I have my EQ6 (with SynScan) permanenty set up outside "in the elements".
When I'm not using it I cover it with a clear plastic sheet which keeps the rain off but doesn't provide any shielding from the sun.
With the weather warming up I walked out the other day and placed my hand on the mount to gauge its temperature. It was quite warm as you'd expect, sitting in the sun all day.
I was wondering whether I'm likely to encounter any problems with this practice??? Would it be best bringing it inside with the associated hassles of polar aligning every session? Should I just buy a better cover?
cover it with a garbage tin painted white, Scott Alder does this. Also invest in a $5 BBQ cover, they are great. As for leaving it out there all the time, probably not, especially if a bout of wet weather comes along (yes I know setting up is horrendous afterwards. Mark it with tape and a pen in 3 spots. might help
I would definelty be providing some kind insulation cover...it would be fine on the occasional 1 off but permanantly outside I would be trying to keep it as cool as possible.
The upside-down garbage can sounds good, but I would cut a vent hole on the side near the base, then silastic in a short downward facing plumbing pipe fitting to allow air circulation. This way you're covered if it rains as well as keeping the sun off.
If you have the skyscan version, i probably suggest not to leave it outside. Electronic and heat from the sun don't mix just carry the mount back and forth every imaging session like what i do
How about making a little tent type cover over it with a tarp the one that has a silver color on one side and a blue color on the inside. That way your clear plasic one will protect it and the small tent like frame will protect it from the heat.
And for the record (Eric, Adrian, et al) the desire to leave the mount set up outside has nothing to do with laziness.
It's got more to do with someone who gets up at 3am Mon-Fri not wanting to spend what precious little time they have of an evening polar aligning before they are in bed before 9pm!!!!
Matt
I'm in the Eric/Adrian camp. I use a pier, permanantly set into the ground. The holes on the mount and pier mean that every time I carry the mount out, and fit it to the pier top, it is within cooey of aligned.
That way all I leave outside is the 6" steel pipe that is my pier. Every thing else inside. In my case (especially this foggy time of year I would be more worried about moisture and dampness affecting the metals, and electronics.
Gary
Will give that some thought, but as I'm a renter I doubt my landlord will take too kindly to a giant steel pipe sunk permanently into her garden
Anyway, we're getting away from the initial thrust of this thread. I want to leave the tripod and mount outside... and am looking for a good option on that..
Being left permanently outside would subject the mount and its components (mechanical & electrical/electronic) to accelerated weathering, from extremes of temperature and possible moisture ingress due to condensation on metal parts. Plastics would age more quickly due to UV if directly exposed for long periods. Not too sure what lubricants (oils, greases) are used in the mount and how these would be affected by temperature and possible moisture or dust contamination?
Several years ago I was fortunate enough to correspond with Vixen’s chief design engineer of the Skysensor 2000 GoTo, regarding some MT2 motor problems I was experiencing. I described for him the environment that I was operating the system in, as ranging from -4 ºC to +35 ºC with humidity from 30% to 95%, where dew was forming on the hand controller.
He responded by saying that Vixen tested the SS2K beyond these limits when designing the system, in addition to performing extensive beta testing in the field by experienced amateur astronomers in Japan. He indicated that they had water condensation actually running off the hand controller in their lab tests.
Given the influx of the Chinese Clones, I wonder if their R&D program has a similar rigorous materials and components selection process? Are these clones field tested by experienced amateur astronomers? Given that mounts are hopefully designed and manufactured to be used outdoors, in unheated/uncooled observatories, I wonder how the Chinese Clones will fare over time compared to say the original Vixen designs?
I suspect it may take 5 or 10 years for the differences, if any, to emerge?
And, it is not to say that Vixen (or Takahashi) are perfect in their designs. For example, the SS2K cable on the hand controller (thick and a little inflexible) was not strain relieved at the point where it mates with the connector directly mounted on the circuit board - a poor design.
just carry the mount back and forth every imaging session like what i do 
good for the work out too.
