RGM
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 668
Loc: Burks Falls, Ontario, Canada
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I became very interested in ThermaCELLs after reading a thread started here a month or so ago. I found a store that sells them, but the instructions state that it should be used outdoors. The previous thread never really described where people were using them. I have a dome observatory, 8 feet by 8 feet. Do people use the ThermaCELL indoors, in a dome observatory?
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Bob
Tak FS78
C8 SCT XLT ASGT
10" LightBridge
Denk Standards and Power Switch diagonal
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Al Canarelli
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/07
Posts: 2611
Loc: Central New Jersey
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I don't see where it can do any damage. Besides, when the dome is open there is plenty of ventilation. The Thermacells work great...you will love them!
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6545
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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I happen to agree with Al on this one...I too have an 8' Domed observatory and if someone came in and sprayed a little Armour all on a rag and wiped something that I stored in the observatory (Like a closed laptop case etc) I would Bloody Kill them on the spot because that stuff out gasses like crazy...
BUT I have no problem using ThermaCell with the shutter open of course...
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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Trebor777
Hazy
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1159
Loc: Connecticut - U.S.
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I have a ThermaCELL, but I haven't used it. I don't have an observatory, but from my understanding, it shouldn't harm my optics at all?? Correct?
It's almost the season where the little critters start flying all over the place. I'm a mobile observer and I'm always looking for the best, darkest skies that I can get to within a hours drive.
So, just to make sure, are my optics safe if I place the ThermaCELL under my tripod? I have an eyepiece tray as a spreader for my tripod and I'm always putting EP's there (duh). Will my EP optics be ok with the ThermaCELL placed on the ground, or on the lower tripod spreader on my CGE tripod?
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- Randy
Telescopes (Solar too), Eyepieces, Mounts, Filters, CCD Cameras,
Astronomy Accessories, My Eyes, My Mind (Sometimes) and Hopefully Clear Skies.
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Bob Myler
sage
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 223
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What is a ThermaCELL?
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Pedestal
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/11/06
Posts: 3843
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
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I use mine in an 8' dome. No problems. They aren't perfect, but they work pretty good.
Hubert
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Hubert
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www.smoggybottom.org
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David Pavlich
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 8633
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA 30.22 X 90....
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I use one in my 8X8 rolloff. It doesn't repell all of the critters, but it really does reduce their presence. Highly recommended.
David
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Proud Member; PAS NOLA,
"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research..."
A. Einstein
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Gunner
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/20/06
Posts: 516
Loc: Bellville,Texas
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Quote:
What is a ThermaCELL?
A Thermacell uses a small ( about the size of a lipstick ) container of propane to heat a pad that contains a chemical of insect repellant that keeps away nagging bugs.
I have had mine for about 8 month and love it, no more mosquitos while I'm observing.
As far as using them inside the observatory there is no problem, they're meant to be used in deer blinds and such, so using them inside a half open inclosure there shouldn't be any worries.
Allen
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Orion 190mm Mak-Newt w/Orion 80ED Guidescope
Orion XT12i w/ Moonlite Cr-2 and Flocked
Orion 8" Reflector Flocked
Orion Atlas EQ-G mount
Orion Autoguider
Orion X-Y Guide Star Finder
Canon EOS Rebel XTi ( un-modified )
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RGM
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 668
Loc: Burks Falls, Ontario, Canada
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Thanks for all the responses. Just wanted to make sure I was not doing something wrong.
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Bob
Tak FS78
C8 SCT XLT ASGT
10" LightBridge
Denk Standards and Power Switch diagonal
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AlienFirstClass
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 734
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What is the active ingredient?
And what does the manufacturer recommend..inside or outside usage?
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40128
Loc: montana
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Thermacell
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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bdjeep
sage
Reged: 01/29/07
Posts: 440
Loc: Bolton, MA
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You can tell it's spring time when all of the Thermacell threads start coming up.
If you don't own one, you are probably wondering if it is just a gimmick and if it really works.
If you do own one, it is probably your most valued observing accessory.
It is supposed to be for outdoor use (that's where the mosquitoes are.) In a dome, I'd put it up high, somewhere near the opening and you shouldn't have a problem. It puts out the slightest amount of vapor but nothing like those citronella oil candles.
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JadeSmith
sage
Reged: 07/15/08
Posts: 413
Loc: 5 miles from Obama's house
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LOVE the Thermacell.
It's the greatest.
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Astro Tech 8" Imaging Newt (Thanks Astronomics!)
Stellarvue SV80ED
Celestron C6R Backyard Artillery
Zhumell Z10 dob
Celestron CGEM
William Optics EzTouch
Canon 20D
...and lots of goodies
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Bowmoreman
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 3988
Loc: Bolton, MA
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Quote:
I have a ThermaCELL, but I haven't used it. I don't have an observatory, but from my understanding, it shouldn't harm my optics at all?? Correct?
It's almost the season where the little critters start flying all over the place. I'm a mobile observer and I'm always looking for the best, darkest skies that I can get to within a hours drive.
So, just to make sure, are my optics safe if I place the ThermaCELL under my tripod? I have an eyepiece tray as a spreader for my tripod and I'm always putting EP's there (duh). Will my EP optics be ok with the ThermaCELL placed on the ground, or on the lower tripod spreader on my CGE tripod?
don't place it under your tripod... place it slightly DOWNWIND (or down breeze)of where you are standing/setup... If it is totally TOTALLY calm, then just have it a few feet away from you in any direction.
the work fabulously, use em all the time in my backyard, and in my observatory...
