Quote:
Originally Posted by Sebbie
I don't have a cooling system attached to the LX but would like to have one installed. Bit apprehensive about drilling holes into the OTA in order to mount a small fan though.. is there any other options?
|
To cool without cutting/drilling any holes you could use a Lymax style cooler that sucks air through the rear baffle.
Here's the brand-name version:
Lymax SCT Cooler for 12" Meade
Paul Haese wrote a review of the Lymax in 2006:
Lymax SCT Cooler review
... and there's some discussion of SCT cooling here:
SCT Cooler discussion
Interestingly, Paul went on to use
peltier cooling with holes cut through the rear of the OTA when he up-sized his OTA, or at least I think so, if I read correctly - you could ask him directly, I suppose.
There's a DIY version of a Lymax cooler that you could make:
DIY SCT Cooler
I saw someone had a flexible tube from a vacuum cleaner with a computer fan on the end of it to cool their OTA, albeit I think it was a reflector. Still, you could also try that.
I have a Meade 10" ACF that seems to cool adequately in about 2 hours (or less) under a clear sky, but then I'm not yet attempting the feats of astrophotography that you are! I have some reservations about blowing outside air through the middle of my OTA. If I were going to do that, I would really rather blow filtered/de-humidified air, to reduce the risk of mould or fungus spores getting a toehold.