Telescope Reviews: Educate me on different model dew heaters please

· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt

· Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User

You are not logged in. [Login]

Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

Equipment Discussions >> Equipment

Pages: 1

N7XW
sage

Reged: 05/04/07

Loc: Westport, WA

Educate me on different model dew heaters please
#5732788 - 03/14/13 07:19 PM

I'm about to take the plunge on a new SCT and would like to get a good dew heater for it - especially considering the high humidity and salt air where I live.

I have briefly looked at Dew Not, Astrozap, Dewbuster and the Orion Dew Zapper. My questions are these:

Do the 2 channel, 4 output heaters give the same equal heat to the 2 outputs on the same channel or are they individually variable? Wouldn't it be better to have individual control of each output so that some bands are not too hot or too cold?

Do some of them automatically adjust the output based on temperature sensors? If so, which ones and do they do it individually for each output?

It looks like the only one I've found so far that is 4 channel/4 output (each controlled individually) is the Orion. I haven't found any reviews of it yet and it seems to be the most expensive of the ones I've looked at so far. Anyone have experience with it?

Thanks for any help on this.

Jon

Post Extras:

WarmWeatherGuy
professor emeritus

Reged: 08/27/11

Loc: Orlando, FL 28° N, 81° W

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: N7XW]
#5733341 - 03/15/13 12:49 AM

I bought the Dewbuster because it has two temperature sensors - one for the air and one for the scope. Then you dial in the desired temperature difference. This means you won't have too little or too much heat.

When I did my research it looked like this was by far the best solution.

Post Extras:

tomcody
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/06/08

Loc: Titusville, Florida

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: N7XW]
#5733706 - 03/15/13 09:32 AM

Kendrick Premier or DigiFire 10, controllers, Individual output controls, Temp sensing, remote programable, heavy duty heating straps. It does it all and very well.
One of the best features is the option to set the heat control for a couple of degrees above the dew point, this keeps the OTA clear of dew but puts just enough heat on the scope to work without being excessive. I love my Premier!!!!

Rex

Edited by tomcody (03/15/13 09:33 AM)

Post Extras:

mitaccio
sage

Reged: 03/17/09

Loc: Oahu, Hawaii

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: tomcody]
#5733825 - 03/15/13 10:30 AM

You can always build your own and save some money. I made one like the Kendrick Premier, and did it for about $100. Check out this link for more information.

Post Extras:

DaveJ
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/07/05

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: N7XW]
#5733961 - 03/15/13 11:43 AM

Quote:

I'm about to take the plunge on a new SCT and would like to get a good dew heater for it - especially considering the high humidity and salt air where I live.

I have two of the Dewbuster controllers and lots of the Dew-Not heater straps. As far as I'm concerned, it's the best money I've spent in this hobby. I went through several Kendrick controllers and heater straps without much joy. My vote is for the Dewbuster and Dew-Not straps.

Post Extras:

EJN
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/01/05

Loc: Highway 61

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: N7XW]
#5733973 - 03/15/13 11:51 AM Attachment (19 downloads)

The most effective dew control system is the Hellfire system shown in the attachment.

Post Extras:

fmhill
sage

Reged: 07/17/12

Loc: Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: N7XW]
#5734041 - 03/15/13 12:30 PM

Quote:

I'm about to take the plunge on a new SCT and would like to get a good dew heater for it - especially considering the high humidity and salt air where I live.

I have briefly looked at Dew Not, Astrozap, Dewbuster and the Orion Dew Zapper. My questions are these:

Do the 2 channel, 4 output heaters give the same equal heat to the 2 outputs on the same channel or are they individually variable? Wouldn't it be better to have individual control of each output so that some bands are not too hot or too cold?

Do some of them automatically adjust the output based on temperature sensors? If so, which ones and do they do it individually for each output?

It looks like the only one I've found so far that is 4 channel/4 output (each controlled individually) is the Orion. I haven't found any reviews of it yet and it seems to be the most expensive of the ones I've looked at so far. Anyone have experience with it?

Thanks for any help on this.

