All sky Camera

[MarsG76]

Do you have any issues with condensation. I found that condensation fogged out the view very quickly on most nights... I made a resistor based heater ring and placed that inside the dome which solved my condensation problem

 

[Nigella Bryant]

2 hours ago, MarsG76 said:

Do you have any issues with condensation. I found that condensation fogged out the view very quickly on most nights... I made a resistor based heater ring and placed that inside the dome which solved my condensation problem

 

I have a fan running and only just got it up and running so the answer is no Mars sure at the moment what will happen. Will let you know if I have issues.

Edited January 18, 2020 by Nigella Bryant

[Nigella Bryant]

Undid the box and moved the camera slightly to try and miss the distortions and refocused and seems to be better.

[Nigella Bryant]

Hi Mars, after running the skycamera for a few hours there is fogging so I'm going to have to address that before I install it on the roof. 

Edited January 18, 2020 by Nigella Bryant
pic added

[MarsG76]

I made one of these and put it around the CS lens... powered by  a low power 12V power pack... this has solved my dew problem 100%, never had dew since installing this and the heat generated isn't so great that it causes any distortion or adverse side effects.

[MarsG76]

Just now, MarsG76 said:

I made one of these and put it around the CS lens... powered by  a low power 12V power pack... this has solved my dew problem 100%, never had dew since installing this and the heat generated isn't so great that it causes any distortion or adverse side effects.

Wired in parallel.

[Nigella Bryant]

12 minutes ago, MarsG76 said:

I made one of these and put it around the CS lens... powered by  a low power 12V power pack... this has solved my dew problem 100%, never had dew since installing this and the heat generated isn't so great that it causes any distortion or adverse side effects.

Thanks Mars, I not proficient in wiring, would have to pick your brains, could that be made via USB cable connection too. Been looking at small USB heating pads as I've usb running from the box. 

Edited January 18, 2020 by Nigella Bryant

[Gina]

Why 4 wires?

[DaveL59]

Hi Nigella

That's good news on the scratches, my lens is a lot closer to the dome and seems to work fine tho I can't vouch for whether it induces any distortion in night star views, day views seem fine but the module isn't able to do long exposure so night sky view is limited to brighter stars and stacking. Are you planning to flock the area under the dome, or if its night use only I guess that won't be a problem  regarding reflections.

On the misting, I assume the box wasn't sealed at the cable entry when you did the test?
If recently opened you'll have let warm air into the casing and that'll be carrying moisture, was the misting on the inside of the dome?

I'd put a load of silica gel packs in the case if you can just before you finally seal and that may be all you need, assuming the box will be sealed that is.  I'm guessing your camera maybe doesn't run as warm as the cctv module I'm using which seems fine without, so some form of dew heater may help if that's the case but not sure running it off USB will be feasible esp on a v long USB lead.

[Nigella Bryant]

1 hour ago, Gina said:

Why 4 wires?

Hi Gina, only two usb cable's running from box. One for camera and the other for the fan. 

[Nigella Bryant]

1 hour ago, DaveL59 said:

Hi Nigella

That's good news on the scratches, my lens is a lot closer to the dome and seems to work fine tho I can't vouch for whether it induces any distortion in night star views, day views seem fine but the module isn't able to do long exposure so night sky view is limited to brighter stars and stacking. Are you planning to flock the area under the dome, or if its night use only I guess that won't be a problem  regarding reflections.

On the misting, I assume the box wasn't sealed at the cable entry when you did the test?
If recently opened you'll have let warm air into the casing and that'll be carrying moisture, was the misting on the inside of the dome?

I'd put a load of silica gel packs in the case if you can just before you finally seal and that may be all you need, assuming the box will be sealed that is.  I'm guessing your camera maybe doesn't run as warm as the cctv module I'm using which seems fine without, so some form of dew heater may help if that's the case but not sure running it off USB will be feasible esp on a v long USB lead.

