Question about LED flat panels - Forums

Topic starter

Feb 13, 2023

Hello!
For those of you that are using one of the following flat panel (basically a flat panel available in EU that's NOT and EL panel):
* PLL Giotto
* Artesky
* Pegasus LED

Can the brightness be lowered so that I don't have to stack anything else (t-shirt, paper, etc) when using an f/5 refractor and LRGB filters? I need the exposure to be >=1s on my 268m.

Thanks

Gerassimos Arsenis

Feb 13, 2023

Some flat panels allow for adjusting the brightness. I think the Artesky is one of those panels. They are a bit expensive though. I use a Lacerta flat field box that doesn't allow for adjustment.

One thing to keep in mind with flat panels is you might get light leaks. I was getting terrible flats and I didn't know why until I through a towel over the flat panel which apparently covered a leak. So, in the end, you might end up using a t-shirt (or something else) either way is what I'm trying to say.

Helpful

SoDakAstronomyNut

Feb 13, 2023

What size are you looking for? CS & GB! Kip

Paolo

Topic starter

Feb 13, 2023

I own a 70mm apo, but I'm also planning to buy a 150mm apo towards the end of the year.

Well Written

SoDakAstronomyNut

Feb 13, 2023 · Edited: Feb 13, 2023

I bought one of these and it works great with my Celestron EdgeHD 8” and Askar 130PHQ 5” refractor.

https://www.adorama.com/vtrvl500t.html?gclid=CjwKCAiA3KefBhByEiwAi2LDHHr0QtUFi-A12S2-JWHNJYEnDUH9TmXpzCX9PjXJezBLt0JTdCzsBhoCNCoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_source=inc-google-shop-p

10” diameter, rechargeable battery with color and power selectable switch. LED results are flat, no banding or cycling. I was using a tracing led and my flats would vary.

CS & GB.

Kip

Concise

TurtleCat

Feb 13, 2023

Many of the LED panels will have banding. I know the Flatmaster will. I have to put several diffusion layers to ensure that the exposure is long enough to even things out. Typically 6+ seconds/flat.

Helpful Concise

SoDakAstronomyNut

Feb 13, 2023

Many of the LED panels will have banding. I know the Flatmaster will. I have to put several diffusion layers to ensure that the exposure is long enough to even things out. Typically 6+ seconds/flat.

Understood. The item above does not. I also add a t-shirt in an embroidery hoop just to be sure. No issues with my QHY268M PH astrocam.

CS & GB! Kip

SoDakAstronomyNut

Feb 13, 2023

Chiradeep Chhaya

Feb 14, 2023

@Paolo Have you looked at DeepSkyDad flat panels? Super convenient and fairly reasonably priced. Even have the option of a heater element to keep tube from frosting. Of course it has an ASCOM driver too and works flawlessly under NINA for me. You can control brightness as well as exposure time.

They are located in Slovenia so obtaining them in the EU shouldn’t be an issue. And they are very responsive and helpful.

Cheers!

Well Written Helpful

Paolo

Topic starter

Feb 16, 2023

Chiradeep Chhaya:
@Paolo Have you looked at DeepSkyDad flat panels? Super convenient and fairly reasonably priced. Even have the option of a heater element to keep tube from frosting. Of course it has an ASCOM driver too and works flawlessly under NINA for me. You can control brightness as well as exposure time.

They are located in Slovenia so obtaining them in the EU shouldn’t be an issue. And they are very responsive and helpful.

Cheers!

Good to know, thanks! Wasn't aware of them. I just sent them an email to check some stuff, let's see

Peter Christensen

Feb 27, 2023

I can recommend this compact adjustable screen 26 x 37 cm:
PHOTTIX LED LJUS NUADA S3 VLED
which I bought at:
https://aifo.se/svEN/phottix_led_ljus_nuada_s3_vled_video?id=PH81421
at the prize of 78 €

Chris Bailey

Mar 3, 2023

Ive got the Pegasus. Works well and NINA flat wizard will control the brightness to give you correctly exposed flats. Also means that if you want, you can control the duration of the flat (say 3 seconds), NINA will adjust the brightness to suite, you can then take a bunch of 3 second flat darks.

Helpful

Rick Laird

Mar 3, 2023

Many of the LED panels will have banding. I know the Flatmaster will. I have to put several diffusion layers to ensure that the exposure is long enough to even things out. Typically 6+ seconds/flat.

What did you use for the diffusion layer?

Rick Laird

Mar 3, 2023

I have the PLL Giotto.

I have used the Pegasus Astro Flat Master. I really don't like the software that runs Pegasus Astro tools.

Rick.

TurtleCat

Mar 3, 2023

Rick Laird:
Many of the LED panels will have banding. I know the Flatmaster will. I have to put several diffusion layers to ensure that the exposure is long enough to even things out. Typically 6+ seconds/flat.

What did you use for the diffusion layer?

Right now I’m using several layers of printer paper which works very well. I have some photography diffusion material that I’ll cut up eventually once I can get it to be uncurled.