TonySparsis Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Hi I have a SkW Explorer 200P EQ5 SynScanIt's very heavy for me to cart back and forth to my garden due to spinal problems. Can anyone tell me if it's okay to leave equipment outside under a waterproof cover for a few nights at a time.Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc-c Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Tony, The problem will be moisture, both externally fom rain and due etc, but also inside the cover should condesation form. Whilst the mount should be OK, it's not the best environment for the elecctronics, at best the metal around the din sockets could start to rust over time. Is there anyway you could get someone to modify a small shed so it rolls off to allow viewing ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brantuk Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 When we are camping we put the scopes outside under a ventilated cover for 8-10 days and never yet suffered any side effects despite the weather going from very hot to chucking it down with rain and cold.A few days is fine on a temporary basis but not to be considered as permanent storage. These are the covers I use:Cases, Bags and Covers for Telescopes and Other Optics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swag72 Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 I have left mine outside with a cover on for months. Granted I don't suffer so much with the condensation that you get in UK - but it's all still working nonetheless!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirFoo Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Good idea. Now in my list of things to buy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonySparsis Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 Cheers everyone, it all makes sense. Would love an observatory, wouldn't we all???It seems a small waterproof gazebo could be a short term solution.CheersTony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirmetin Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 If you make up a few of bags of silca gel dessicant and place one under the canopy with the scope then it should keep it drier for at least a day or two. You would need around 100g in each bag. You dry them out in the oven when the crystals change colour. By having several bags you can always have some ready to use, store them in the clip type sealing food stoarge boxes.You can get them free by collecting them from packaging for yourself and friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonySparsis Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 Excellant Idea.....Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umadog Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 You need to be careful doing this long-term because it will destroy the mirror coatings (I speak from experience). What happens is that the mirror cools during the night and then dew forms on it in the morning as the air warms but the mirror doesn't catch up. You may never see this dew, as it will be gone by mid-morning. However, pollution and other stuff dissolves into the dew (which isn't hard water so has no buffering capacity for acids and bases) and slowly eats away at the coating. I have kept a scope in an unheated wooden garage and that destroyed a coating. The solution is to shove a 15 W bulb under the mirror, to keep it above ambient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc-c Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Whilst browsing the net came across thisBuilding the TARDIS Micro-ObservatoryJust goes to show a pier cover doesn't have to be boring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeWilson Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Whilst browsing the net came across thisBuilding the TARDIS Micro-ObservatoryJust goes to show a pier cover doesn't have to be boring Epic.That probably houses a collection of the world's finest dobsonians, including a selection of 16" solid tubes And an EQ8 Plenty of space under that tardis!Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singlespeedman Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Now I want a pier in my garden jut o I can have a radios cover too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeWilson Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 When we are camping we put the scopes outside under a ventilated cover for 8-10 days and never yet suffered any side effects despite the weather going from very hot to chucking it down with rain and cold.A few days is fine on a temporary basis but not to be considered as permanent storage. These are the covers I use:Cases, Bags and Covers for Telescopes and Other OpticsI use that cover too and haven't had any problems whatsoever other than one of my cats peeing up it. The pee then runs down into the grass and makes it sticky, smelly and unpleasant to be out there.Looking forward to building a pier so at least the pee can be collected into a smaller area.All the best,Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brantuk Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Something else folks do for temporary cover, at star parties in particular, is take a toilet tent. You can just move it over the scope after finishing observing for the night, and take off again when ready for the next session. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studio1one Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Don't do it, I kept that exact setup outside under a cover until the wind took the cover like a sail and smashed the setup to pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brantuk Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Good point - needs to be well strapped down if conditions are windy. I'd suggest awning straps from any camping/caravan center. And peg it out using heavy duty tent pegs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studio1one Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I so wished I had strapped it down. Thing is I went to bed and it was quiet, by the timeI woke up in the morning it was gale force.I would never keep it outside, unless pier mounted without some very serious attachments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brantuk Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I'll bet you were gutted What scope was it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyond_Vision Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 My Orion Sirius EQ Mount (HEQ5 Pro Equivalent) has been kept on my pier for nearly four years with no problems at all. The connectors have no signs of degradation and have never had any issues. I wrap the mount in several towels then a tough car seat cover then a re-inforced water proof kit bag (used to keep camping gear dry).Bear in mind this the mount only and not my scopesRegardsKevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studio1one Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I'll bet you were gutted What scope was it?200P, primary smashed, focuser ruined, tube dented. Rescued the few bits I could but it wasn't much. The EQ5 survived fine thankfully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brantuk Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Ugh!! That's aweful Studio1 - hope you're sorted with a new tube now though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studio1one Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 any excuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeWilson Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Sorry to hear it Always a shame to see kit damaged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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