Dew Controller recommendations please

[Bugsy06]

Hi,
I am looking at purchasing a dew controller for my setup which is:
80mm refractor
60mm guidescope
NEQ 6 pro mount
USB hub
Rigrunner 4008

Tossing up between these dew controllers:
Kendrick digifire fx pro
Dew Buster
Dew Not

If anyone has any experience with these, I’d love to hear the pros & cons

[Marke]

Dew buster is very well built I have a kendrick digi and a Dew buster and the Kendrick build quality is crap in comparison it's very poor imho

[beren]

I have the old Kendrick’s iv and Dew buster model, had them for years now, both work a charm ,the Dew Buster is nice with the sensor attachments. Think you can’t go wrong with the models your have listed all depends on your budget . Although I have the Kendrick’s basic dew controller I have brought some other gear direct from them (power packs,micro d controller for dslr imaging), they where quick to answer and ship and the gear has been reliable, I’d imagine the fancy digifire controllers would be good.

[Bugsy06]

Thanks Marke,
I’m leaning towards the dew buster. I think he only posts to the US though?

[Bugsy06]

Thanks Beren,
The digifire does look good - bit pricey tho

[glend]

You can easily build your own multi-channel dew controller, all the parts are available online or at Jaycar. The heart of it is a simple 12V PWM controller for each channel, which you can buy for about $6 on ebay. A plastic box, a few RCA sockets, some wire and there you go.
We used to have guy here on IIS that made them for other members (Arthur). You can probably find simple plans online.
I had a four channel controller that Arthur made me, cost about $35 from memory.

[Ukastronomer]

Very much a personal choice

I use these https://pegasusastro.com/products/dewzap/

https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/pegasus-dew-zap-v2-dual-channel-dew-controller.html

https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/dewzapper-dew-heaters-for-telescopes.html

MOST important is the battery, I prefer these, not cheap but top quality

TRACER

https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/tracer-12v-10ah-lithium-polymer-battery-pack.html

[sharpiel]

Same. Great kit. Is Arthur no longer contributing?

[Ukastronomer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3F5xwct8IE

Personally I would rather buy one, but that is me

[glend]

Allan or Geoff might know. I have not seen a post by Arthur in a long time.

[Bugsy06]

Thanks guys - not sure I have the technical skills to make one.
Wish I did - $35 for a controller would be brilliant

[The_bluester]

I have the old standard two channel Kendrick and I agree with Mark, the build quality is really not up to snuff for the price.

The control pots feel like old BBQ knobs they are so wobbly and on mine it was about a year old and virtually unused when one of them dropped off completely as the grub screw was over tightened and the plastic shaft split through. It feels more like a $50 item than a $180 one.

The Digifire units look closer to value for money to me.

[Marke]

Actually the digi fire is worse I think I have the 7 channel and the all connectors just wobble around unsecured especially power connector
and every time I touch it I expect something to fall off and thats not even
mentioning the awkward way you set the temp . The Dew buster is built like a tank in comparison.

[The_bluester]

Something for me to look in to then. I have not had a digifire in my hands so it was mainly based on a bit more robust looking packaging than the old two channel and the feature set. I don't need anything more than I have for now but when I need to upgrade I will have to dig in to the replacement a bit more.

[redbeard]

I saw these on Ebay and most of the work is done for you. Just add a power supply and a dew heater strap, that's it. I would use a 12v, 4-5 amp power supply. I built my first controller with one similar. You don't even have to solder, just use terminal blocks and a screwdriver. Some electrical tape...done!

I prefer the 'Dew NOT' heater straps as they work very well and are cheaper than the others.


Here is the item text from Ebay for a couple of them. There are much cheaper ones too on that site:

DC 10V-60V 12V 24V 48V PWM Motor Speed Controller Power Control Switch Regulator

DC 12V 24V Motor Speed Controller Switch PWM For Car Truck Fan Heater Control AU

Cost - much less than $20


Cheers,
Damien.

[redbeard]

Here are the correct links:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DC-10V-60V-12V-24V-48V-PWM-Motor-Speed-Controller-Power-Control-Switch-Regulator/153280771105?hash=item23b03ef421:rk :24:pf:0



https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DC-12V-24V-Motor-Speed-Controller-Switch-PWM-For-Car-Truck-Fan-Heater-Control-AU/273580270384?epid=14026430390&hash=item3fb2a7a330:g:wPYAAOSwsO5b-8th:rk:22:pf:0


You can get the same from China at a lot less than from Sydney/Melbourne too. But these are closer and quicker to post, generally.


Cheers.

[Wavytone]

Bugsy have you wrapped the OTA with insulation of some sort ? This make a huge difference, the point being that without insulation a heater may produce little benefit short of pouring insane amounts of power into it.

Adding a heater under the insulation is much more effective.

[Bugsy06]

Thx Damien
I’ll check it out

[Bugsy06]

Yeah I have Wavytone,
Looking to purchase a controller that is robust that will grow with my ota when I upgrade
It gets pretty dewy down here 😀

[Startrek]

I use an Orion Dew Zapper Pro 4 channel controller on my 12” Goto Dob and 6” AP rig
A bit pricey but does the job with very good individual control per channel
I didn’t like the Kendrick controllers but use their heater straps and secondary Centre stalk heater
I have no issues with dew for both visual and AP
Sydney site elevation 40m above sea level ( in a valley )
South coast site 25m above sea level ( sea mist , sea fog and dew etc )
Cheers

[Ukastronomer]

any choices yet

[erick]

Have used Thousand Oaks controller for many years with Dew-Not heaters for years. Very happy.

http://thousandoaksoptical.com/products/dew/

https://www.dew-not.com/dew-not-desc-01.htm

[vaxvax]

Thanks Eric,

Will go check them out

Peter

[Spartacus]

Another vote for Thousand Oaks. 4 channel, never had a problem. Seems indestructible I have certainly tried.
Oddly enough I now use a DIY 3 channel thermostatically controlled controller. Very easy with power consumption. The Thousand Oaks is the fall back position if anything goes wrong.
Mike