Storing a scope in a garden shed. Any problems?

[walterp]

Hi.

I am still searching for my scope (will it ever end)....

Think I will settle on http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=Skywatcher_200P_EQ5_GOTO

Now my question has nothing to do with scope choice, more the storage aspect.

I was planning on storing the scope in my garage BUT with my car and the good lady wife passing it with the laundry basket to put clothes in the tumble dryer I am worried she will bump into it.

Would this scope be quite happy in a normal B&Q garden shed? I mean, would the continuos low winter or hot summer temperatures affect the scope in any way. What about dampness which is sure to occur during the winter months?

I would put a cloth over it to keep out the bugs.

Is that an acceptable way to store a scope?

Allan.

[GazOC]

As long on the shed doesn't leak you'll be OK. Watch out for spiders webs, insect nests etc but these are very much minor considerations. I have mine in a plastic Argos shed and they have been fine for the last couple of years.

[James]

I'd second Gaz on this.

You mention a tumble drier... is that in the garage? If so then that's a non no for scope storage as the additional humidity caused by the drier wouldn't be a good thing.

James

[barkis]

You could store the mount in the shed. Cover it completely in a plastic sheet. Remove the Hand Controller though, and cables. Put them in a Jiffy bag tie them to the OTA.

Surely you could then find a corner in the house where you could stand the tube, out of everyones way.

Ron.

[GazOC]

I forgot, I always take the hand controller back inside the house. :oops:

[centroid]

My obsy is akin to a shed, and my 10" LX lived in there for 5 years, and now the 12" for just over a year.

The important thing is good ventilation, to minimise any condensation issues.

Oh yes, the hand controller, wheras the one for my 10" LX, lived lived out there for five years, the one for the 12" LX has 'died' as a result of doing so.

I am reliably informed, that Meade's later handsets, don't like being left out in the cold, apparently ingest moisture from the air, and go faulty. Great progress on Meade's part eh!! :x

Dave

[walterp]

I'd second Gaz on this.

You mention a tumble drier... is that in the garage? If so then that's a non no for scope storage as the additional humidity caused by the drier wouldn't be a good thing.

James

Yes, the dryer is in the garage

Hmmmm. Didnt really think of that.

I think the shed, made water proof, looks like the option then.

I dont really want to store it in the house as we are foster carers and have children coming and going all the time, I would be a nervous wreck waiting for one of the kids to knock it over.

Allan.

[MartinB]

I think it is worse taking astro gear in and out of a warm house than it is to leave it in a shed at roughly outside temp. Best if the shed is shaded to avoid excessive heat during the summer. The only kit I bring inside are my cameras but they are kept in a sealed box with lots of silica crystals are well protected from condensation when brought in from the cold. The only electrical problems I have had is bringing the computer inside after a session and plugging it in. This isn't a good idea!

[Whippy]

Yes, the dryer is in the garage

Hmmmm. Didnt really think of that.

I think the shed, made water proof, looks like the option then.

I dont really want to store it in the house as we are foster carers and have children coming and going all the time, I would be a nervous wreck waiting for one of the kids to knock it over.

Allan.

I share your fears Allan, I've got two young kids and my kit is stored in an overhang that runs along the side of the house so if the kids go out into the garden, they are escorted out so they don't play with Daddy's telescopes on the way to the back door. Bless 'em.

Tony..

[tooth_dr]

Good topic. I've just 'converted' my wooden 8' x 6' shed into a place where I leave all my gear (except cameras and eyepieces) as this saves me carrying everything out of the house and into the garden, and then plugging it all it.

I was just wondering about the pc I now leaving outside. It's sort of in a wooden shell that covers five sides but leaves the back exposed (the back is actually facing out as this give me an extra couple of feet with the leads that are plugged into it).

Is there anything I would need to add to stop any long term problems. If the PC gets damp would switching it on cause potential problems. Does something like a dehumidifier help or even a heater?

Also I heard from a friend that has a 10 year old 4" triplet that he cannot leave it in his observatory as the damp attacks some part of the lens or glue or something - does this apply to the likes of an ED80 for example?

Thanks

Adam

[MartinB]

The best thing to do with refractors is to place a little packet of silica gel in front of the lens and leave the dust cap on. Don't know whether the glue is an issue. The instructions with my FSQ106 don't raise any concerns there.

[tooth_dr]

Cheers Martin, I will do that very simple tip. There is plenty of packets of that stuff lying around that came with various astro bits. Does it go 'off'?

[MartinB]

It gets to the limit of what it can absorb. You just have to put it in a warm oven for an hour or so and it will do the job again.

[tooth_dr]

Cheers! The other half will truly think I've finally lost it.

I can picture it now - she comes home from work and sees the oven on. "Aw you've made me something nice tonight for tea", err not really :laughing3:

Adam

[MartinB]

Just don't go sprinkling the silica on the oven chips.

[beamer3.6m]

Mine has been in the shed for 2 years and no problems at all.

It also saves on cool down time for the scope compared to keeping the scope indoors.

I also keep the handccontroller in there but in a Maplin' flight case.

[MikeD]

All my kit lives in the obs (shed) scopes, mount, pc, cameras and eyepieces, it's not been a problem so far.

Good ventilation is the key.

Mike.

[Parallax]

I'll second that, that good ventilation is the key.

When I went into the obsy/shed the other day I noticed that the mount, especially the counterweigths, was dripping wet. This morning I fitted 2 ventilator grilles (with intergral flyscreen - keeps the spiders out!) from B&Q (c.£3 each) so hopefully that wil do the trick. Prior to this, the only ventilation was the extractor fan (used in the hot weather) as I had sealed around the door with draught excluder (I realy don't like spiders).

Steve

[walterp]

Thanks for all the tips.

I just need to clear the shed of lifes essentials, such as tins of orange paint with assorted solid brushes and that lenght of wood I put in there 2 years ago in case it came in handy.

My wife thinks I am mental.

I am sure she has some kind of home lined up for me and is just letting me have some fun in the meantime.

Me. "Honey I need to buy a torch with red plastic over it cos otherwise I cant see tiny specks of light in the sky..."

Wife. "Of course you do, I am going to bed whilst you sit outside in sub-zero temperatures and read instructions in French with a red torch".

[barkis]

Thanks for all the tips.

I just need to clear the shed of lifes essentials, such as tins of orange paint with assorted solid brushes and that lenght of wood I put in there 2 years ago in case it came in handy.

My wife thinks I am mental.

I am sure she has some kind of home lined up for me and is just letting me have some fun in the meantime.

Me. "Honey I need to buy a torch with red plastic over it cos otherwise I cant see tiny specks of light in the sky..."

Wife. "Of course you do, I am going to bed whilst you sit outside in sub-zero temperatures and read instructions in French with a red torch".

I am sure your wife is no different, as far as thinking we're mental. I am fed up trying to convince mine that it is a serious activity we are engaged in here. We may one day be the saviours of the planet. There are hundreds if not thousands of potential Earth killers out there, and we need to be keeping alert. Makes no difference though, she still thinks I'm nuts.

Ron. :crybaby:

[MartinB]

It's those earth killers I'm worried about Ron. They feed on your ear wax at night, whilst you're asleep. Not nice.

Ah! Tablet time.

[mikeyggg]

My other half has just suggested that maybe she should start an astronomy wives forum, for mutual support and therapy.