Complete Roll-Off-Roof System

See It In Action

Watch a DragonLAIR system in real operation

Everything You Need. One Order. Sleep Through Your Imaging Sessions.

The Complete Roll-Off-Roof System is exactly what it sounds like: every component you need to automate your roll-off roof observatory, protect your equipment during power outages, and stop babysitting your imaging sessions. Motor, controller, drive system, battery backup-all tested together, all compatible, all shipped to your door. Open your roof at dusk, image through the night, and trust that your telescope is protected if conditions change.

Why Buy the Complete System?

We've been selling this exact combination of components for four years. More than 30 observatory owners are running this setup right now-from backyard imagers in the Arizona desert to remote dark site installations in Minnesota and Vermont. The motor moves the roof, the controller automates it, and the battery backup protects your equipment when the power goes out. It works.

What's new is the bundle. Instead of researching which motor fits which controller, wondering if you have the right gear pitch, and placing multiple orders for components that might arrive on different days-you get everything in one shipment with a 10% discount. We've already done the compatibility testing. You just install it.

This system handles roofs up to 16 feet. We've tested it on wood-framed structures, metal buildings, and everything in between. The oldest installation has been running for four years without issues. If you're building a larger commercial facility or running multiple professional imaging rigs, you'll want our Pro system instead. But for hobbyist observatories and smaller remote setups, this is the configuration we recommend-and the one we trust.

Key Benefits

True Automation-No PC Required

The DragonLAIR controller at the heart of this system is a standalone network device. Access it from your phone, tablet, or computer over WiFi or Ethernet. Check roof status from across the house or across the country. Your automation doesn't depend on Windows staying awake or a USB cable staying connected. The controller runs independently, monitoring weather, battery voltage, and safety sensors whether you're watching or not.

Battery Backup That Actually Works

This is what separates a real automation system from a DIY project. The included 35Ah AGM battery keeps your controller running during power outages-with enough capacity for 4+ days of standby or 10+ roof cycles if needed. The DragonLAIR monitors battery voltage continuously and can automatically close your roof when voltage drops below your configured threshold. Power outage at 2 AM during a storm? The roof closes before the battery runs down, protecting your equipment even when you're asleep.

Slow Start and Stop-Protect Your Structure

This is what sets the DragonLAIR apart from gate opener conversions and relay-based solutions. Instead of jerking your roof into motion and slamming it to a halt, the controller ramps motor speed gradually in both directions. Your roof glides open and closed smoothly, reducing stress on rails, wheels, and your observatory structure. It's the kind of detail that matters when you've invested in a quality setup.

Direct Motor Control-No Relay Boards, No Phantom Openings

The DragonLAIR controls your DC motor directly, handling up to 45 amps without external relay boards or motor controllers. That means no "phantom roof openings" from electrical interference during storms-a real problem with gate opener electronics. The included 600W motor was built for commercial dump truck tarp systems, so moving your observatory roof is the easiest job it will ever have.

Weather-Safe Closure

Connect any ASCOM Alpaca safety monitor or simple relay-closure weather device to the DragonLAIR's weather safety port. When conditions turn unsafe, the controller closes your roof automatically. You can also configure automatic open and close based on sun altitude-open at dusk, close at dawn, no intervention required.

Everything Works Together

This isn't a collection of parts that might be compatible. Every component in this system has been tested together on real installations. The motor shaft fits the gear. The gear meshes with the rack. The controller handles the motor's current draw. The battery powers it all during outages. The charger keeps the battery ready. No surprises, no forum posts asking "will this work with that?"

What's Included

Control System:

• DragonLAIR WiFi Controller
• WiFi Antenna
• GPS Antenna
• Hand Controller with 6ft cable
• Ethernet Cable (6ft)
• DIN Rail with mounting clip

Drive System:

• 600W Roll-Off Roof Motor with chrome cover
• Motor Mounting Bracket - Steel .25" (left or right hand-specify when ordering)
• Roll-Off Roof Gear (17-tooth, 3/4" bore, with cross pin)
• Roll-Off Roof Gear Rack (1 meter sections-order based on your roof travel distance)
• Mounting hardware for motor, bracket, and rack (standoffs, bolts)

Safety System:

• 2× Heavy Duty Limit Switches
• 2× Limit Switch Cables (6ft, shielded)
• 2× Safety Sensors with brackets
• 2× Reflectors
• Mounting hardware (deck screws, machine screws, T-25 bit, hex bits and key)

Power System:

• 35Ah AGM Battery with terminal screws
• NOCO Genius 5 Charger with battery clamps
• Ring terminals for permanent battery installation
• 2× Power Cables (6ft, 1/4" ring terminal to Anderson PowerPole)
• 30A and 40A Automotive Fuses

Extras:

• DDA Sticker

Technical Specifications

Integration/Compatibility

Imaging Software:

The DragonLAIR works with all major imaging and automation platforms:

• N.I.N.A.
• Sequence Generator Pro
• Voyager
• TheSkyX
• KStars/Ekos
• Any ASCOM Alpaca or INDI-compatible software

Weather Safety:

Connect any ASCOM Alpaca safety monitor for cloud-based weather integration, or wire a simple relay-closure device (weather station, rain sensor) directly to the safety port. The controller just needs a signal tied to ground to trigger an unsafe condition.