They do NOT hurt optics in any way that I've yet experienced.
Clear enough skies
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Dave
Imaging: MI-250+ADM/SBS/Optec Libra: C11Hyperstar,TMB80SS
Visual: XT10i RTP
TV: 31T5,22T4,17T4,12T4,13Ethos,8Ethos;2x Powermate,Paracorr, 1.6X Antares, Hyperion8-24Zoom
Cameras: Mallincam Color Hyper Plus, QHY8
Guider: SBIG STV eFinder
Key Add-ons: Gerbings Heated clothes, WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO#90), Speco 9"Monitor
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40128
Loc: montana
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Quote:
don't place it under your tripod... place it slightly DOWNWIND (or down breeze)of where you are standing/setup... If it is totally TOTALLY calm, then just have it a few feet away from you in any direction.
the work fabulously, use em all the time in my backyard, and in my observatory...
They do NOT hurt optics in any way that I've yet experienced.
That's been my experience also, Dave. You can hardly tell it's working, no odor unless you bend directly over it. It is a very valuable accessory for my Observatory!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 2581
Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada
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What Carol said. I use mine in a 8" dome, and set in the open doorway. No fumes, very few biting insects. Another top recommendation!
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-Roger Pitre-
1 X 7 binocular Astro-Tech Imaging Newtonian MPCC
Starblast guidescope Starshoot autoguider
EQ6 Pro, HEQ5, Canon 50D, 70-200 f/4L
"He's got shoulders on him like a smelt..."--Anonymous
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10723&id=509325956&l=79d06a1d10
http://ajpobservatory.isgreat.org/
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medieval1
super member
Reged: 12/18/08
Posts: 160
Loc: Colorado Springs
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Curse you all!
Sheesh...I spend more money reading these threads. 
Ok...thermaCell ordered...with an extra refill pack.
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Jim West
Meade LX200-ACF 8"
Coronado P.S.T
Canon 40D (unmodified)
Meade DSI Pro II w/color filters
Galileoscope
astro.jameswest.com
Lifetime member of Colorado Springs Astronomical Society
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Bowmoreman
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 3988
Loc: Bolton, MA
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You can get em really cheap at your local Wally world... and not pay shipping, etc...
FYI...
In terms of WHERE I usually place it in my observatory. I usually place it on the upper corner wall which was "vacated" when I roll the roof off...
So facing the front of my observatory, I usually place it in the upper right (aka NW) corner. I put it there for these reasons:
1) NW is the direction I'm LEAST likely to image, betwee dearth of targets and the fact that they are SETTING in that location (versus NE), there is also a local High School 1/2 mile away with lights, so there's some "glow"
2) the other option would be SW, and S is where I image, don't want the vapors rising from it's heat generator (no matter how small) to impede visuals
3) The prevailing breeze (and there is almost always SOME) is usually from a westerly direction.
4) My local "source" for Mozzies is the creek/wetlands area that is ENE from my observatory (about 100 feet away)... this way the vapors move downwind to "hide/repel" from my CO2 breathing!
Works fabulously. Everyone needs to think about your own local micro-climate and micro-ecology to optimize the placement. It's pretty logical really.
clear enough skies
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Dave
Imaging: MI-250+ADM/SBS/Optec Libra: C11Hyperstar,TMB80SS
Visual: XT10i RTP
TV: 31T5,22T4,17T4,12T4,13Ethos,8Ethos;2x Powermate,Paracorr, 1.6X Antares, Hyperion8-24Zoom
Cameras: Mallincam Color Hyper Plus, QHY8
Guider: SBIG STV eFinder
Key Add-ons: Gerbings Heated clothes, WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO#90), Speco 9"Monitor
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medieval1
super member
Reged: 12/18/08
Posts: 160
Loc: Colorado Springs
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I ordered from drugstore.com for 19.99 + free shipping.
...and now I'm gonna have to build an observatory to use my newest acquisition! 
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Jim West
Meade LX200-ACF 8"
Coronado P.S.T
Canon 40D (unmodified)
Meade DSI Pro II w/color filters
Galileoscope
astro.jameswest.com
Lifetime member of Colorado Springs Astronomical Society
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Trebor777
Hazy
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1159
Loc: Connecticut - U.S.
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Quote:
Quote:
I have a ThermaCELL, but I haven't used it. I don't have an observatory, but from my understanding, it shouldn't harm my optics at all?? Correct?
It's almost the season where the little critters start flying all over the place. I'm a mobile observer and I'm always looking for the best, darkest skies that I can get to within a hours drive.
So, just to make sure, are my optics safe if I place the ThermaCELL under my tripod? I have an eyepiece tray as a spreader for my tripod and I'm always putting EP's there (duh). Will my EP optics be ok with the ThermaCELL placed on the ground, or on the lower tripod spreader on my CGE tripod?
don't place it under your tripod... place it slightly DOWNWIND (or down breeze)of where you are standing/setup... If it is totally TOTALLY calm, then just have it a few feet away from you in any direction.
the work fabulously, use em all the time in my backyard, and in my observatory...
They do NOT hurt optics in any way that I've yet experienced.
Clear enough skies
Thanx Dave, I'll just place it a little bit downwind of where I set up.
--------------------
- Randy
Telescopes (Solar too), Eyepieces, Mounts, Filters, CCD Cameras,
Astronomy Accessories, My Eyes, My Mind (Sometimes) and Hopefully Clear Skies.
|
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