desertstars
Please stand by...
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 34547
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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After having one of these sitting in my general equipment box for a couple of months, a break in Arizona's summer monsoon gave me an early morning opportunity to finally try it out. I was up a couple of hours before sunrise to do a bit of moon watching with Ralph the All Purpose Refractor. While I was learning how put things together and lit it up I must have been bitten half a dozen times, with countless thwarted attempts (and no doubt a few I just didn't notice). I fired that gadget up, set it about five feet away from where I want the scope set up, and went about the business of assembling my observing site. Over the course of about ten minutes I went from contantly waving my hands around and stomping my feet to shake of the whiny blood suckers, to having no such company at all.
From the other comments here on CN that followed my original inquiry (and a similar thread started in the Beginners forum) I suppose I should not have been at all surprised. But the quick and complete elimination of mosquitoes from my observing area was still a bit mind boggling. I started out with no wind at all, and when a faint and fitful morning breeze arrived, I moved the unit to a position upwind of me. It maintained it's effectiveness as far as I could tell. (The instructions do warn that this technique is not very helpful on a windy day.) All in all I managed to get in a couple of hours of eyepiece time without being buzzed, much less bitten.
As they say in the movie business... 
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Tom W.
Collinder's Catalog
Jewels in Dark Settings
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40135
Loc: montana
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Tom, That's exactly what I have experienced with mine, in my Observatory. Since we had a very wet Spring, the mosquitos are very bad, haven't even seen one with the 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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Felix Luciano
member
Reged: 04/17/06
Posts: 36
Loc: Jonesboro, GA
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Tom W.
After reading about those units here in CN, I purchased one at my local Sports Authority store (for $14.95). Half price sale!
A few nights later, I set it up and got it started before setting up my equipment. It sure turned out to be a very pleasant observing night from the back yard. I only got bitten once or (maybe) twice, most likely before the unit started to work at its fullest capacity.
What a difference. I am sold.
Take care - Felix
Edited by Felix Luciano (08/26/08 09:06 AM)
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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1406
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Nice! I hadn't heard about this, but I'll have to check it out. Thanks!
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Al Canarelli
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/07
Posts: 2611
Loc: Central New Jersey
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I bought one of these units but have not used it yet. As a matter of fact I completely forgot that I bought it until I read this thread.
Nevertheless, I'm going to a starparty during the new moon in September and plan to take the thermacell with me. Does using this item have any negative effect on optics? Will using it give any neighbors cause for complaint?
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40135
Loc: montana
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Al, most assuredly the thermacell will make the neighbors complain..............because they want one also 
Seriously, it's totally quiet, no light glare, and unless you hover directly over it, no odor; even then just faint. As far as optics I really am not concerned, or I wouldn't be using it in my Observatory with my new 16" Dob.
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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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I've used mine about 5 or 6 times so far. I assumed it would be just another gimmick that had no noticeable effect. I was wrong. This thing works!
It does emit a slight wisp of smoke, but, unless it is placed right next to the glass, I don't see how it could settle on the optics.
Still, you should probably check with your star party neighbors. Some folks can be a little sensitive about their optics.
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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1406
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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y'all are a bad influence - I just ran over to home depot and bought one!
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JonM
member
Reged: 07/25/08
Posts: 15
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Hey, thanks for the info on the thermacell. WoW, do I ever need that thing. I'll be going to the nearest Home Depot tomorrow and buy a couple. My backyard is right on a lake and, if I don't cover myself in spray, I will look like I got the Chickenpox in about 30 minutes. Now, if they could just make a repellent for those Florida alligators.....
Jon
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Jon
Orion 120ED
Celestron Onyx 80ED
CG-5 ASGT
AT-Voyager
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ben290
member
Reged: 08/16/08
Posts: 58
Loc: St Louis metro
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I found one at the local Wal-Mart, $22 in the hunting dept.
Be sure to buy the mosquito-repel one, as they also sell one that disperses hunting cover scents.
I have not used mine yet, haven't been out since getting it.
~
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First scope: Orion Astroview 100mm, $460
Vixen A70Lf achro OTA
Accessories so far: ~$1200 or so & climbing
consider yourself warned
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AstroRealtor
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/26/08
Posts: 539
Loc: Terra Firma
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This thing is so good that it should be considered as essential in areas like where I live where it swarms with the pesky blood suckers. I hate those beasts! I WILL NOT go observing in the summer without it. It just might save somebody from quitting the hobby.... it's that good! I can now concentrate on observing.
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RandallK
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 1003
Loc: Nanaimo, B. C. Canada
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I was just over at Wal-Mart and picked up two replacement Butane cartridges (8.44 for 2 CDN $). They're in the hair dryer section and made by Connair, but if you look close it says thermacell as well! No replellent mats are included but I'm tending to use the cartridges faster than the mats that slip in under the grille.
