Computers in dome or sheds

[Starlight 1]

As post do you turn off the computer off or set to sleep/ hibernate to keep any damp out,   if it stay in the shed /dome all the time.

[tooth_dr]

I only turn mine on when I'm using it, and off when I'm not, it lives in a warm part of my shed.

[spillage]

Mine is just in a wooden box just a bit bigger than the computer itself and is outside, I too just turn it off once finished. I don't even think I have put the side back on it and its fine.

[Skipper Billy]

I only turn mine on when I want to use it - but its in a watertight obsy and I turn the dehumidifier on for 8 hours after each 'session'. No problems so far.

[ollypenrice]

I leave mine on in the damp weather. The alternative might be to put it on a pet warming pad (such things really do exist!) which will just give a minimalist touch of heat to keep off the dew from the innards.

Olly

[michaelmorris]

I have mine turned off when not in use.  However, it is under an insulated dew shield which will help reduce the risk of dew.

Also I use a VERY cheap refurbished computer in the observatory (DELL Optiflex with dual core processor, 2GB RAM , 160GB HD + Windows 7 64 Pro all for £39 delivered! - courtesy of EBay) so there would be no great financial loss if it were to go bang.

[tooth_dr]

Just now, michaelmorris said:

I have mine turned off when not in use.  However, it is under an insulated dew shield which will help reduce the risk of dew.

Also I use a VERY cheap refurbished computer in the observatory (DELL Optiflex with dual core processor, 2GB RAM , 160GB HD + Windows 7 64 Pro all for £39 delivered! - courtesy of EBay) so there would be no great financial loss if it were to go bang.

Me too. I use an HP machine from Ebay for £28. 

[johnrt]

You PC ultimate thrifters are making me feel extravagent with my £90 Lenovo refurb laptop

[KyleStoke]

I just leave mine on, its in a dome. Its also handy because i can connect with it inside the house at anytime to alter settings etc

[Starlight 1]

KyleStoke I like to stay in so how do you set it all up a pm will be nice  . I am running all solar so power must stay low  Sun power not that good this time of the year.

[RayD]

Mine is in my warm room and connected via an IP connected power outlet.  I turn it off after imaging remotely, and BIOS is set to turn on when power applied so as soon as I turn on the IP switch via any web browser I can then use RDP to log on to the 'puter.

[michael8554]

I used to run a cheap used PC in my warm room, but my warm room gets very hot when the suns shines, and the electrolytic capacitors failed.

I replaced it with another cheap used PC but the same thing happened.

Of course I might just have been unlucky with PC's already on their way out.

Never had problems with humidity.

I now have a laptop dock permanently wired up to the mount, imaging and guide cameras, and a LCD display.

 I save the DSLR images to a card in the laptop's SD slot, the laptop comes indoors after sessions, and the SD card goes into the indoors PC.

Michael

[JOC]

Did you all know that, if you have cash to throw at the project, you can get rufty- tufty armoured practically waterproof portables designed for outdoor work in damp environments?

[CrashEd]

On 28/10/2017 at 00:51, JOC said:

Did you all know that, if you have cash to throw at the project, you can get rufty- tufty armoured practically waterproof portables designed for outdoor work in damp environments?

Yeah, I've used Panasonic Toughbooks a lot with work in the past - not cheap but bullet proof. You might pick a second hand one at a semi-sensible price though. 

[Waldemar]

This works great: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Reptile-Pet-Vivarium-Terrarium-Heating-Mat-Warm-Heater-Pad-Thermostat-Controller/122684035430?hash=item1c9089d166:m:m69Qgs5zHpQV91SvdfHZ5iQ

It keeps your laptop above dew temperature and doing so prevents dew in the electronics when the laptop is turned off.
The same kind of thing Olly mentioned.

[Louis D]

On 10/27/2017 at 17:58, michael8554 said:

I used to run a cheap used PC in my warm room, but my warm room gets very hot when the suns shines, and the electrolytic capacitors failed.

I replaced it with another cheap used PC but the same thing happened.

Of course I might just have been unlucky with PC's already on their way out.

Never had problems with humidity.

I now have a laptop dock permanently wired up to the mount, imaging and guide cameras, and a LCD display.

 I save the DSLR images to a card in the laptop's SD slot, the laptop comes indoors after sessions, and the SD card goes into the indoors PC.

Michael

I hadn't considered heat here in Texas.  In the summer, it can reach 110° F in the summer with high humidity (80° F dewpoint).  My attic easily hits 130° F or more at those times.  Any observatory would likely be as hot.  That sort of heat shrinks certain plastics stored in my attic.  Glues dry out and crumble.  I haven't tried storing electronics up there as a test, but I would probably go that route before committing to an observatory.  Active ventilation would probably be a must, but even then, 110° F is still excessive.

[Merlin66]

Hmmm,

It gets above 40 deg C regularly down here in Oz....Yes, things hot....

I have a old laptop permanently in the observatory for acquisition and control and touch wood after four years (in the current observatory) no issues. no drama.

 

[MartinFransson]

I carry my laptop indoors after each session but then I have no obsy, so I'm under the naked sky

I let the laptop sit in its padded case during the night since it gets covered in frost. 

And I broke the bank when buying mine... About 300 Euros, refurbished. But then it is good for more than being astro slave in my back yard

 

[michael8554]

I'm not sure if laptops have electrolytics on the motherboard, in which case that aspect of hot storage is covered, as Merlin reports to be the case.

Michael

[Delasaurus]

I'd leave it on so that you get a bit of heat to drive out the damp if your leaving it outside. Either that or install one of those small 20/40 watt tube heaters. If your in Norfolk you'll need some form of heating.