JAT Observatory
NOT a Wimp
Reged: 02/20/05
Loc: In the Primordial Soup
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Its official...I am an idiot!
#2786936 - 12/04/08 07:26 PM
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a couple of years ago I purchased a cloud and rain sensor because one night my equipment got wet.
The sensor is interfaced to the dome's roof and will close when the conditions warrant.
Well earlier this evening I was testing some software I wrote so I disabled the cloud sensor's control of the shutters. Well guess what happened? Yeah thats right.. it rained and I didn't know it.
What really makes it bad is I went out of my way to circumvent the system. I intentionally disabled the cloud sensor. I did it because it wouldn't let me open the shutters and I wanted to test the software. But the reason it wouldn't let me open the dome is because the sky was very cloudy! Why was the sky very cloudy? Because it was getting ready to rain! Duh!
Too make it worse, not only did I never bother to actually check the weather, I forgot that earlier I had muted the volume on the weather station computer. That of course disabled the audible alarm that would have told me it was raining! Oh and I also didn't notice the red blinking letters that clearly spell out the word "RAIN"!
So what I have proven is, that no matter how much you plan, no matter what system you end up putting in place to protect your equipment, it will be woefully incapable of protecting against an idiot (especially a determined one).
So let it be known that I am officially an "Idiot". 
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
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Re: Its offical...I am idiot!
[Re: JAT Observatory]
#2786947 - 12/04/08 07:34 PM
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OOpppsssss...
Much damage?
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Fish
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/13/07
Loc: Norridgewock, ME
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Re: Its official...I am an idiot!
[Re: JAT Observatory]
#2786952 - 12/04/08 07:37 PM
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Welcome to the "ID-10-T" club! You must be proud.
This is yet another example that nothing - NOTHING - can be made idiot-proof. The best anyone can do is make something "idiot-resistant"!
Regards, Marc
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Scott K
Non-standard Title
Reged: 09/13/07
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Re: Its official...I am an idiot!
[Re: JAT Observatory]
#2786983 - 12/04/08 07:57 PM
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That sucks, Marcus. I would probably be using harsh language right about now had I done that.
Looking on the bright side though, you now know that your weather interlocks work!
How wet did it all get?
I'm really sorry this happened to you. Yeah, I've had those moments too. ("Yeah, I know what I'm doing". Click. "Of course I want to do that - that's why I pressed the button". Click. "Stupid computer, do what I tell you!!!!" Click. "Oh *BLEEP*, I guess I didn't really know what I was doing!")
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JAT Observatory
NOT a Wimp
Reged: 02/20/05
Loc: In the Primordial Soup
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Re: Its offical...I am idiot!
[Re: Tom Trusock]
#2787008 - 12/04/08 08:11 PM
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No damage other than my pride. The mount, OTA and floor got fairly wet. But because of how the scope was pointed the optics didn't get wet.
I wiped off the rain and now the mount and OTA are all nice and shiny (the dust is all gone). The heater and dehumidifier did a nice job of drying the floor and anything I missed.
My real concern was the cameras since they were powered and have grated openings for ventilation. But they seem to be OK.
"ID-10-T" ha I like that!
Scott, yeah the interlocks work. They were originally put in for maintenance so I could work on the shutters and not have them act as a nutcracker if it got cloudy while my thick head was between though them. The other use for interlocks is if it is going to be cloudy for 4 or 5 days straight I will disable the wireless connection to the sensor. This keeps the wireless receiver and motor in the dome from constantly trying to close the shutters and draining the dome battery. The cloud sensor will send a close signal roughly every 3 or 4 seconds. There is an interlock in both the house and the obs.
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Pedestal
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/11/06
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
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Re: Its official...I am an idiot!
[Re: JAT Observatory]
#2787011 - 12/04/08 08:12 PM
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Well, I can certainly sympathize. Last time I had an idiot moment it cost me $300 at the 'puter shop. I hope you got off lighter.
Hubert
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1965healey
The Snarkster
Reged: 06/23/07
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Re: Its official...I am an idiot!
