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Storm Damage

Gina

By Gina
in DIY Observatories

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Gina

Gina

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We've had storm force winds and torrential rain here overnight and this morning :(   The wind has eased off now and stopped raining so I've been outdoors to assess the damage. :eek:   I've been around the property collecting up window panels from the "sun lounge" - think I've found them all.  A damaged fence let the goats out onto the road and I had to get a very helpful neighbour to help get them back in.

But more relevant to this forum, I found my observatory roof askew and half off :eek:   My neighbour helped me get it back on and onto the running rails and engaged back into the anti lift fittings.  Only minor damage to the structure fortunately - some of the anti-lift and anti-roll off had held otherwise I cringe to think what might have happened :eek:

Fortunately, with the work I'm doing to the power arrangements, most of my astro gear was/is indoors - there was plenty of rain water on the obsy floor! :(  Main problem is the EQ8 mount which got drenched :(  I'm just hoping the design is such that little water got inside - it does seem that way.  It was switched off so I shall let it dry out before applying power again then I think I'll apply it gradually from my variable bench supply - I can set a suitable current limiting setting.

The dehumidifier is working well and should soon dry everything out.  I could hear the bilge pump slurping away sucking water from out of the foundations :D

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Garethr

Garethr

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Really sorry to hear that Gina

Hope all dries out and is still working. A good warning to all of us who might have become complacent after the mild weather we've had. Will certainly be going out now to check everything is secure.

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Gina

Gina

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Thank you folks :)  More work required on the anti-storm fittings I feel!  Large G clamp is now holding one side down and stopping the roof from rolling back.  The pin and hole fittings on the other side are well engaged and will hold I think.  So there's a new top priority job to go on the list :D

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Zakalwe

Zakalwe

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I use a couple of ratchet straps over the roof purlin to strap the roof down. I secure these to some D rings that are fixed the the pier mounting bolts. This toes not only the roof down but also secures the whole obsy.

The wind would have to rip the roof apart or snap the straps or shift the cubic metre of concrete the pier is bolted to.

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r3i

r3i

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I use a couple of ratchet straps over the roof purlin to strap the roof down. I secure these to some D rings that are fixed the the pier mounting bolts. This toes not only the roof down but also secures the whole obsy.

The wind would have to rip the roof apart or snap the straps or shift the cubic metre of concrete the pier is bolted to.

I do something similar, typically when the gusts are forecast to be over 50mph.

Sorry to hear you've had some more bad luck Gina, and hope you get sorted soon.

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post-5202-0-55802000-1415902526_thumb.jp

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Stargazer33

Stargazer33

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Sorry to hear about your troubles Gina. I guess you can't put your EQ8 in a tub of dried rice to dry out like I did with my mobile when it got an inproptu ride in the washing machine! Can you open a few panels to help with the drying process? Maybe even pop a few bags of silica gel inside?

Hope everything gets sorted out and glad to hear that the goats are all back safe and sound.

Have you thought about a defensive hedge to break the wind up before it reaches your obsy? Even the odd tree scattered around might be enough to break up the winds most damaging gusts. Obviously not great big cedars or horse chestnuts but something low. Trees on M27 rootstock grow to about 4-6 feet and M9 rootstock grow to 6-8 feet.

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saac

saac

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Gina after all the effort you have put in and helping others along the way I'm really sorry to hear your news. I hope that you can get the obsy back into use soon.  I'm just wondering given the cost of the EQ 8 mount if you may need to consider carefully how to go about putting power back on.  I know you suggested a controlled power up and Bryan suggested perhaps removing any suitable panels.  I wonder if you should think about taking advice from Skywatcher.  I know you know what your doing but I'm just concerned about warranty issues etc.  I wonder if using a dehumidifier on it may also be a consideration and leaving it a few weeks to really dry out. Really do hope it's all ok for you,good luck and fingers crossed here.

Jim

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Gina

Gina

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Glad you're all sorted Gina, at least it didn't end up halfway down the garden this time :)

Have you thought of getting a wind turbine ?

Dave

Thank you :)  The storm protection now is better than it was last time but clearly needs further improvement.

Yes, I have thought of a wind turbine in the past - even investigated the cost etc.  Needs planning permission too.  It works out pretty expensive and the design and fitting must be approved to satisfy planning :(  Naturally, I was thinking of a DIY project :D

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Gina

Gina

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Sorry to hear about your troubles Gina. I guess you can't put your EQ8 in a tub of dried rice to dry out like I did with my mobile when it got an inproptu ride in the washing machine! Can you open a few panels to help with the drying process? Maybe even pop a few bags of silica gel inside?

Hope everything gets sorted out and glad to hear that the goats are all back safe and sound.

Have you thought about a defensive hedge to break the wind up before it reaches your obsy? Even the odd tree scattered around might be enough to break up the winds most damaging gusts. Obviously not great big cedars or horse chestnuts but something low. Trees on M27 rootstock grow to about 4-6 feet and M9 rootstock grow to 6-8 feet.

Thank you :)  I think the EQ8 will probably dry out fine with the dehumidifier running.  I fine it does a pretty good job of drying the place out :)

No room for a hedge between obsy and boundary - I wanted to make best use of available view and that dictated where the obsy went.

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Gina

Gina

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Gina after all the effort you have put in and helping others along the way I'm really sorry to hear your news. I hope that you can get the obsy back into use soon.  I'm just wondering given the cost of the EQ 8 mount if you may need to consider carefully how to go about putting power back on.  I know you suggested a controlled power up and Bryan suggested perhaps removing any suitable panels.  I wonder if you should think about taking advice from Skywatcher.  I know you know what your doing but I'm just concerned about warranty issues etc.  I wonder if using a dehumidifier on it may also be a consideration and leaving it a few weeks to really dry out. Really do hope it's all ok for you,good luck and fingers crossed here.

Jim

Thank you :)  Yes, I might take off some panels if this is possible, to see if there's any sign of water inside.  I don't think there will be any damage as the atmosphere here is pretty clean so the rain should be fairly pure.  I shall certainly leave it for several days - I won't be in any hurry to get things up and running again, I'll check carefully first.  Not much sign of any clear nights in the forecast for the next 10 days anyway :D

I shall also be looking very carefully at the roof and storm measures.

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Skipper Billy

Skipper Billy

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I do something similar, typically when the gusts are forecast to be over 50mph.

Sorry to hear you've had some more bad luck Gina, and hope you get sorted soon.

attachicon.gif5-20 - Ratchet Straps.JPG

attachicon.gif5-18 - Ratchet Straps.JPG

If you put a twist - just half a turn or a full turn if need be - in each strap they wont vibrate and hum in the wind - much quieter and makes the straps last a lot longer!!!

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Davey-T

Davey-T

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Thank you :)  The storm protection now is better than it was last time but clearly needs further improvement.

Yes, I have thought of a wind turbine in the past - even investigated the cost etc.  Needs planning permission too.  It works out pretty expensive and the design and fitting must be approved to satisfy planning :(  Naturally, I was thinking of a DIY project :D

Lot's of examples on Y'Tube.

Dave

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Alien 13

Alien 13

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Thank you :)  The storm protection now is better than it was last time but clearly needs further improvement.

Yes, I have thought of a wind turbine in the past - even investigated the cost etc.  Needs planning permission too.  It works out pretty expensive and the design and fitting must be approved to satisfy planning :(  Naturally, I was thinking of a DIY project :D

A small DIY job using a car alternator with the battery supplies you where considering would make a nice little wind turbine project.

Alan

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