Mount Position:

Use the included reflective sensors to detect when your telescope is in a safe park position before allowing roof movement. For easier installation, our optional wireless Mount Park Sensor (sold separately) communicates directly with the DragonLAIR without running cables to your mount.

API Access:

The full OpenAPI specification is available for custom integrations. Build your own control interface, integrate with home automation systems, or connect to monitoring dashboards.

Installation/Setup Reality Check

Plan for a weekend project. A complete installation-motor, bracket, rack, controller, limit switches, safety sensors, and battery backup-takes 6-8 hours for a first-time installer. If you've done construction projects before, you might finish faster.

The tricky parts:

• Getting the limit switches adjusted so they trigger exactly where you want the roof to stop (patience required)
• Holding the heavy motor/bracket assembly while marking and drilling (a helper is useful)
• Making sure your mounting hardware goes into solid structural components-wall studs, steel framing, or properly anchored concrete

Tools needed:

• Basic hand tools (wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers)
• Power drill with appropriate bits
• Wire strippers
• Metric socket set for motor installation

Skill level: Moderate-if you can change your car's oil and mount a TV on the wall, you can install this system. The wiring is straightforward: 12V DC, clearly labeled connections, and Anderson PowerPoles for the main power lines.

Support available: Video tutorials cover installation and setup. Join our Discord community for questions-we're there, and so are dozens of other DragonLAIR owners who've been through the process.

What You Need to Provide

Installation Requirements:

• AC outlet in your observatory (always-on for the charger)
• Mounting surface for motor bracket (wall studs, steel framing, or properly anchored)
• Roof travel measurement to determine how many meters of rack you need

Not Included:

• Weather station or ASCOM Alpaca safety monitor for weather-triggered automatic closure-the controller supports these devices, but you'll need to provide your own based on your preferred weather monitoring setup
• Additional rack sections beyond what you order-measure your roof travel and order accordingly

Optional but Recommended:

• Battery box or enclosure for a clean, protected installation
• Power distribution block (RigRunner or similar) if powering additional 12V equipment from the same power supply
• Mount Park Sensor for wireless telescope position detection (eliminates reflective sensor alignment hassles)

Real-World Performance

This exact system configuration has been protecting observatories for four years. More than 30 installations are running across the US and Canada-from the Arizona desert to the cold of Minnesota, Wyoming, and Vermont. Systems have been tested down to 10°F without issues.

The motor alone has logged over 1,000 cycles on our test installation in New Mexico's high desert. The DragonLAIR controller measures uptime in months and years, not days. It doesn't need daily reboots. It doesn't lose its configuration. It doesn't forget your WiFi password. It just runs.

Howling Coyote Remote Observatory in New Mexico runs DragonLAIR controllers on multiple buildings. When a professional remote hosting facility trusts their clients' equipment to your controller, that says something about reliability.

Who This System Is For

This system is ideal for:

• Backyard imagers who want to sleep through imaging sessions instead of babysitting their equipment
• Remote dark site owners who can't be there to close the roof when weather rolls in
• Hobbyist observatories with roofs up to 16 feet
• Anyone tired of unreliable DIY solutions that need constant attention

This system is NOT ideal for:

• Large commercial buildings requiring Pro-level motor capacity
• Multi-telescope professional hosting facilities
• Roofs significantly larger than 16 feet or exceptionally heavy construction

If you're building a larger or professional installation, contact us about the DragonLAIR Pro system with 900W/1200W motors and 100Ah battery backup.

Stop Researching. Start Imaging.

Your telescope, camera, and mount represent a serious investment-often $10,000 or more. Protecting that equipment shouldn't require a PhD in electronics or weeks of forum research trying to figure out which parts work together.

The Complete Roll-Off-Roof System gives you everything you need in one order: the motor to move your roof, the controller to automate it, and the battery backup to protect your equipment when the power goes out. It's the same system we've been selling for four years, now bundled with a 10% discount.

One order. One shipment. One weekend to install. Then get back to what you actually care about-capturing photons.

Save 10% when you purchase the complete system. Your equipment is worth protecting. This is the system that does it.

Need help? Join our Discord community for installation guides, troubleshooting, and direct support.