4 replies to this topic

[JimOfOakCreek]

Would leaving my SkyView Pro mount outdoors on my deck, with a cover on the eq mount, harm it? This would be 24/7 through rain, snow and cold. What do you think?

[macdonjh]

The default recommendation for scope/ mount covers is TeleGizmos 365.  Many people do exactly what you're proposing with that cover.  

[YAOG]

Would leaving my SkyView Pro mount outdoors on my deck, with a cover on the eq mount, harm it? This would be 24/7 through rain, snow and cold. What do you think?

The only issues are vermin, insects and moisture. You are basically sealing the mount in a plastic bag to keep out the bugs and rodents so you must use some sort of heating device to raise the air temp high enough to push out moisture. Golden rods are small low Watt heating elements boaters have used for decades. I used them on my race boat to control moisture and they work if you have enough of them for the volume you want to keep dry. For a small enclosed space like a mount under a cover it should be no problem using at least a 12" which is 12 Watts of power for heating. Remember, you need to seal up the enclosure for this to work well.  

[JimOfOakCreek]

Thanks to both of you guys.

[macdonjh]

I keep my mounts in non-climate controlled buildings (detached garage and observatory).  I don't have to worry about dew and condensation has not been a problem for me.  I don't seal the covers I use (TeleGizmos "regular"), so they act mainly as dust covers.  I haven't had any trouble with insects or vermin to date either.  There isn't any food under my covers, so I think the vermin are uninterested (apparently there are better places to nest).  Insects have been a worry in my observatory, specifically mud daubers.  I keep both mirrors as covered as possible and haven't had a tragedy yet.  My fingers stay crossed.

 

If you know condensation is problematic in your location, or learn the hard way, YAOG's golden rods, or low-wattage incandescent light bulbs have been used by many to prevent condensation under their covers or inside their enclosures.

 

Keep in mind there aren't many parts of your mount which will be hurt by water.  Most everything is aluminum, stainless steel or brass.  The electronics and motors are a different story.  Some Cloudy Nights members take their hand controllers inside when they're done for the evening.  Removing the motors in another story...