Dew heaters for Bino's

[CoombellKid]

Just wondering if anyone is using dew heaters on there bino's. I have a
problem with my 20x80's fogging up, especially when looking to the
zenith for long periods.

If you do use dew heaters do you use them on both ends? just wondering
if it would effect the performance having only the ep end dew heated, so
to speak.

regards,CS

[Dennis]

Hi Rob

On my Vixen 30x125 giant binos I use a Kendrick 8” SCT sized dew strap wrapped around the built in lens hoods covering the objectives and a Dew-Not bino dew strap (http://www.dew-not.com/dew-not-desc-01.htm)for the eyepieces, purchased from Scopestuff (http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_dnot.htm).

Using these, the binos have never dewed up. I don’t slew the Vixen around; it’s too big and heavy, so I tend to stay in one region and cruise, so the cables hanging off the beast are not a problem.

You feel a very slight, but nice warmth on your eyes and I haven’t noticed any seeing degradation. Even if there were some seeing loss, it would still be a big improvement on fogged up, useless glass.

Cheers

Dennis

[CoombellKid]

Thanks Dennis, I'll look into what scopestuff have.

regards,CS

[CoombellKid]

Dennies,

Also, what sort of power do it need to run Kendrick type dew heaters. I'm
wondering if I can get/make/whatever a dew heater system that's maybe
powered by one of those small rectangle 9volt batteries, or am I dreaming?
Would love to permanently in stall it on my parra mount and just attach
the heaters when needed.

btw, warm eyeballs and hot quality coffee... sounds like a winter observers
dream.

regards,CS

[Dennis]

Hi Rob

I have an older Mk III Kendrick Controller which I operate off a mains adapter (12V DC 2Amps) and the large Vixen forks and tripod provide ample superstructure for me to Velcro stuff onto and maintain neat cable runs.

The Kendrick has a rotating Min/Max control knob and I understand that it also has a duty cycle of 40% so it’s not continuously on.

With the dews shields on the Vixen objectives and the eye guards on the eyepieces, I’ve never had to run the controller at much over the Min setting even on the wettest of nights.

I’ve got no experience of running these from a battery, but I suspect a Jaycar/Dick Smith 12V 7Ah SLA would easily last you a couple of nights before a recharge?

My Kendrick strips are probably 10 years old whereas the Dew Not bino eyepiece strip is only a couple of years old and the power cable is much better than the Kendrick; thinner and drapes more easily. Not sure if the newer Kendrick ones have changed?

Cheers

Dennis