In my observatory, I remotely open and close the lens caps on my main and guiding telescopes. Here is a video of both caps in action. New browser window. Close it when done.
Encouraged by inquiries from people interested in such a motorized lens cap system for their own telescopes, I offer the TLCC Telescope Lens Cap Controller for sale.
The TLCC uses an Arduino microcontroller and one or two servo motors to open and close one or two lightweight 3D-printed lens caps. A control program on your PC sends commands to the Arduino, and receives status information back.
New in 2023! The Arduino board has built-in WiFi connectivity. You no longer need to run an Ethernet cable to the telescope. But you must have a Wi-Fi access point or router nearby that is connected to the same network as the computer running the control program.
An optional sensor allows the Arduino to monitor and report ambient temperature and humidity in the observatory.
A servo motor mounts on top of your telescope, with an L-shaped bracket attached to its shaft. The bracket is glued to a lightweight 3D-printed plastic lens cap.
I provide a ZIP file that contains files for a variety of lens caps you can print yourself or send to a 3D-printing service. Or I'll print one for you – tell me what you need.
This is the TLCC "stack" (of circuit boards) you install on or near your telescope. An Arduino microcontroller is the heart of the system, with one additional circuit board called a "shield" plugged on top to power one or two servos.
You see this window when you launch the control prograam on your Windows PC and connect to the Arduino stack at the telescope.
The status of the lens caps – open or closed – is displayed at the top. Below that is a button to close or open the caps. Other buttons connect and disconnect the TLCC stack.
The bottom area of the window displays the ambient temperature and humidity in the observatory if you have installed the optional sensor.
The TLCC comes with a CD-ROM that includes the control program and a user manual as a PDF file. Download the user manual to learn everything about the TLCC.
Click here to order a TLCC with free shipping.
Updated November 9, 2023