Jon

Hi Jon,

I use the Dew-Not dew bands with a Thousand Oaks Optical Digital Dew Heater Controller DDHC for a ES127 refractor and a 80mm guidescope...

I also have a
AstroZap Flexi-Heat Dew Shield For 11" SCT Telescopes AZ812
which works with the Thousand Oaks DDHC controller for my 11" SCT OTA however since purchasing both the OTA and the Dew shield for it, last time out for me was mid December due to weather and cloud conditions here on the coast of New England and I've yet to try the Astrozap Dew Shield for the 11" SCT out...

BTW, you live near Oysterville, I live in Osterville... Back in the mid 1960's I lived in South Tacoma for a year so know your area fairly well... Beautiful country out there...

Also K1FH...

73...

Post Extras:

peteryan
journeyman

Reged: 05/17/07

Loc: SE Alabama

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: EJN]
#5734202 - 03/15/13 02:06 PM

Ouch!

Post Extras:

wolfman_4_ever
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/15/11

Loc: El Segundo, Ca, So. Cal

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: peteryan]
#5734342 - 03/15/13 03:28 PM

I have a dewbuster and a digifire 10.. The dewbuster is sweet. I've never used the digifire 10.. The new Kendricks Premier coming out looks nice with dewpoint and PC control but it's probably going to be way way expensive..

Post Extras:

rigel123
Postmaster

Reged: 06/29/09

Loc: SW Ohio

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: N7XW]
#5735056 - 03/15/13 09:51 PM

I've used the Orion setup on my ED80T and 50 mm mini Autoguider but nothing larger and have no complaints.

Post Extras:

microstar
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 01/05/08

Loc: Canada

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: rigel123]
#5735323 - 03/15/13 11:53 PM

I use the Kendrick Digifire 10. One thing that's great for my location is that the wires have a softer coating that stays flexible in the -30C temperatures that I sometimes find myself imaging in.
...Keith

Post Extras:

bherv
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 03/10/06

Loc: WMass

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: microstar]
#5735977 - 03/16/13 11:02 AM

I have the Thousand Oaks four channel controller and homemade dew straps. I do have one Dewnot strap also. The Orion four channel controller is identical to the Thousand Oaks which I believe is no longer available. Dewnot strips are very good.
Barry

Post Extras:

YetAnotherHobby
sage

Reged: 09/02/09

Loc: Central CT

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: N7XW]
#5736952 - 03/16/13 07:16 PM

+1 for DewBuster. Made in the USA, works terrifically well. I started by building my own heater strips using the instructions on the DewBuster site. But I recently bought some thin film heater strips from ScopeStuff....they are very low profile and can slide underneath the dovetails on my SCT....the homemade strips were too thick.
Controller has a combination of temperature controlled and constant rate outputs, and lots of them. You can put a dew heater on a Telrad, finder, eyepiece, etc. and have outputs to spare.
Highly recommended!

Post Extras:

mikey cee
Postmaster

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: EJN]
#5737091 - 03/16/13 08:06 PM

Quote:

The most effective dew control system is the Hellfire system shown in the attachment.

That's exactly where a mirrored scope should be!!!

Post Extras:

mikey cee
Postmaster

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5737098 - 03/16/13 08:08 PM

I like being different therefore "dew not" purchase the Dew Not system.....please!!!

Mike

Post Extras:

hcsceo
super member

Reged: 10/14/09

Loc: Austin, TX

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5741217 - 03/18/13 05:28 PM

Dewbuster all the way. 5 Year warranty even if your homemade dew strips burn it up or you jack it up. Works great and he will customize it however you want it! It does take a little bit to get it but well worth the wait!

Post Extras:

N7XW
sage

Reged: 05/04/07

Loc: Westport, WA

Re: Educate me on different model dew heaters please new

[Re: hcsceo]
#5741846 - 03/18/13 09:49 PM

I think I'm going to go with the Dewbuster. Thanks to everyone for the help. I appreciate it.

Post Extras:

Pages: 1

Extra information

18 registered and 20 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: Jarad, tecmage

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 602

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics