You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Telescope Specific Forums >> Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Anonymous Unregistered Where to keep 10" GPS prior to hot humid viewings       #128535 - 06/17/04 10:17 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Last night was the first clear night in ages. So around dusk, I drag my scope out from inside a 72 degree A/C'ed house into a 74 degree 100% humidity outside environment. I left the cap on the scope, but every other surface instantly condensated. I continue setting up, taking my time. Finally I pull the cap off and the corrector plate instantly condensates as well. I wait a while, but everything continues to be drenched. So I wipe off the corrector place with some wipes, and it gets some of the moisture off, but it by no means dries it off completely. By now Jupiter is clearly visible, so I slew to it and is rewarded with a great view, including all 4 moons. But my EP quickly gets all fogged up from my eye being all up on it. So I have to keep wiping it to continue to observe (31 Nagler, btw). After about 1 hour, I got tired of dealing with the wet scope, so I packed up for the evening. Would I be better off storing the scope in my non A/C'ed garage when not observing? I'm afraid doing so would make all the screws rust, not to mention being harmful to the electronics? Or do I simply have to accept the fact that living in Central Virginia means no observing during the hot humid summer nights? Post Extras:       LivingNDixie Lord of Ferrets Reged: 04/23/03 Posts: 15920 Loc: Hoover, AL Re: Where to keep 10" GPS prior to hot humid viewings [Re: ]       #128568 - 06/17/04 11:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Get the kendrick dew remover system and replace the "rust" screws and you should be fine www.kendrick-ai.com http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_lxsc1.htm -------------------- Preston Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT Tak FS 78 Lunt LS60T/Ha 60mm f/8.33 (on order) Vixen Porta Mount Post Extras:       Anonymous Unregistered Re: Where to keep 10" GPS prior to hot humid viewings [Re: ]       #128584 - 06/17/04 11:34 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello Starhopper Your predicament reminds me to be grateful I live in Prescott, Arizona. At 5800 ft, we have very dry air. Of course, it does get a little cooler at night, but summers are quite pleasant. If your telescope is below the dew point temperature and there is that much humidity, you can expect condensation. The suggestion to use a dew shield/heater may help. You might try making your own dew shield (extra long) and see if there is any improvement. My question is, do you observe dressed in your bathing suit? Russ Schnitzer Post Extras:       Anonymous Unregistered Re: Where to keep 10" GPS prior to hot humid viewings [Re: ]       #128607 - 06/17/04 12:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I live in Baton Rouge, so I can empathize with you. I normally put my scope on my covered porch for a couple of hours to let the temperature equilibrate. That protects it from most of the humidity. Definately get an electric dew zapper- kendrick or orion. Tim 10"LX200GPS UHTC Post Extras:       Anonymous Unregistered Re: Where to keep 10" GPS prior to hot humid viewings [Re: ]       #128621 - 06/17/04 12:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sorry, I should have mentioned I already have an Astro-Zapper (?) rigid dew shield. But the corrector plate condensated immediately when I took of the 'lens cap'. So by the time I got the shield on, it was already too late. Yes, the root of the problem is that the temp of the scope is below the dew point. The thing is that all my metal funiture on the porch that had been sitting there all day was also soaking wet. Looking at the Kendrick site, I'm a bit overwelmed at the options. Is this what I need? 2001 Standard Controller with 4 outputs/7 amps maximum/12VDC 2012 9 inch/10 inch Heater for Meade 10 inch SCT 2006 2 inch Heater for 2 inch eyepieces, 50mm finders, some camera lenses Should I get a second 2006 for the finder as well? Post Extras:       Anonymous Unregistered Re: Where to keep 10" GPS prior to hot humid viewings [Re: ]       #128630 - 06/17/04 01:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I don't know all of the Kendrick products well. I use the Orion dew zapper. If you want to run heaters on your ep and finder, then you will need a lot of outputs. I don't myself... but that doesn't mean I shouldn't. Try hooking the heater up to the scope and pre-heating the corrector by running it for about 30 minutes before taking the cap off. Post Extras:       Anonymous Unregistered Re: Where to keep 10" GPS prior to hot humid viewings [Re: ]       #128720 - 06/17/04 03:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I went ahead and placed an order for the above mentioned items along with a ep box heater. Hopefully this will allow me to observe during the hot humid summer nights. Russ, sandals, shorts and maybe a t-shirt if its not too humid. Thanks for the pointers! Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 2 registered and 4 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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