Keeping a scope/mount outside...

I'm considering putting up a permanent pier and was thinking about leaving
my mount outside permanently. The big problem is I live in the Northeast
where it's cold (sometimes brutal!) in the Winter with snow and freezing
rain and hot and muggy in the Summer. I'm worried about the electronics
surviving in this weather. Does anyone do this in the Northeast? What do
you do to keep the stuff covered (short of building a roll off roof
observatory) dry/safe/clean etc.?

Thanks,

Mike.

Easy solution to your problem...

Go ahead and build your permanent pier. Take your mount off and leave it in
the shelter of your house until you intend to use is. I also live in the
Northeast and understand that it would be very convenient if you can cover
it and leave it outdoors. You can try, but if the moisture doesn't get to
the electronics, the spiders and bugs will. The compartment which houses
your electronics sure makes a nice home for a few hundred homeless spiders.

Al


"Mike Fitterman" wrote in message
...
I'm considering putting up a permanent pier and was thinking about leaving
my mount outside permanently. The big problem is I live in the Northeast
where it's cold (sometimes brutal!) in the Winter with snow and freezing
rain and hot and muggy in the Summer. I'm worried about the electronics
surviving in this weather. Does anyone do this in the Northeast? What do
you do to keep the stuff covered (short of building a roll off roof
observatory) dry/safe/clean etc.?

Thanks,

Mike.

Easy solution to your problem...

Go ahead and build your permanent pier. Take your mount off and leave it in
the shelter of your house until you intend to use is. I also live in the
Northeast and understand that it would be very convenient if you can cover
it and leave it outdoors. You can try, but if the moisture doesn't get to
the electronics, the spiders and bugs will. The compartment which houses
your electronics sure makes a nice home for a few hundred homeless spiders.

Al


"Mike Fitterman" wrote in message
...
I'm considering putting up a permanent pier and was thinking about leaving
my mount outside permanently. The big problem is I live in the Northeast
where it's cold (sometimes brutal!) in the Winter with snow and freezing
rain and hot and muggy in the Summer. I'm worried about the electronics
surviving in this weather. Does anyone do this in the Northeast? What do
you do to keep the stuff covered (short of building a roll off roof
observatory) dry/safe/clean etc.?

Thanks,

Mike.

On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 22:08:47 GMT, "Al"
wrote:

Easy solution to your problem...

Go ahead and build your permanent pier. Take your mount off and leave it in
the shelter of your house until you intend to use is. I also live in the
Northeast and understand that it would be very convenient if you can cover
it and leave it outdoors. You can try, but if the moisture doesn't get to
the electronics, the spiders and bugs will. The compartment which houses
your electronics sure makes a nice home for a few hundred homeless spiders.

Al

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You should try South Florida. A steel pier outside over the summer is
rusted by September. The humidity here close to the ocean just loves
any ferous material. Even the good Stainless Steel will rust near the
ocean.

james


"Mike Fitterman" wrote in message
.. .
I'm considering putting up a permanent pier and was thinking about leaving
my mount outside permanently. The big problem is I live in the Northeast
where it's cold (sometimes brutal!) in the Winter with snow and freezing
rain and hot and muggy in the Summer. I'm worried about the electronics
surviving in this weather. Does anyone do this in the Northeast? What do
you do to keep the stuff covered (short of building a roll off roof
observatory) dry/safe/clean etc.?

Thanks,

Mike.

On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 22:08:47 GMT, "Al"
wrote:

Easy solution to your problem...

Go ahead and build your permanent pier. Take your mount off and leave it in
the shelter of your house until you intend to use is. I also live in the
Northeast and understand that it would be very convenient if you can cover
it and leave it outdoors. You can try, but if the moisture doesn't get to
the electronics, the spiders and bugs will. The compartment which houses
your electronics sure makes a nice home for a few hundred homeless spiders.

Al

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You should try South Florida. A steel pier outside over the summer is
rusted by September. The humidity here close to the ocean just loves
any ferous material. Even the good Stainless Steel will rust near the
ocean.

james


"Mike Fitterman" wrote in message
.. .
I'm considering putting up a permanent pier and was thinking about leaving
my mount outside permanently. The big problem is I live in the Northeast
where it's cold (sometimes brutal!) in the Winter with snow and freezing
rain and hot and muggy in the Summer. I'm worried about the electronics
surviving in this weather. Does anyone do this in the Northeast? What do
you do to keep the stuff covered (short of building a roll off roof
observatory) dry/safe/clean etc.?

