Julio Maset · Sep 25, 2025, 09:37 AM
I did the same in a Fra500 as well. My recommendation is to isolate it from the tube as much as you can due to the heat.
A few centimeters further near the C8 corrector plate there is a dew band to heat up the OTA to avoid condensation, in our climate we often need the warmth during the night to keep the dew away.
Interesting discussion.
I was looking into MeLe fanless PCs to control my second rig and have a jail-break option from the ASIAIR+ that I've been swapping between the two rigs.
Trouble is from New Zealand the pricing algorithms on Aliexpress and Amazon Australia are too smart and scrape all the data on sales websites to figure out that there aren't many domestic options for us here. So they ramp up the price. I couldn't find any MeLe PC with decent specs below about NZD$560. Seemed like too much.
After many dialogues with Gemini & ‘tricking’ the pricing algorithm with different search words (fanless PC is a niche = expensive market) I finally gave up on fanless & bought a generic N150 Intel Mini PC with 16GB RAM & 256GB NVMe for NZD$360 incl shipping.
While I've read on forums to beware of fans, my CC8 is a heavier rig that will be less affected by micro movement. Allied to this the fact that a modern low-power chip like the N150 doesn't need much cooling, the tiny fan won't have to race too much for image acquisition with the ASI533MC camera. I've also read that dangling cables in the wind are much more of a problem for guiding than fan vibration, & could sometimes be mistaken for fan movement.
Any issues and I can move the PC to the tripod leg.
Reading the stories above, I'm glad I didn't buy the expensive MeLe.
I didn't like the USB-C 12V socket either, though I understand the small form factor of this for the MeLe.
I'll mount the PC on the top Vixen bar together with SVBony's SV241 pro powerbox.
I honestly wouldn’t add another potential source of vibration to my rig unless I absolutely had too. My Mele 3C is mounted on the OTA, so the last thing I want is to risk is introducing a source of vibration
The obvious answer to all of of this is to not mount the controlling PC on your rig, I never do. When you do that you open up all the possibilities as you can use just about anything. Further reasons not to do it include weight and balance and something a lot of people don’t consider, heat pluming. During the winter when pointing near the zenith, it can be an issue. I have a Mele and it gets hot. From the user end all you’d see would be a decrease in seeing quality and pass it off as that but it can be a local effect. I just wouldn’t do it.
I use to mount my mini-PC to the OTA. I got tired of constantly switching them from one OTA to another (I have 6 scopes). So then a I bought 5 more mini-PCs (Mele and AOCs). Each scope got its own mini-PC.
Then I was inspired by the iOptron’s NUC series and 3D printed plates that adapt to the rear saddles of my AP1100 and AP1600. Now I only need two PCs, one for each mount. I did the same with my CQ350 before I got rid of it.
If you have any way to attach a plate to your mount, I highly recommend it. Saves money and time.
Tommy
I used both Mele and Beelink. I have two setups now. A Mele 4 Overclock (fan) on the TOA, and a Beelink S13. Both are running remotely with no issues so far for two years. My autofocus routine with a full frame sensor takes under two minutes. All my subs are uploaded to my google drive and synced automatically. Any issues I ever had with my mini PCs has been related to windows and updates, nothing to do with the mini PC hardware. I haven’t noticed any vibrations in my images either, but my focal length is under 1000mm on both of my setups.
The Mele 3 fanless was underpowered though, especially with Full Frame.
I use fanless MeLE stick PCs running at 5V, powered via USB-C by a small 10000 mAh portable battery, which is enough for an entire night. I’ve had two of them for a couple of years already and they work perfectly. There was a bit of work to configure them to start a Wi-Fi access point at startup, so that I connect in remote desktop from my PC.
I always mount them on the tripod leg, away from the OTA, to avoid adding weight on the mount and to prevent heat dissipation to the tube (my mount has some cable management, which really helps). And as they are fanless, no vibrations.
It seems each way you go - locate the PC on the OTA or on the mount - it introduces problems.
On the OTA - fear of vibration (mini PC) and heat (with a MeLe).
On the mount - another long chunky USB cable dangling in the breeze.
Sigh!
Wayne Elley · Jun 6, 2026 at 08:04 PM
It seems each way you go - locate the PC on the OTA or on the mount - it introduces problems.
On the OTA - fear of vibration (mini PC) and heat (with a MeLe).
On the mount - another long chunky USB cable dangling in the breeze.
Sigh!
If you mount it on the Saddle, the wiring is not an issue at all.
Wayne Elley · Jun 6, 2026, 08:04 PM
It seems each way you go - locate the PC on the OTA or on the mount - it introduces problems.
On the OTA - fear of vibration (mini PC) and heat (with a MeLe).
On the mount - another long chunky USB cable dangling in the breeze.
Sigh!
I have found that if it’s windy enough to really bother the cables then it’s hitting the OTA too hard anyway. Maybe a tiny refractor, not so much but it’s very true with my 6” F/6 Newt.
I have been operating two Mele Quieter 4cs on two separate rigs. So far zero issues, their rock solid performers. I just attach them to the scope D rails with quality zip ties.
Wayne Elley · Jun 6, 2026, 08:04 PM
It seems each way you go - locate the PC on the OTA or on the mount - it introduces problems.
On the OTA - fear of vibration (mini PC) and heat (with a MeLe).
On the mount - another long chunky USB cable dangling in the breeze.
Sigh!
I tried both, never had a problem with vibration or heat, used a Mele Q4 on the Askar FRA500 and a C8, also used a ace Magic (with fan) on the same scopes. There is no problem with heat or vibration.
I see it pragmatically & will place my N150 mini PC on the OTA first of all to see experimentally if there is any vibration or not. I'll follow these AI suggestions for mounting:
1) Isolate Vibration: To ensure the tiny fan motor doesn't transfer micro-vibrations to your telescope tube (which can bloat stars in your ASI533MC camera frames), place a thin piece of neoprene, silicone, or rubber padding between the mini PC chassis and the telescope mounting plate before bolting it down.
2) Orientation: Mount the PC so the fan exhaust blows away from the front of the telescope tube. Warm air escaping the PC can create localized heat currents ("tube currents") that can distort the air right in front of your telescope lens or mirror.
It is helpful if people say whether they actually have or have not used a mini PC with fan on their OTA if recommending not to. The earlier comment by Ejo was helpful because he has used both types of PC. And the AceMagic is a heavier duty processor than the N150 also.
I use a MiniPC (an Intel NUC) in a small plastic box with removable SSD and cables. The box is shoebox size. A wireless router is in the box that velcros to a tripod leg. Only a single USB cable connects to scope setup that has a powered USB hub on tripod leg that collects data from scope, cameras, guider, focuser, PA camera. I use an iOptron HEM27 mount for the scope.
I use a Jackery 300 for power to all. One connection to mount for main power and two connections for Wifi and miniPC. The NUC is 19V and a small adapter converts from USB-C to 19V. There are no wires outside the tripod footprint.
I think the performance issue is less about the horsepower of the miniPC and more about the speed of the attached USB drive to capture data. Lunar and solar imaging collects data very fast which can exceed 15 frames a second.
I use VNC to remote in from either the house (when home), or from the car at remote sites. I have a separate miniPC setup and LED display I use when in the car.
At 77, being outside in the hot or cold is much harder than it was 10 years ago. The same is true for weight, as light gear makes a LOT of difference.