TeleGizmos 365 covers...info needed

[WanderingEye]

Hello,

I wanted some info is possible, I have a cover for my EQ8 mount, on pier, (don’t leave scopes on) to use for a few days at a time, but wanted to leave my EQ8 mount out all the time, and the cover I have won’t really be suitable for that..

So I have been looking at the above mentioned cover, now the issue I have is, nowhere on the Telegizmo site does it mention whether these covers are breathable, the reason I say that, Is because surely they need to be, how to they stop condensation, when they have no airflow at all, and with there special silver heat reflective layer built in, then obviously no moisture can get out...I am confused by this, so any help off owners of these covers would be useful, especially people who have used them here in the U.K. for a year or more with a mount under them...I am really worried about getting loads of condensation and ruining my mount if I leave under long term.... 

Thanks in advance

[Jiggy 67]

My mount and scope have under one continuously for about 3 months now with no particular problems (though I am worried about the torrential rain yesterday,  I haven’t had chance to check on it yet). I just take it off occasionally and let everything air for a while. Air does circulate because it is open at the bottom. This issue is often discussed but like most things in this hobby it is a trade off. The mither involved in assembly and disassembly can be off putting for a lot of people, this negates that but has it’s own risks, I would crack on and keep an eye on things

[Waldemar]

I use the TG365 covers for many years already and have never had any problem, but they need to be able to breath from the bottom side.
2 bath towels draped over my equipment and a pair of skiboot heaters underneath, will give extra peace of mind...😉

Some say to use a lightbulb, but that is too dangerous in my opinion. Too much heat in one place and the light is a waste of energy.
Skibootheaters are very low wattage and keep the temperature under the cover just above dewpoint. Works absolutely great.

The towels have a double purpose:
1  they protect the equipment as well as the inside of the cover and
2 if for any reason there is some moist under the cover, they will uptake it.

[Spaced Out]

I’m very interested in this topic too !

This summer I built a pier in the garden and I now have my HEQ5 sat on it covered in a ‘breathable’ cover. I always kept the cover fairly loose at the bottom, I thought that should help to encourage airflow, I also aired it occasionally on reasonable days too. It seemed ok.

Just recently I had to stay away from home unexpectedly for a couple of months, when I returned and checked under the cover the mount was dripping with condensation !

This freaked me out a bit so I put a humidity detector under there, readings were the same inside and out . Next I ran an old dew strap under there, the temp rose by about 1 degree but it didn’t affect the humidity reading at all. Next I kept the strap running, put a silica gel colour changing type dehumidifier under there and sealed it up as air tight as I could with another cover before throwing the original cover over too, the temperature rose by a degree or two and the humidity dropped by just 2%.

So what does all this tell me ? I have absolutely no idea because I don't really understand condensation !!

For now I am thinking I will just do as before, use a breathable cover left open at the bottom for airflow and give it regular airing, I’ve also taken to regular wipes over the mount and electrical sockets with ACF-50. I could leave the dew strap running too but not sure what benefit that brings, would just 1 degree C make any difference to condensation forming ?

PS - I'm sure I also read somewhere that the TG covers are breathable ?

[WanderingEye]

1 hour ago, Spaced Out said:

I’m very interested in this topic too !

This summer I built a pier in the garden and I now have my HEQ5 sat on it covered in a ‘breathable’ cover. I always kept the cover fairly loose at the bottom, I thought that should help to encourage airflow, I also aired it occasionally on reasonable days too. It seemed ok.

Just recently I had to stay away from home unexpectedly for a couple of months, when I returned and checked under the cover the mount was dripping with condensation !

This freaked me out a bit so I put a humidity detector under there, readings were the same inside and out . Next I ran an old dew strap under there, the temp rose by about 1 degree but it didn’t affect the humidity reading at all. Next I kept the strap running, put a silica gel colour changing type dehumidifier under there and sealed it up as air tight as I could with another cover before throwing the original cover over too, the temperature rose by a degree or two and the humidity dropped by just 2%.

So what does all this tell me ? I have absolutely no idea because I don't really understand condensation !!

For now I am thinking I will just do as before, use a breathable cover left open at the bottom for airflow and give it regular airing, I’ve also taken to regular wipes over the mount and electrical sockets with ACF-50. I could leave the dew strap running too but not sure what benefit that brings, would just 1 degree C make any difference to condensation forming ?

PS - I'm sure I also read somewhere that the TG covers are breathable ?

Thanks for this. Very interesting and good info, the only real way to stop condensation is airflow in and out, this is why I asked the question as the TG covers have a pull cord strap at the bottom, and I am talking about the straight covers, tubular version for 11, SCT,  not the EQ mount covers, so with this strap done up around the base of my pier, there would be very little  airflow....so hence my issues...

