Temperatures are dropping, but peltiers are doing well

[davidpretorius]

Hi Guys,

Lots of time, wew have explained to the newbies the importance of cooling your scope for at least an hour for a reflector, but here is a classic need for active cooling.

My 10" newt went out at 6pm when temp was 22 odd degrees after a loveley autumn day down here in Tasmania.

3.5 hours later, it was 3.5 degrees ambient. Thanks to the peltiers, the mirror is at 5.5 degrees. Not good enough for high magnification imaging, but at least the tube currents aren't too bad for visual.

The peltiers driven cold plate is at 1.8 degrees, so I am hoping things stop dropping soon and I can image IO and the GRS and Jnr at around 2am later tonight.

It may be a good excuse to go a c9.25 for an enclosed system, but even these types of scopes now have coolers. I am actually looking at whether you can cold plate the back of a c9.25 to help aid in the cooling?:thumbsup:

[cometcatcher]

3.5 degrees?! I've totally had it with this stinking summer in Mackay where at midnight it's still in the high 20's/low 30's and I'm fogging up the eyepiece from perspiration. It's been like this since October. I think the peltier cooler needs to go on me!

Sorry, I had to vent.

[janoskiss]

GO, Davo, go! Looking forward to your next Jupiter. :thumbsup:

[asimov]

So ok, if your peltier cooling system can't keep up with this rapid drop in temp...theres not much chance for us that use piddly lil' fans, would you say? Depending on the rate of temp drop I guess?? What about the concept of keeping the scope in a cold...say 10 degree airconditioned room?

[cometcatcher]

Just move to Mackay where the temperatures are the same at night as in the day. :P

[Starkler]

When aggressively chilling a mirror to ambient and below, isnt condensation a problem ?

[Sonia]

Just started with the Spring showers here now, cant go out without one appearing from out of no where. Nights are getting lighter and temperatures are getting into the 14's.

[davidpretorius]

with the fans still going, hopefully not. Bird believes the air is very dry and cold.

Last night I had no problems apart from being extremely cold myself.

1am, aluminium cold plate -.5, mirror 2.5, ambient 2.0, davo -10!!!!

[ving]

you need to be able to controllt he scope via remote from inside davo :)

goos work btw :)

[GrampianStars]

great news guys a "peltier cooling system" for the primary mirror :thumbsup:
is in proto stage by S.Mogg.
an interesting article about it in SS April edition

will solve a lot of waiting around time :)

[GrampianStars]

:lol: Autumn nights getting longer here NO rain yet for 5 months :help:
night temps down to 1 deg.C

[acropolite]

Buy yourself a freezer suit Dave, they'll keep you warm in amost any weather. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=2382

[davidpretorius]

thanks, at 3am this morning, jocks + shirt, 2 pair socks, pajamas, tracksuit, jacket, beanie and gloves.

the hand controller is quite warm as well.

Beautiful evening last night

[cjmarsh81]

It's getting too cold for me up here in Newcastle. I don't know how you get out of bed at 3am down in Tassie.