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Well both ends are always capped - but yes plastic would keep moisture in apart from the roof of the dome where there is 1/2" gap to breathe!
What a night that was - came home early and finally got all moisture out of the OTA... Then the main PC wouldn't boot past Windows screen - lovely - after 5 Windows restores it finally booted.
Then it wouldn't connect to the hand controller - so restarted that. Tracking wasn't as good as before so I only slightly adjusted counterweights. Scopes where still aligned well even though I'd tightened retaining bolts on the 5" MAK. Focus was slightly out on my main OTA - took about 5 steps forward and 12 steps back on the Meade electronic focuser to get focus to where it was. Then the lever of the DEC friction clamp simply broke in two under minimum pressure! Used a 13mm spanner to work it last night. Centred on a star and all gotos were excellent - so pointing is still brilliant. Then I trained PEC again and 10 minute guided shots looked fine.
So I would say I can balance the counterweights better - then see if I am better than 1 arc second a minute off RA drift.
Took hours to get it all back to where it was (apart from adjusting position of the counter weights). One more cloudless night will see how well I can tune it before I start seriously playing with MaximDL for guiding and PEMPro for PEC training and / or polar alignment check!
Rang Bintel and I think I will take it for a service and clean next year once its all quiet. The front corrector looks like it has a small smear on the inside and I think a tiny white bug has invaded!
Great fun these challenges!
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