I can’t find anywhere, where it states they are breathable, and with the heat reflective lining, I can’t see how they can be....if heat can’t get in or escape, then moisture certainly can’t.... 🤔🤔

[Spaced Out]

This is what I was thinking of ! Should have remembered because I was considering buying one and asking the same questions.... DOH !

 

[Waldemar]

They are NOT breathable. The only way to let it air is to not shut it tight with the elastic cord.
Like I said before, a little heating device like skiboot heaters or the likes will do the job. Dew straps are a bit too low energy to warm up the space underneath the cover a bit more substantial is needed, just a few degrees will be enough though...

[Spaced Out]

I've seen on cloudy nights quite a few people in the USA suggesting covering the mount in a plastic bag, sealing it tight with silicia gel type dessicants inside then covering with a weatherproof cover, like this.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/531555-will-a-telegizmos-or-similar-cover-protect-in-damp-conditions/

Didn't seem to work very well for me tho. I'm thinking keep the bottom open for circulation, I'm liking the boot warmer/towel idea too 👍

 

[Spaced Out]

12 minutes ago, Waldemar said:

They are NOT breathable. The only way to let it air is to not shut it tight with the elastic cord.
Like I said before, a little heating device like skiboot heaters or the likes will do the job. Dew straps are a bit too low energy to warm up the space underneath the cover a bit more substantial is needed, just a few degrees will be enough though...

So do you think something like this might work to help prevent condensation with the bottom of the cover kept loose ? 8W in total by the looks of it. Not sure how many W my dew strap is.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/544-96-40-01-Husqvarna-Dryer/dp/B009X7T296/ref=sr_1_14?adgrpid=51982905006&gclid=CjwKCAiA58fvBRAzEiwAQW-hzffhmWy6Q4zCZ9NAUHGaiv7KqFfHcgzJvR02o5HC7DxZEjjy66jMLhoCEx8QAvD_BwE&hvadid=259088779880&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1006469&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=5962782815298881069&hvtargid=aud-615477028318%3Akwd-300906308300&hydadcr=13277_1748133&keywords=ski+boot+heater&qid=1576145930&sr=8-14

[Waldemar]

3 minutes ago, Spaced Out said:

So do you think something like this might work to help prevent condensation with the bottom of the cover kept loose ? 8W in total by the looks of it. Not sure how many W my dew strap is.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/544-96-40-01-Husqvarna-Dryer/dp/B009X7T296/ref=sr_1_14?adgrpid=51982905006&gclid=CjwKCAiA58fvBRAzEiwAQW-hzffhmWy6Q4zCZ9NAUHGaiv7KqFfHcgzJvR02o5HC7DxZEjjy66jMLhoCEx8QAvD_BwE&hvadid=259088779880&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1006469&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=5962782815298881069&hvtargid=aud-615477028318%3Akwd-300906308300&hydadcr=13277_1748133&keywords=ski+boot+heater&qid=1576145930&sr=8-14

Mine are a total of 17 Watts under a huge TG cover, so depending on the size of your mount & scope, these should do the trick, I think

Btw:  your dew strap may give up if the heat is not taken away by direct contact like on a scope.

Edited December 12, 2019 by Waldemar

[WanderingEye]

34 minutes ago, Waldemar said:

They are NOT breathable. The only way to let it air is to not shut it tight with the elastic cord.
Like I said before, a little heating device like skiboot heaters or the likes will do the job. Dew straps are a bit too low energy to warm up the space underneath the cover a bit more substantial is needed, just a few degrees will be enough though...

The problem is for me, that it will be over an EQ8 and pier, so I have to fasten tight at the bottom, or it could just blow off in wind..as the pier with mount is really just tubular in shape.... 🙁

[Spaced Out]

20 minutes ago, WanderingEye said:

The problem is for me, that it will be over an EQ8 and pier, so I have to fasten tight at the bottom, or it could just blow off in wind..as the pier with mount is really just tubular in shape.... 🙁

Does the TG have some sort of drawstring at the bottom ? Perhaps you could use a couple of anchor points ? A bit like a tent with tent pegs to keep it pulled down but open a bit for airflow.

Tbh I just throw my cover over the pier and if its windy I loosely tie round it with a long velcro strap. This works OK because I have a couple of large electrics boxes attached to either side of the pier tube so I strap it loosely around those and still have a little space free for airflow inbetween the boxes. During calmer weather I just remove the velcro strap for better airflow. I still got condensation when I was away for 2 months, but the strap was left on and I was unable to air it regularly. Defo looking at some of these boot warmers now !

[WanderingEye]

38 minutes ago, Spaced Out said:

Does the TG have some sort of drawstring at the bottom ? Perhaps you could use a couple of anchor points ? A bit like a tent with tent pegs to keep it pulled down but open a bit for airflow.