[Re: Scott K]
#2787016 - 12/04/08 08:15 PM
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Really smart guys usually make really dumb mistakes when they finally get around to making them. It's natures way of providing balance in the world. 
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Scott K
Non-standard Title
Reged: 09/13/07
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Re: Its offical...I am idiot!
[Re: JAT Observatory]
#2787024 - 12/04/08 08:19 PM
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Domes are complicated. Stuff is bound to happen, it's just inevitable. I'd leave it at that.
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JAT Observatory
NOT a Wimp
Reged: 02/20/05
Loc: In the Primordial Soup
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Re: Its official...I am an idiot!
[Re: 1965healey]
#2787036 - 12/04/08 08:26 PM
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Quote:
Really smart guys usually make really dumb mistakes when they finally get around to making them. It's natures way of providing balance in the world.
Karen thanks for the compliment...I think  
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Loc: Brooker, FL
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Re: Its official...I am an idiot!
[Re: JAT Observatory]
#2787059 - 12/04/08 08:43 PM
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That's it? That's the BEST you can do? Amateur...
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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Re: Its official...I am an idiot!
[Re: Rusty]
#2787115 - 12/04/08 09:20 PM
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Marcus, glad there was no damage. Your probably the smartest idiot I know though. 
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csa/montana
Den Mama
Reged: 05/14/05
Loc: montana
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Re: Its official...I am an idiot!
[Re: JAT Observatory]
#2787125 - 12/04/08 09:24 PM
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Marcus, glad it appears no damage, except to your pride!
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
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Re: Its official...I am an idiot!
[Re: csa/montana]
#2787137 - 12/04/08 09:28 PM
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Whew!
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David Pavlich
Transmographied
Reged: 05/18/05
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA
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Re: Its official...I am an idiot!
[Re: Tom Trusock]
#2787193 - 12/04/08 09:58 PM
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That's a real goof, but I thought when I opened up the thread, you were going to have something like you forgot to tighten the saddle and the 12"R hit the deck. Considering what might have been, it's not so bad.
David
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Re: Its offical...I am idiot!
[Re: JAT Observatory]
#2787196 - 12/04/08 10:01 PM
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Quote:
I wiped off the rain and now the mount and OTA are all nice and shiny (the dust is all gone).
Well see, at least SOME good came out of this!  
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mtb.daily
sage
Reged: 09/19/07
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Re: Its offical...I am idiot!
[Re: NeoDinian]
#2787330 - 12/04/08 11:40 PM
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Yeah, a clean OTA is soooooooooooo purty....
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glenncondie
super member
Reged: 03/17/07
Loc: W.B. Gregg Observatory,Canada
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Re: Its offical...I am idiot!
[Re: mtb.daily]
#2787662 - 12/05/08 09:04 AM
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HeY Marcus ! Just remember it's not the Amptitude of the idiosity , it's the Frequency ! Glenn
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Scott Horstman
Vendor - Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Loc: Too Far North, USA
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Re: Its offical...I am idiot!
[Re: glenncondie]
#2787785 - 12/05/08 10:24 AM
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The Marcus I know is surely no idiot! It has to have simply been a "senior moment" You're getting up there you know. 
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JAT Observatory
NOT a Wimp
Reged: 02/20/05
Loc: In the Primordial Soup
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Re: Its offical...I am idiot!
[Re: Scott Horstman]
#2787972 - 12/05/08 12:17 PM
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Ah.. I like that Scott. Maybe I can use that "senior moment" thingy as an out when I get in trouble with the spousal unit also.
The only problem is what if it was a "senior moment", and maybe the amplitude and the frequency of my idiosity are actually high, but I have no recollection of the frequency. I mean you are talking about a guy who forgot his wedding anniversary 2 years in a row. (Trust me that will never happen again as "forgive me" diamonds are even more expensive than regular ones).
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dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
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Re: Its offical...I am idiot!
[Re: JAT Observatory]
#2788190 - 12/05/08 02:22 PM
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I guess it is true, there really is no such thing as "idiot proof". 
Glad you got away with no lasting damage.
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