Quote:
Originally Posted by gregbradley
If you used a concrete slab would that create thermal issues as the slab cools off after dark? And if so is it better then to use pavers?
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My obs has 1 cubic metre of concrete for the pier which is isolated from the surrounding concrete floor (single slab, 100-120mm thick) by an expansion gap with filler. Colourbond shed on top.
The concrete stays cool all year around, I don't have a problem with it heating up at all. The colourbond comes down to cover most of the outside edge of the cocnrete and the rest is covered by surrounding dirt. The inside has carpet squares on it. Whenever I've removed the carpet and touched the concrete it's been cool.
The colourbond shed doesn't get more than 4 degrees warmer than outdoor ambient temperature since I painted the roof white. It was a wheat colour, and that cooked, the walls are still wheat, but the white roof was enough to significantly alter the internal heat, taking it down to ambient except for the few mid afternoon hours where it creeps up to a few degress above ambient.
Once the sun leaves the shed (fairly early for me, about 4pm this time of year) it cools extremely quickly to ambient and below ambient by sunset.
In winter dew can be an issue on the inside of the roof. Apparently painting the inside is enough to solve that, I haven't yet.
I insulated half my obs and it's good for my comfort but a nightmare to cool off after a hot day, unlike the open half with the telescope.
Highly recommend this type of setup, has worked quite well for me.
Roger.