Folks,

I got two Theben SEL-173 time switches at EBAY. This is a dual channel time
switch (http://www.theben.de/english/e_prod_019.htm) that I use to control the
meteor camera, automatic lens cab and computer of my automated system MINCAM1.
Contrary to ordinary time switches (like the "standard" Theben TR-610) you
cannot only program a fixed time to switch on/off your equipment, but you can
set the time based of Sun rise / set plus a fixed offset.

This time switch can be used both for non-intensified and intensified cameras:

* for non-intensified cameras you fix the time to 30 min after sun set and 30
min before sun rise and you will never need to adapt the times for shut up and
down of your equipment anymore
* for intensified cameras you will still need to adapt the fixed offset (since
the duration of twilight changes in the course of a year), but instead of
setting it every second or third day, it sufficient to correct it every second
or third week.

If you are interested in one or both of these, just drop me a mail. They will be
65 Euro each plus shipment (the original price is well above 150 Euro.) First
come, first serve.

Best wishes,
Sirko

PS: These time switches are not ready for operation. You will need to provide
them with a power connector. The advantage to ordinary time switches that come
ready to use for Euro 10 is, that you can have two wires - one with power when
the time switch is on and one when the time switch is off. That is necessary if
you have an automatic lens cab that requires power for opening the lens cap at
dusk, and for closing it at dawn. See the attached pictures from my camera.

PPS: You cannot set different offsets from sun rise / set for the two channels!

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* Sirko Molau * *
* Abenstalstr. 13b * __ *
* D-84072 Seysdorf * " 2B v 2B " *
* Germany * *
* phone: +49-8752-869438 * Shakespeare *
* email: sirko@... * *
* www : www.molau.de * *
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