I first read about this unit in the Canadian SKY NEWS astro magazine and there were different units tested, $40 Canadian and under. Only the thermacell was effective (and quite at that). It was tested under Ontario condidtions and it's something you just gotta have back there.
It's one of those things that just sits around and you wonder if it's doing anything, but by the end of the night, and thinking back how those little buggers were trying like crazy to take a bite out of me, I said..."Yeah...this thing really works afterall!"
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Scopes: Meade SC-8AT w UHTC
Orion ST-80 Refractor (Autoguiding)
SkyWatcher 5" F/5 Reflector
SkyWatcher 127mm MAK
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Cameras: Orion Starshoot DS Colour Imager V.1
Imaging Source Webcam DMK21AU04.AS
Canon XSi 450D Unmodded
Palm TX PDA w Astromist and Bluetooth wireles control.
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Fred1
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/19/07
Posts: 1000
Loc: Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania
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Quote:
... I'm tending to use the cartridges faster than the mats that slip in under the grille.....
How can that be? The cartridges last 8-12 hours. I get an easy 10 or more from mine. The mats are 4 hours max.
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Fred
Celestron 8" SCT w/Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser/JMI Motofocus;
Stellarvue SV80ST Triplet APO
Tele Vue Binoviewers w/Orion Filter Wheel,Siebert Galaxy Viewer FR, Siebert 0x/1.3x MultiMag OCA
Earthwin Optical Binoviewers w/Pwr-Fltr Slide
Stellarvue BV3 Binoviewers w/Siebert 1.25x OCA
Celestron CG5-ASGT
Astro-Tech Voyager w/JMI Micro-Slew
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desertstars
Please stand by...
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 34547
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
I bought one of these units but have not used it yet. As a matter of fact I completely forgot that I bought it until I read this thread.
Nevertheless, I'm going to a starparty during the new moon in September and plan to take the thermacell with me. Does using this item have any negative effect on optics? Will using it give any neighbors cause for complaint?
I know some folks will worry about deposits on optics, but somewhere in one of the other threads on this topic a member who has used this gadget for a few years reports that nothing of the kind has occurred. At any rate, as quickly as the whisps of vapor I saw coming out of this thing dissipated into the open air, there isn't much chance for direct deposition. I can't see any reason for concern. I would NOT, however, push my luck and attach the thing directly to a telescope. It worked just dandy from a few feet away.
But though I see no reason for concern, the risk is mine to take, and I would not simply disregard the concerns of others. If you're setting up with a group, let them know you are using one. If someone is concerned, work out a spacing that makes them comfortable. It's a modest curtesy.
But don't be surprised if the response ends up being people moving closer to where you've set up! 
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Tom W.
Collinder's Catalog
Jewels in Dark Settings
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Bart
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/28/06
Posts: 592
Loc: Inside the (DC) Beltway
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I bought one after reading this thread, so far I'm impressed. Even though one or two get past the thermacell defense, I'm no longer the smorgasbord that I once was for the skeeters. thermacell gets a big thumbs-up from me!
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DennisF
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/03/06
Posts: 1184
Loc: Northern IL
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I've used one for 2 months now and I won't observe outside without it until the skeeter season is over.
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10" XTi
C6 SE
C8 SE
C8 (late 90's?)
SV80ED
SV102ED
SV M1
Original AYO EzTouch mount
LM Teegul
Gone-ETX 125, C80, ED80SF, PortaMount
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KWB
Postmaster
Reged: 09/30/06
Posts: 9268
Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
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So this devise uses butane cartridges? I've never heard of the thermacell.
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Kenny
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40135
Loc: montana
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There was quite a lengthy thread in Beginners recently about thermacells.
Here is a link to thermacell:
link
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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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desertstars
Please stand by...
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 34547
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
So this devise uses butane cartridges? I've never heard of the thermacell.
Yes, butane to heat the small blue pad containing the active ingredient. The pad gradually turns white as it is depleted. I ran mine for about 2 hours and could only just begin to see white around the edges.
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Tom W.
Collinder's Catalog
Jewels in Dark Settings
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josie521
sage
Reged: 09/03/07
Posts: 282
Loc: 43.22 n 75.45w
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this product rocks!!!!!!
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Orion XT10i w/object locator
Roundtable platform
Orion 1.25" 25mm,10mm e.p.
University optics, inc. 2" 80 degree 30mm e.p.
Baader planetarium hyperion 68 degree 21mm,13mm,8mm e.p.
Meade super plossl 6.4 e.p.
Telrad
Skyglow broadband,moon,red,Blue filters
Bushnell 1400mm Newtionian reflector,bushnell 10&25mm e.p.s
Orion shorty 2x barlow
Vivitar 7-21x40 binos w/tripod
green lazer pointer, Howie Glatter green laser pointer
Ted Thorsen 800LP obervation chair
7 panels homemade blind
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