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The Forms
- Grass was removed and dirt was added with a front-end loader.
- 1 by 6 boards were used to hold the circular forms in place.
- 2-foot metal stakes with nail holes were used to hold the forms in place.
- A transit (a theodolite with the telescope) was used to level the forms.
- And 4-foot by 8-foot piece of mansonite was cut into four strips to make
the circular form.
- The length of each mansonite strip Pi * 119" / 4 (the arc length of a
quarter section).
- These forms are for a 119" diameter concrete foundation.
- Reinforcement mesh wire was cut to fit the circular form.
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Electricity
- 1" gray PVC pipe was used to carry wires for electricity, phone and the
alarm system.
- The PVC pipe comes out through the masonite form as shown on the image to
the left.
- The pipe was set 12" to 24" underground with a ditch witch.
- Two 5" diameter PCV floor cans was used for the outlets.
- The placement of the floor cans are shown in the images to the left.
- The outlets placed close to the center will be used to power the telescope
and CCD camera.
- The outlets placed close to the southeast edge will be used to power the
computer
and dome motors.
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The Pier
- Redwood forms were used to make a 18" by 18" by 36" block of concrete for
the telescope pier.
- The redwood pieces were used to isolate the pier and therefore were not
removed from concrete.
- The redwood forms and reinforcement bars are shown in the image to the
left.
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The Concrete
- The image to the right shows the pier anchor bolts with wooden circular
templates.
- 2.5 cubic yards of concrete was needed for the 4" concrete pad and pier
platform.
- Thirteen 1" by 8" J-anchor bolts where also placed around the edge of the
wet concrete.
- These J-anchor bolts were used to attach the wall ring to the concrete pad.
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The Concrete
- The pier bolts with wooden templates are shown to the left in the redwood
box.
- The 5" diameter floor cans for electrical outlets are also shown.
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The Location
- The coordinates of the site was measure in two ways:
- Internet Maps
- Latitude: +31d 45' 35.3"
- Longitude: -94d 39' 40.5"
- GPS Unit
- Latitude: +31d 45' 34.7"
- Longitude: -94d 39' 38.5"
- Note: 1 arcsecond of latitude (1") corresponds to about 31 meters on the
Earth.
- GPS units have a built-in error of about 100 meters.
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More to come...
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More to come...
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More to come...
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More to come...
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More to come...
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More to come...
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Price List
- 2 yards of concrete = $140
- Reenforcement Steel = No Cost
- Redwood Board 1"x6"x8' = $8
- Masonite forms 1/4"x4'x8' = $10
- 2 Electrical Floor Boxes @ $11.35 = $22.70
- 2 Electrical Floor Receptcals @ 13.67 = $27.34
- 120' gray PCV conduit 3/4" = $12.91
- 6 PVC Elbows @ 1.57 = $9.42
- 3 rolls 500' wire (white, green, black) 12 gauge stranded @ $20 = $60
- 3 male PVC adapters @ $0.50 = $1.50
- 2 PVC sleeves 3/4" @ $0.50 = $1.50
- PVC glue 1 pint = $3.00
- 1 transfer wall through box = $5.00
- Total = $301.37
- Businesses = FEW Concrete, McCoy's, Elliott Electric
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