Protecting my Laptop from Dew?

[wmzaphod]

Hi Guys,

How do you protect your laptops while imaging outside?

Do you put em in boxes ......... ?

Peter

[dannat]

you can get clear plastic screen covers, and silicone keyboard covers, not sure abut the port holes

[Davros]

This is what i am working on for astrofest, or at least something similar.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,370,0,0,1,0

[wmzaphod]

That sounds fairly simple Ta....



That's awesome, home made I'm guessing :). Another question tho, how long can you go with the USB cable? - looks like yours would be 3 metres???

Cheers,

Peter

[Dennis]

I think USB is 5 metres and after that, you need a repeater which boosts the signal for longer runs of cable.

Cheers

Dennis

[Ian Robinson]

I haven't needed to take my laptop outside at night up to now, I have a digital camera and an autoguider now , so I will have to too ,
or
.... get very long USB cables and leave the laptop on the tail gate of the Pajero when setting up at the park at Valentine , or in the garage on a old desk I have in there if the FW next door ever stops leaving is outside lights on all night and I get to restart viewing and imaging from the backyard (in which case I'll set up a permanet pier on to which I'll put the Atlux and 10" newt (when rebuilt).

I have a wireless mouse and keyboard that came with the HP desktop (that I don't use (I have my wired old mouse and keyboard connected so I don't waist money on batteries, the wireless mouse chewed up Duracells in no time flat .... a few weeks and I got sick of replacing them) that I could use in the field too, just need a keyboard cover to damp proof the key board., so I could maybe feed the long USB cable through one of Pajero's back window run the notebook on battery (I get about 3 hours with the 6600mAh batteries (I have two of these) and I still get about 40mins from the old 4400mAh batteries (about 4 years old now , have 4 of these).
So my note book power is OK , so long as I can get to a powerpoint next day to recharge).
Put the notebook ontop a milk crate in the back so I can see it's screen through the window and I can do everything without needing to open the back of the Pajero. (And the notebook stays dry !!!).

What's the longest USB type 2 cables get ? 5m would be plenty long enough for me I think.

[wmzaphod]

Thanks Dennis, I haven't seen a repeater but I suppose a powered USB hub would do the trick.... :shrug:



I must admit, setting up in my van would be ideal - power isn't a prob as I have 2x80 amp and a 120 amp deep cycle battery setup + a 40amp I use to run the scope. I interested how others manage and was concerned with how long the USB cables could go and you and Dennis have answered that for me.

Just for interest's sake, have you seen anyone use these http://www.lastolite.com/ezyview.php - fairly common with on-location photographers (and one of the few accessories I don't own) but I don't know how dew-proof they are.....

Peter

[Tandum]

It is 5 meters and yes a powered hub is what you need.
That lasolite thing looks good, better than the cardboard box I currently use :)
It looks like it's made of ripstop, same as puptents.

Here's a few more off google :-
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/iCap-15-laptop-and-notebook-light-tent
http://www.compushade.com/viewarticle.php?page=3
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,360,0,0,1,0

[wmzaphod]

Thanks Robin,

Gees I like the home-made one you found on IIS - I think that'll be the go for me - at least for a while. :)

[Tandum]

Looks easy to me as well. Might even give me a chance to fire up the old air brush :)

[Davros]

Cant take any credit for that one, found it in the projects section here. Just hoping my meager skills will lead to something similar.

[Dennis]

Hi Peter

I designed and built the observing hutch in the projects section and found that just using a single skin canvas flysheet led to condensation forming on the underside of the canvas and this could drip onto the stuff inside. Fitting a 3mm closed cell foam mat underneath the canvas prevented the dew forming as it acted as an insulator.

So, with any single skin fabric tent, you may get condensation forming on the inside surface and if the material is touched or maybe shaken by the wind, there is a chance that droplets may drip onto the work surface below.

A cardboard box does not appear to suffer from this as the cardboard just absorbs the moisture, but eventually turns to mush!:whistle:

Cheers

Dennis

[Robert_T]

glad wrap maybe:D

[wmzaphod]

Good advice - thanks Dennis, will consider my options further :)