Tbh I just throw my cover over the pier and if its windy I loosely tie round it with a long velcro strap. This works OK because I have a couple of large electrics boxes attached to either side of the pier tube so I strap it loosely around those and still have a little space free for airflow inbetween the boxes. During calmer weather I just remove the velcro strap for better airflow. I still got condensation when I was away for 2 months, but the strap was left on and I was unable to air it regularly. Defo looking at some of these boot warmers now !

I guess I could look at anchoring it like that, also my only real worry is water getting into the EQ8 circuit board, the rest of the mount can handle a bit of damp...not sure how easy it could get in there...I have replaced all the bolts on the mount head for stainless steel ones, as the original ones were black and a prone to rust within the first six months of new...

[Spaced Out]

9 minutes ago, WanderingEye said:

I guess I could look at anchoring it like that, also my only real worry is water getting into the EQ8 circuit board, the rest of the mount can handle a bit of damp...not sure how easy it could get in there...I have replaced all the bolts on the mount head for stainless steel ones, as the original ones were black and a prone to rust within the first six months of new...

I'm guessing if moisture is in the air then it can condense on cold surfaces and so a little heat/airflow is the answer to stop the condensation ? Trouble is I don't know much about this or how much heat is required, when I put the dew strap under my cover it made very little difference to the temp or humidity readings on my monitors. I think I'm going to try these boot warmers/dryers now but try to find some with a higher wattage.

I also wipe acf-50 spray on all the external surfaces and electrical connections now, I read a review on a motorbike website that compared it with WD40 for corrosion prevention and acf-50 seemed to come out on top. Apparently it's designed for boats, aircraft and electronics so I hope it'll protect the pier and mount a bit.

https://www.gtamotorcycle.com/xf/threads/my-year-long-acf-50-vs-wd40-vs-naked-rust-inhibitor-test.178115/

[WanderingEye]

23 minutes ago, Spaced Out said:

I'm guessing if moisture is in the air then it can condense on cold surfaces and so a little heat/airflow is the answer to stop the condensation ? Trouble is I don't know much about this or how much heat is required, when I put the dew strap under my cover it made very little difference to the temp or humidity readings on my monitors. I think I'm going to try these boot warmers/dryers now but try to find some with a higher wattage.

I also wipe acf-50 spray on all the external surfaces and electrical connections now, I read a review on a motorbike website that compared it with WD40 for corrosion prevention and acf-50 seemed to come out on top. Apparently it's designed for boats, aircraft and electronics so I hope it'll protect the pier and mount a bit.

https://www.gtamotorcycle.com/xf/threads/my-year-long-acf-50-vs-wd40-vs-naked-rust-inhibitor-test.178115/

Hmmm, so here is a question for you, or anyone else who has an opinion...

Lets say I go for a Telegizmo 365 cover, and because of the shape of my pier with mount,  when the cover is fastened there will be very little air flow at all, would it be best to just heat up the area inside to stop condensation, or use a mini dehumidifier to remove all the moisture in the air, or a combination of the two.....?. 👍 

[Spaced Out]

25 minutes ago, WanderingEye said:

Hmmm, so here is a question for you, or anyone else who has an opinion...

Lets say I go for a Telegizmo 365 cover, and because of the shape of my pier with mount,  when the cover is fastened there will be very little air flow at all, would it be best to just heat up the area inside to stop condensation, or use a mini dehumidifier to remove all the moisture in the air, or a combination of the two.....?. 👍 

I think if it is well sealed then a mini dehumidifier might work, but don't quote me ! You might want to read this.... sealing and dehumidifiers are mentioned.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/476665-dew-and-leaving-mounts-outside/

[Waldemar]

If anyone is worrying about the electronics, this is the answer:  NanoProtech electric spray: 

 

[Jiggy 67]

Love to see his insurance premiums. 🤣

[Space Hopper]

Christ : i'd sooner him than me.

[Waldemar]

whether you believe it or not… it works great!

I use it on all my outdoor electrical stuff including mount electronics, astro camera's and so on.

[Spaced Out]

Ok, I thought I’d post a little update here just in case it is helpful to anyone.

As suggested by Waldemar above I bought some boot warmers/dryers.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PYapron-Heatable-Electric-Sterilizetion-19-5X6-5X4-5cm/dp/B08254M8FN/ref=sr_1_17?keywords=shoe%2Bdryer%2Belectric%2Bgreen&qid=1578930095&sr=8-17&th=1

I have placed these by the mount under a breathable waterproof cover. I put a Velcro strap around the cover below the mount to stop it blowing away, this is loosely tied to allow some airflow.

A sensor at the mount tells me the boot warmers raise the temperature under the cover to around 4°C above ambient and the humidity under the there is 15% less than the ambient humidity. After a couple of weeks monitoring day and night this has remained pretty constant. I have checked under there a few times on mornings when everything is dripping wet and the mount is dry so I think this approach is working for me. 👍