Celestron Dew Heater

[+Ibbo]

Having a bit of a nightmare the last 2 sessions with the C11 and its dew collector, despite having a dew shield and the dew band required frequent wafts of the hair dryer.

 

In a fit of annoyance at 4 am I hit the buy button for the new dew heater that rplaces the corrector plate ring and is in direct contact with the glass- not cheap(but what is ) for the C11.

 

It arrived 36 hours later and was fitted, the and collector also got a bath removed a few years of deposited dust and a few finger dabs from the repeated collimation that the long f/l planetary imaging needs, within 30 minutes or so.

 

Being brave I set up without the dew shield last night and was well impressed that it stayed dew free from 11 pm till 4am.

 

I ran it at full power and maybe could have turned it down a notch or 2 thats for another night.

 

I would hope that in future they supply scopes or have the option of one fitted as standard .

Edited August 28, 2022 by Ibbo

[+Graham]

Sounds interesting.

Can I get one for the 10 inch Meade.

Last night the collector plate was swimming 

[+Ibbo]

7 minutes ago, Graham said:

Sounds interesting.

Can I get one for the 10 inch Meade.

Last night the collector plate was swimming 

I don't think so as yet but I reckon somebody will do a copy soon enough.

[+Graham]

That is a shame.

I will keep my eyes open

[philjay]

Nice one, they are more efficient than dew bands around the tube.

 

I built one out of microbore copper pipe and resistance wire for my c11. It sat inside the corrector ring, not as direct as yours but better than a strap. 

 

[philjay]

11 hours ago, Graham said:

That is a shame.

I will keep my eyes open

This is what I based mine on Graham, it worked well.

I sleeved mine in heat shrink to make it look nice but thinking back it would have been more efficient to leave it bare as per the example.

I used nichrome wire for the element, I may still have some if you want to give it a bash.

 

https://www.wilmslowastro.com/tips/dewheater.htm

 

 

Edited August 29, 2022 by philjay

[+Graham]

Thanks Phil.

I have an old toaster here for the Nichrome wire.

I also have 100's of resisters so I think I will go down that route.

I will put one together this afternoon and see how it performs.

[philjay]

47 minutes ago, Graham said:

Thanks Phil.

I have an old toaster here for the Nichrome wire.

I also have 100's of resisters so I think I will go down that route.

I will put one together this afternoon and see how it performs.

Mine worked well, I still needed the dew shield tho

[+Graham]

1 hour ago, philjay said:

Mine worked well, I still needed the dew shield tho

 

I have managed to find the original design post for this by a guy called Chris Heapy

If anyone else is interested I can send you the link as it does not seem to work on here.

Dew Heater LX 50 (beevo.org)

Edited August 29, 2022 by Graham

[+Graham]

I have just had a light bulb moment

I have some Aluminium here that is big enough to make a new locating ring for the corrector plate.

If I make a new ring and put a groove in the back of it to take the resisters I should be on for a winner.

Need to use the big Colchester Lathe at work to hold it as my Lathe here does not have a large enough chuck.

Watch this space 

[+Graham]

Started a new post on the build.