Thanks,

Mike.

"Mike Fitterman" wrote in message ...
What do
you do to keep the stuff covered (short of building a roll off roof
observatory) dry/safe/clean etc.?

Thanks,

Mike.

I keep two old equatorial mountings permanently under lightweight
tarpaulins out on the lawn. We get down to -20C here occasionally.
There are no electronics out there day and night. Only the fixed
synchronous drive motors. Common steel rusts quickly but I am changing
(too slowly) to stainless steel. Which appears to be quite unaffected
depite constant exposure over two years now. We are about ten miles
from the sea from the prevailing wind direction.
My power supply drive box & paddle go into a secure unheated workshop
to avoid condensation when brought in and out of use. As do the OTAs
to avoid cooldown delays.
My main practical problem is the external drive worms rusting slowly
over time. Despite attempts to combat this with grease and oil. I am
considering an oil bath and felt wick for the RA worm which is the
most affected.
The house being on the southern border of the garden makes an
observatory at ground level a waste of time. So I use a massive
semi-permanent pier for the 6" refractor and a slightly more mobile
(though still heavy) one for a smaller 90mm Vixen. For when
interesting objects hide behind the house. The smaller mounting can
carry the 6" with a quick change of mounting rings. Though not with
the same level of stability.
The ease & speed with which a telescope can be brought into action,
by simply being dropped into the rings, is a priceless advantage. It
reduces the mental resistance to going out to observe. Which must
occur when a complete mounting has to be dragged out. Set up, aligned,
the OTA brought out and then the long wait for cooldown.
If you can manage an observatory of any kind I'd still recommend it.
For the shelter and security it gives to you and your equipment. Then
you can leave the OTA(s) in place too if the building is really
secure. Once your polar alignment is perfectly tweaked you are ready
for anything. Every time the sky clears.

Chris.B

http://mysite.freeserve.com/fullersc...k4/index.jhtml
http://mysite.freeserve.com/fullersc...k3/index.jhtml

"Mike Fitterman" wrote in message ...
What do
you do to keep the stuff covered (short of building a roll off roof
observatory) dry/safe/clean etc.?

Thanks,

Mike.

I keep two old equatorial mountings permanently under lightweight
tarpaulins out on the lawn. We get down to -20C here occasionally.
There are no electronics out there day and night. Only the fixed
synchronous drive motors. Common steel rusts quickly but I am changing
(too slowly) to stainless steel. Which appears to be quite unaffected
depite constant exposure over two years now. We are about ten miles
from the sea from the prevailing wind direction.
My power supply drive box & paddle go into a secure unheated workshop
to avoid condensation when brought in and out of use. As do the OTAs
to avoid cooldown delays.
My main practical problem is the external drive worms rusting slowly
over time. Despite attempts to combat this with grease and oil. I am
considering an oil bath and felt wick for the RA worm which is the
most affected.
The house being on the southern border of the garden makes an
observatory at ground level a waste of time. So I use a massive
semi-permanent pier for the 6" refractor and a slightly more mobile
(though still heavy) one for a smaller 90mm Vixen. For when
interesting objects hide behind the house. The smaller mounting can
carry the 6" with a quick change of mounting rings. Though not with
the same level of stability.
The ease & speed with which a telescope can be brought into action,
by simply being dropped into the rings, is a priceless advantage. It
reduces the mental resistance to going out to observe. Which must
occur when a complete mounting has to be dragged out. Set up, aligned,
the OTA brought out and then the long wait for cooldown.
If you can manage an observatory of any kind I'd still recommend it.
For the shelter and security it gives to you and your equipment. Then
you can leave the OTA(s) in place too if the building is really
secure. Once your polar alignment is perfectly tweaked you are ready
for anything. Every time the sky clears.

Chris.B

http://mysite.freeserve.com/fullersc...k4/index.jhtml
http://mysite.freeserve.com/fullersc...k3/index.jhtml