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Dew control for Mach2
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Shailesh Trivedi
I am a recent owner of a Mach2. In Northern California, presently the dew point is quite high, consequently dew droplets form after 7:30pm. Is there a way to control or eliminate dew formation on the mount?
Shailesh
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Dale Ghent
I wouldn't worry at all about dew on the mount itself. Dew heaters that would warm its entire surface area to above ambient would be impracticable at any rate.
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On Dec 2, 2021, at 12:35, Shailesh Trivedi <strivedi@brightfeathers.com> wrote:
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Shailesh Trivedi
Dale,
The dew here nowadays in Sacramento makes it dripping wet, as if from a rain shower, hence my concern. In the very least I have to protect the CP4, not sure about the rest. Shailesh
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Dale Ghent
If you're concerned about the CP, you can take an old hand towel or something of the sort and wrap the CP with it, and secure it with a small bungee or the like. People run their systems in far wetter climes without much ado.
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On Dec 2, 2021, at 13:48, Shailesh Trivedi <strivedi@brightfeathers.com> wrote:
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dvjbaja
Just place an old t-shirt around the mount loosely during very wet conditions. Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note9, an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone
-------- Original message -------- From: Shailesh Trivedi <strivedi@...> Date: 12/2/21 10:49 AM (GMT-08:00) To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Dew control for Mach2 The dew here nowadays in Sacramento makes it dripping wet, as if from a rain shower, hence my concern. In the very least I have to protect the CP4, not sure about the rest. Shailesh
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Joe Zeglinski
Hi Shailesh,
After my AP-1200, with its traditionally
RA axis-mounted CP4 (at the time), shorted out – twice – from heavy
dew on some sessions, rolling off the OTA every time it passes
across the Prime Meridian, I decided to finger-squeeze in some (black) “silicone
sealer”, around all “four edges” of the Ethernet Port’s panel connector,
the most exposed, worst sealed, (original CP4 at least), of all the CP4
panel connectors. The others are extremely well bolted, storm-proof,
to the panel’s underside.
I suppose dew could still fall
directly into the open “unoccupied cable” sockets, but at least the edge-sealed,
now higher edges, would deviate the dew, streaming down
the face of the panel, like a river’s levy.
I then also purchased the AP Plastic Filler Plug
Kit, to block dew direct entry. Both measures are also great
prevention for wind blown electrically conductive dust, in the open field
or even an observatory in dusty climates.
Just another preventative measure,
for an expensive and essential electronic device.
Joe Z.
From: Shailesh Trivedi
Sent: Thursday, December 2, 2021 1:48 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Dew control for Mach2 Dale, The dew here nowadays in Sacramento makes it dripping wet, as if from a rain shower, hence my concern. In the very least I have to protect the CP4, not sure about the rest. Shailesh
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Greg McCall
FYI , a minor point is that the surface temperature needs to be above the dew point and not ambient temperature.
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Woody Schlom
Far wetter locations for sure -- as in Louisiana.
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I've never heard of people concerned about dew on their mounts before -- not even far lesser mounts than AP. When my equipment dews up and the dew heater can't cope any more, I just put a 365 Cover over the scope and let it hang down below the mount and controller box. I have an older Mach1. It came with a little coated Nylon bag I could put the controller into and hang from the mount or tripod. But I got tired of that and mounted the controller directly. Woody
-----Original Message-----
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Shailesh Trivedi
Thank you to everyone for your inputs. I plan to use some form of cover to protect the CP5 and will ignore the dew on the Mach2 per se.
I have an OS RH200AT mounted which is in need for dew control which is on order. My AP 130GTX with Denkmeir binoviewers is next up for visual. Thank you again. Shailesh
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