Dew shield, heater, etc.

[mbalkham]

Looking on advice regards dew heaters/shields/other options.

Using Orion Optics CT10 in NZ and struggling with dew on the secondary. Also dew on Baader UHC-S filter mounted to front of Baader Coma Corrector on the t-ring infant of the Canon 6d which I guess will be hard to heat given it's inside the focuser (Baader diamond steel track focuser).

Found the kendrick astro secondary dew heater. I have emailed them but emails have bounced back.

Other options/ideas/advice?

Thanks in advance

Matt

[Putaendo Patrick]

You might look at Astrozap, heated bands, heated dew shields and controllers: https://www.astrozap.com/scripts/default.asp  Some of their products are available in New Zealand from N.Z. Telescopes http://langwoodsphotography.com/eshop/Astrozap_Dew_Controller.html

I think https://www.altairastro.com  carry Kendrick products in the UK who may be able to send you what you need. Maybe also Teleskop Service in Germany: http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p7327_Kendrick-Heater-for-glued-Newtonian-Secondary-Mirror-with-stalk-thinner-than-50-mm.html

Likewise, perhaps there are dealers in Australia - so maybe a question on the Ice-in-Space forum?

There are also a few small manufacturers, for example R-Sky Instruments in the UK : http://r-sky.org/en/products

And, if you have some electrical knowledge and skill, you may be able to make your own. For example: http://www.deepskywatch.com/Articles/newtonian-dew-heater.html

[Putaendo Patrick]

Bintel for Kendrick in Australia: https://binocularandtelescope.com.au/product-category/other/dew-control/

[mbalkham]

After another imaging session cut short by dew at the weekend, my Kendrick FX-PRO turned up today (ordered over a month ago but Canadian postage and NZ Customs did there bit to make sure it took it's time getting to me!). Hopefully the last of my issues!

Has anyone installed the secondary heater with the copper strips supplied to reduce defraction issues? Keen to see someone's install if you have any photos.

Also not sure how I'll go about attaching the heater to the focus tube to keep the coma corrector clear. Thinking I'll just wrap the baader steeltrack focuser drawtube and hope it doesn't get in the way of focussing (also ordered the steeltrack motor focuser which should arrrive today).

[mbalkham]

Fixed (see separate post on homemade custom dew heater to fit around draw tube fixing screws). Pretty successful on a few hour test last night.