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New NexDome install... door issues...

Having issue with Door latch with new NexDome install. Just received my dome this past Thursday, built it this weekend! I am having an issue with the door latch, when I go to close it, it intersects directly in the middle of the aluminum post (see illustration). The door is being pushed really hard to the closed position but latch still hits post in the middle. Also unless I keep pressure pulling back on the leaver, the handle will engage the door latch but will not disengage, thus the door stays locked and the handle just free twist back and forth.

14 comments

14 Comments

S Stottz

Sep 19, 2022

I did find a inexpensive and easy way that for me, fixed the door seal gaping around the inside corners of the door opening. It's detailed on my CN thread:

Post #71 specific to fixing the Door Seal issue.

looking to add an 8' Nexdome... - Observatories - Cloudy Nights

Mike Miller

Sep 18, 2022

Would it be worth putting silicone between the overlapping wall panels..or are they already waterproof enough.

Mike Miller

Sep 18, 2022

Replying to

Thanks Steve. Just got my dome and wondered if it would be worth it. Anything you would do different after your build? I'm hopeing to fit a 18 inch dobsonian in mine...if it will fit.??? Thanks for your reply

Steven Green

Sep 19, 2022

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Replying to

Just make sure it’s really round, that alone will save you a lot of grief. Put it together loosely before tightening the walls down. Use the build drawings from the NexDome support pages.

my C11HD barely fits in the shutter opening. Im not sure you’d have enough room to operate it, but let us know.

Mike Miller

Sep 19, 2022

Replying to

Thank you

S Stottz

Sep 13, 2022

S Stottz

Sep 13, 2022

So I did get the latch to work. I had to take apart the latch and tighten the center screw as it was loose and was causing the handle not to properly engage the lever as it was turned closed/open. I added like 3 washer to each of the mounting bolts to give it a bit more stand off from the door and that seems to get the door close properly now if I also push hard on the door from the outside. But now I have a new door issue I emailed NexDome about. The door gasket, when I put it around the door opening, gapes open at all 4 corners as the inside corner seems to pinch the material and deforms it. If I put it on the door edge, the outside corns don't pinch and it stays nice and uniform. But NexDome told me the gasket is to go on the door open and not the door. So I'm asking then for a solution. Even a screen capture from Dave's Astrophotography show's his is the same as mine and it is definitely letting the rain in BAD.

S Stottz

Sep 13, 2022

Replying to

Nope it collapse as soon as you start around the corner. It's been off and on raining pretty good the last few nights and the entire observatory floor is wet because of it. I'm going to add an awning over the door to try and help the issue. Also, I noticed last night when I was installing and testing the shutter motor. The shutter, when in the closed position. Rests right in the concaved area where water accumulates. So when the shutter is opened, guess what! The water drips off the bottom edge of the shutter as it's going up. Then, you guessed it! Water drips right down over my equipment when it's over head. I'm really frustrated!

Steven Green

Sep 14, 2022

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Replying to

Everyone has complained about that since the beginning. The original solutions offered was to just wipe it off. I actually cutoff that lower portion. I also filled the swale to prevent water from collecting which actually required more of the shutter lip to be removed.

S Stottz

Sep 14, 2022

Replying to

Yeah... and how much did we all pay for this product? I'm just frustrated. Also new issue, where the extra bay is, the left side post wheel keeps creeping forward and getting out of the groove and to the inside on the observatory. It's the only wheel doing so, and only if I rotate the dome clockwise. If I rotate it counter clockwise, it's fine. For the door to close properly, I have to push really hard inward on the handle to get it to close past the tubular post. But I guess that isn't a bad thing. But I'm having fits with the door gasket, and not heard from NexDome yet.

Steven Green

Sep 12, 2022

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Not sure if you looked back in the older posts about this. This has been a topic of much discussion and frustration for at least 4 years. Here is a link to one of several previous discussion. https://www.nexdome.com/forum/installation/door-latch-installation-and-operation?origin=notification

I apologize if you have already seen these.

Please post again if you’re still having problems after trying the many recommended fixes.

S Stottz

Sep 12, 2022

Replying to

Thanks! I did see this post, I've made sure all panels are exact, in distance/measurements from one another. I even made a perfect circle on my deck first and lined up the base of the walls with it. So I know it's perfectly circular. NexDome explain I might need to add washers as spacers behind the latch inside and the door surface to stand it off/outward further. But my whole latch assembly is not working. It will engage (close) when I turn the handle. But when I use the handle to open it, it just spins backwards and doesn't pull the latch back when I turn the handle. So I'm going to buy a new one on my way home tonight from Home Depot and see what progress I make!