Hi Dave, no box isn't sealed at cable end yet, didn't give it a thought about flocking the underside of the dome but it's only for night time use anyway. Misting was on the outside only however. Not sure what would work to get rid of the dome fogging over on the outside except what's used for eyepieces and secondary mirrors. 

[AngryDonkey]

I'm using one of these which works very well:

https://www.dewcontrol.com/Dew_Heater_Module_All_Sky_Camera/p3099125_19045496.aspx

It does need a 12V supply but I think you would probably be better off with 12V in any case, the USB power might struggle to keep it clear. In case you are considering changing the dome at some point, a smaller dome would also help with keeping it dew free. Also make sure that the heat from the camera can rise into the dome (can't quite see from the picture).

[Nigella Bryant]

9 hours ago, AngryDonkey said:

I'm using one of these which works very well:

https://www.dewcontrol.com/Dew_Heater_Module_All_Sky_Camera/p3099125_19045496.aspx

It does need a 12V supply but I think you would probably be better off with 12V in any case, the USB power might struggle to keep it clear. In case you are considering changing the dome at some point, a smaller dome would also help with keeping it dew free. Also make sure that the heat from the camera can rise into the dome (can't quite see from the picture).

Thanks for the info, looks like just what I need, I can run another cable 12v from the box if need be. Just ordered one, thanks. 

Edited January 19, 2020 by Nigella Bryant
Added more comment and pic

[CedricTheBrave]

6 hours ago, Nigella Bryant said:

Thanks for the info, looks like just what I need, I can run another cable 12v from the box if need be. Just ordered one, thanks. 

i use one of those as well 

keeps it nice and toasty

paint it black though otherwise you get the reflection of the writing in the dome

Edited January 19, 2020 by CedricTheBrave

[Nigella Bryant]

29 minutes ago, CedricTheBrave said:

i use one of those as well 

keeps it nice and toasty

paint it black though otherwise you get the reflection of the writing in the dome

Thanks CedricTheBrave for the tip of painting the heater black.

[MarsG76]

19 hours ago, Nigella Bryant said:

Thanks Mars, I not proficient in wiring, would have to pick your brains

Of course, Any time...

its worth noting that this "heat ring" cost me about $1.50 to make.

Edited January 19, 2020 by MarsG76

[MarsG76]

18 hours ago, Gina said:

Why 4 wires?

Yes but wired in parallel and ultimately connected to two wires, 0 & 12V.

[Nigella Bryant]

On 19/01/2020 at 09:14, Nigella Bryant said:

Angry Donkey, I guess it doesn't matter which way I soldure the negative and positive wires to the heater ring? 

 

[Gina]

I have the same model and mine has + and - signs on the connections so I guess it does matter.  Positive is on the left on that photo.

[Nigella Bryant]

1 hour ago, Gina said:

I have the same model and mine has + and - signs on the connections so I guess it does matter.  Positive is on the left on that photo.

Thanks Gina. 

[Nigella Bryant]

Back to the build, life got in the way, but life slowing down with now self isolation and social distancing. Got back to fitting the heater ring in place and decided to change out the previous zwo120mm for the zwo asi 224mc I had. 

[JeremyS]

3 hours ago, Nigella Bryant said:

Back to the build, life got in the way, but life slowing down with now self isolation and social distancing. Got back to fitting the heater ring in place and decided to change out the previous zwo120mm for the zwo asi 224mc I had. 

Life has a habit of doing that 🙂

Good to see the progress Nigella

[Nigella Bryant]

7 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Life has a habit of doing that 🙂

Good to see the progress Nigella

Certainly does Jeremy. Good to slow down in a way. 

[JeremyS]

Just now, Nigella Bryant said:

Certainly does Jeremy. Good to slow down in a way. 

I'm with you there, Nigella. Great opportunity to to get those astro jobs done that I've been putting off.

[Nigella Bryant]

All sky camera build complete. Hopefully first light tonight. Did a focus routine last night just with the camera before fixing in place today.