Gotchas for setting up a permanent mount outdoors?

[AnakChan (Sean)]

So after 19.5 yrs in Tokyo, I’ve finally migrated back to Perth. All my gear are being shipped by sea (the 250CRS and 125SDP are being triple boxed with a wooden crate - hopefully that’ll be enough to protect them).

Unlike Tokyo where I’ve been living in an apt for almost 2 decades, I’ve got a backyard here (still in the burbs ‘bout ~8km from the city) and I don’t have to travel 100km to do astronomy.

Despite city light pollution I think it’s clear enough to do some NB imaging from my backyard and am thinking of setting up a somewhat more permanent mount - the Vixen AXD is the heaviest single component of my telescope gear.

However I’ve never done such a thing and therefore falling short of setting up an entire observatory/dome, is it possible to set up a pier and leaving my AXD permanently outdoors, and have it protected with some kinda TeleGizmos-styled covering?

Naturally I worry about heat, humidity, natural wear from leaving the mount outdoors however I’ve seen pix of folks just simply leaving their mount (and at times even their scope!!) outdoors and just covering it up.

Any advice folks can offer? What should I look out for?

Cheers,
Sean

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Sean,
I wouldn’t worry too much about storing the mount outside under cover.
I’ve had my HEQ5 mount outside for over ten years, in the UK, Belgium and here in Oz. I just use a Bunnings patio chair cover, which ends up being replaced every three years or so.
I know of a C11 mounted on a NEQ6PRO (?) which is left outside all year round under a telegizmo cover with no issues.
Just remove the cover, mount the OTA, connect up the power and controller, and off you go.

[AnakChan (Sean)]

Hi Ken,

Thank you for your response. I posted something similar to CN and it seems the responses I’ve received there are similar - mounts are more resilient than I had expected.

I gather your setup is over a solid concrete base?

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Sean,
Actually sits on a tiled veranda.

(I should admit that after ten years the paint on the feet of the tripod is beginning to deteriorate......this area is not effectively covered by my Bunnings cover.)

[Atmos (Colin)]

I've left my mount out for months at a time under Telegizmo 365 covers. The one comment I'd make regarding having things covered for prolonged periods, I'd suggest taking the covers off on a clear day for a little while once a week/fortnight just to let it air out and let any condensation evaporate.
These covers are designed for keeping moisture from getting through which means they're also good at stopping moisture from getting out.

I've also found that putting a towel over the top helps as it'll absorb moisture and that can either be put in the sun to dry out a bit and it stops the dovetail plate from scratching the inside of the covers.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

I agree with Colin, Re the towel over the mount....reduces wind rubbing/ damage to the cover and does provide some absorption.

[Nikolas (Nik)]

Old windcheater over the mount, then 2 large plastic garbage bags, then a large weatherproof bbq cover, another then a large tarpaulin over that followed by another large garbage bag, all lashed down with straps, yes it is overkill but the mount has been out in that in some really appalling conditions without even getting a drop of moisture on it

[AnakChan (Sean)]

Cheers folks. You guy have provided lots of tips and lots of food for thought. I like tip on wrapping a towel around the mount to absorb the moisture.

Nik, cheers for the alternate cost effective wraps. It makes sense.