5 replies to this topic

[Yomamma]

I am looking to move outside to an observatory and live in a place that is hot and humid in summer. Is there anything I should do to mitigate this. Can’t afford a/c.

[johrich]

I live in Central Georgia and my equipment has been outside for several years in a Sky Shed Pod.  I put a container of damp rid underneath the Tri-Pier and cover the the telescope and mount with a Tele gizmo cover with the bottom loosely open.  I do not use the 365 cover, but the one that is not for leaving out in the open and has the reflective surface on the outside.   I have a small weather sensor in the Pod and it can read 110+ deg F in the summer and the humidity can often climb to 90% or more.  So far, no issues, of course, there is no power to the mount, cameras, Mele PC, etc., when I am not using it.

 

John

[Kitfox]

Really, all you can hope to do without HVAC capability is keep the interior as close to ambient temperature and humidity as possible.  To that end, ventilation becomes very important.  I decided to go the mini-split and heavy insulation route, but it requires $$$ and electricity.

Edited by Kitfox, 13 May 2025 - 11:45 AM.

[JimTheEngineer]

Ventilation helps in Houston. I have a large PC fan in my 6ft dome that works great. Foam, rubber, gaskets will degrade faster in the heat. I have been using Starbright Ultimate Boat Guard on the exterior of the Fiberglass dome. Wasps and tree frogs can be an issue at certain times of the year.

Edited by JimTheEngineer, 14 May 2025 - 09:24 AM.

[star acres]

Nope. Heat and humidity only affect me.

Edited by star acres, 16 May 2025 - 02:11 PM.

[eastwd]

I hear and understand you when you say HVAC in your observatory doesn’t fit your budget. But what about a dehumidifier? I have a Frigidaire dehumidifier that’s set to keep the humidity level in my dome at 50%. It has a drain hose that delivers the water it collects outside so I don’t have to change the tank. It does a great job. I’ve never tried to operate it without a separate split unit HVAC for temperature control, but I typically set the cool setting on the thermostat of my dome HVAC to 80°. So it’s not like I keep it chilly in my dome during warm weather months. A 35 or 50 pint capacity dehumidifier can be picked up in the U.S. from a big box hardware store for a couple hundred dollars. They weigh between 35 and 50 pounds, depending on the model. I’ve had great results with mine, and I live near Nashville, where summers are hot and humid. We get more annual rainfall than Seattle.

Larry