Observatory project

[Carole]

I've got a dehumidifier in mine but it won't run under 5 degrees. 
I've also been told that an electric fan each end works.

Carole

[Rocket Pooch]

You still might get it up, Rocket, as I think it may be raining..............

Really?  Wet;I can't imagine getting in a good irrection in the damp....

[Fay]

What I think of with observatories, is, when all the equipment is dripping in dew, you shut it away & shut it all in. I imagine having pictures, maps etc around the walls, but they would be so damp after a dewy night, that they would soon be no good.
I have to change my cover most days, so they can dry out, I try not to get too stressed, as the new mount is out there, just do the best I can.

[The Thing]

At least with a metal shed the dew should condense on the shed. Like a big dew shield. Seemingly a small wattage light bulb should keep the equipment dry if kept close to the affected items. Never had occasion to try it myself. Alternatively make it double up as Frodo's kennel, he must generate a fair bit of heat!

[Mac]

Seemingly a small wattage light bulb should keep the equipment dry if kept close to the affected items.

Exactly what we use at work, we normally have a 40w bulb in all the relay kiosks, and the heat from that bulb is normally enough to keep out all the dew.

[Tony G]

I bet Greenwich doesn't have these problems.

Tony G

[RobertM]

we normally have a 40w bulb in all the relay kiosks, and the heat from that bulb is normally enough to keep out all the dew

That's a great idea but doesn't it attract moths and other insects ?

[Fay]

It will have to dry out all the dew that has fallen into the shed over the course of the nights imaging

[Tony G]

we normally have a 40w bulb in all the relay kiosks, and the heat from that bulb is normally enough to keep out all the dew

That's a great idea but doesn't it attract moths and other insects ?

And it doesn't do much for your night vision either.

Tony G

[Mac]

you turn it off when your in there, and on when you leave, that way the heater bulb will do its job,

[Tony G]

Oh, sorry.

Tony G

[Ian]

of course, for the larger rooms, a mercury arc rectifier does a fantastic job of both keeping out the dew and as an added bonus, irradiates the moths it attracts too.

Don't think you have any those left in operation now though mac have you?

[mickw]

Back in the days of outside bogs and wiping your bum with torn up newspaper (luxury) we had a 15 watt pygmy bulb hanging under the cistern to stop it freezing.

That was when we had proper winters with freezing fog and 15 feet of snow every Christmas which often lasted until July 

[RobertM]

of course, for the larger rooms, a mercury arc rectifier does a fantastic job of both keeping out the dew and as an added bonus, irradiates the moths it attracts too.

... and get an all year round sun tan as an added bonus.

I think the main drawback is clearing up all those dead moths everytime otherwise it could get a bit crunchy underfoot!

An infrared heater lamp might be a better idea - no uv so fewer moths.

[Tony G]

Back in the days of outside bogs and wiping your bum with torn up newspaper (luxury) we had a 15 watt pygmy bulb hanging under the cistern to stop it freezing.

What! you had outside electricity. Was you posh when you were a young lad, before you and Bodie became famous.

I remember years ago only being able to watch telly, and my Mum cooking on the electric stove, when it was dark outside, and the street lamps came on.
Whenever I visited anyone, they always had only 1 electric bar on their fire, but my house had every fire possible on during the dark hours and they would all automatically switch off together the next morning, but would keep the house warm until the evening.
This all stopped when they put in new sodium lighting down our street, and I remember my Dad auguing with the council that the cable from the lamp post was not his.

Tony G