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In Sydney, I leave my EQ6-R and 8” carbon newt outside all year with just an Orion scope cloak over it. Obviously I bring the imaging camera inside but I do leave the guide camera and guide scope fixed on the OTA so as not to lose calibration. I haven’t calibrated in PHD2 for nearly 2 years now and stlll guiding at 0.50 arc sec
No issues at all
However , I do lubricate the mount every 3 or 4 months with silicon spray to protect all the bolts , screws and stainless parts like tripod legs etc…
The newt gets taken off once a year to clean the mirrors.
I did replace the crappy cover screws on the mount with grade 316 stainless.
I also use a cane type feather duster to carefully clear cobwebs from inside the OTA. Can’t stop the spiders from setting up home in there.
This rig has been outdoors for over 3 years and still looks in good condition.
Temperatures in Summer 25 to 40 degrees
Wind , Rain and so on …..
Mounts are pretty resilient, but regular external lubrication / maintenance 👨*🔧 is the key to longevity
Cheers
Martin
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