Hello everyone,
I really enjoy using my new 16" truss dob, but I am having trouble with dew forming on the primary. Big surprise here in Louisiana when the humidity is usually around 110 percent. :S
Anyway, I haven't purchased a fan for the primary, yet and that is next on my card but I doubt that a fan alone will do the job. A heater for the primary runs about $300 all total and gets me into the battery business which I don't want to do. One reason I bought this scope is because it is simple and doesn't require electricity. The fan, using a small battery fits into my scheme, but a large battery doesn't and I don't want to plug stuff into my cars lighter, if possible.
What I have hit on is the possibility of using styrofoam poster board as sort of a dew shield for the main mirror. If I remember correctly it is available in black. If is isn't last I heard spray paint is available in flat black. It is super light weight and I can curve a couple of sheets around the mirror. I haven't tried it yet because Katrina has cut into my driving around this town.
Does anyone have any other ideas? I know some of you have come up with some really great solutions to some of your problems.
I believe I've learned more from reading you guy's posts here on Astromart than I have in all the books I've read on astronomy.
Thanks in advance and clear skies.
Tom B.
Baton Rouge, LA
One
I really enjoy using my new 16" truss dob, but I am having trouble with dew forming on the primary. Big surprise here in Louisiana when the humidity is usually around 110 percent. :S
Anyway, I haven't purchased a fan for the primary, yet and that is next on my card but I doubt that a fan alone will do the job. A heater for the primary runs about $300 all total and gets me into the battery business which I don't want to do. One reason I bought this scope is because it is simple and doesn't require electricity. The fan, using a small battery fits into my scheme, but a large battery doesn't and I don't want to plug stuff into my cars lighter, if possible.
What I have hit on is the possibility of using styrofoam poster board as sort of a dew shield for the main mirror. If I remember correctly it is available in black. If is isn't last I heard spray paint is available in flat black. It is super light weight and I can curve a couple of sheets around the mirror. I haven't tried it yet because Katrina has cut into my driving around this town.
Does anyone have any other ideas? I know some of you have come up with some really great solutions to some of your problems.
I believe I've learned more from reading you guy's posts here on Astromart than I have in all the books I've read on astronomy.
Thanks in advance and clear skies.
Tom B.
Baton Rouge, LA
One