the lens adapter from University Optics and can install Canon FD lenses on the camera. I also have the 1/4-20 adapter for tripod/piggyback use.

I improved on the original design in several areas. Firstly, I tried to key every power and signal connection so that they would be idiotproof (especially in the field). Also, some connections on Berry's original design were just not rugged, in my opinion. Note the ribbon connector between the A/D converter and camera head.

I purchased a (now out of production) DC-DC converter kit specifically designed for the camera from Coherent, and built it into a small ammo box with two 7 amp-hour 12 volt batteries. The box is fused and has variable Peletier power. Later, I installed a switch so that it can be powered from my main battery.

Although many have converted their cookbook cameras to air cooling, I have to agree with Berry in that there is no substitute for water cooling. However, the bucket idea was very inconvenient, and I had very bad luck with windshield washer pumps (because of their construction and original purpose, they just won't last, and die unexpectedly). Even good quality and quite expensive DC pumps have <500 hour MTBF's mostly because of their bearings and brushes.

I used an immersible AC (magnetic drive) pond pump type motor which circulates "green", low-toxicity antifreeze ( freezing is not as much a problem as bacteria and corrosion, and I didn't want to take any chances poisoning animals). The pump is immersed inside another ammo box (which has an excellent gasket, BTW, and can be inverted without any spilling). Only about 2 gallons circulate, which is somewhat marginal. The pump is powered by a small 120 volt inverter.