Keeping telescope in its box- how long?

DJDD · #1 17-11-2008, 04:51 PM

Ok, this will probably be a stupid question but I have to ask it...

If I buy an orion Short Tube 80 to use as a guidescope how long do you hink i can keep it in its box before it needs to be used?

I do not have any other kit at the moment except a Meade DSI and will buy each item slowly (especially with the dollar the way it is...).

I am concerned about mould growing, or anything else happening, if the telescope is left in the box.

What other options do I have for medium-term storage?
or should i just get a few eyepieces and put it on a camera mount for now?

any comments welcome.

erick (Eric) · #2 17-11-2008, 05:04 PM

I'm yet to hear of anyone who doesn't rush home, rip open the box and have it mounted and observe through sucker holes that very night! Good luck!

But I hear what you say. You need to seal it in a plastic bag with plenty of dessicant, I would suggest.

ps. Melbourne is not too much problem re humidity combined with heat. Keep it inside your heated house through the colder/wetter months.

astro_nutt · #3 17-11-2008, 05:06 PM

Hi DJDD,
Firstly, no such thing as a silly question..and to help with the moisture control while storeing your optics...a few bags of silica gel should fix that!!
Cheers!

leon · #4 17-11-2008, 05:08 PM

If you keep it inside till the day you use it it can stay there forever, it is only a problem if one takes it into different temps with out the proper cooling or warming period needed to bring it to ambient temp.

Leon

DJDD · #5 17-11-2008, 05:13 PM

Thanks, all, for the responses.
I thought the silica gel would be enough for now.

Quote:

I'm yet to hear of anyone who doesn't rush home, rip open the box and have it mounted and observe through sucker holes that very night! Good luck!

I can just imagine the thoughts going through some people's heads- "what? not use a new telescope?!? not possible!"

If i can mount it on a camera tripod then maybe I will just get a couple of eyepieces, etc., too.

Max Vondel (Peter) · #6 17-11-2008, 09:28 PM

The worst question in the world is the one that is never asked!!!
You are being a little over sensitive, I've had a short tube 80 for about 10 years now. I doesn't live in a box or a special atmospheric controlled chamber and its just fine. It lives in the garage, in the observatory, in the back of the car without a case and without a digonal or eyepiece. Take it from me she'll be fine unless you take her scuba diving !!!

DJDD · #7 17-11-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Vondel

You are being a little over sensitive

a bit precious, you think?

i think i must be...

cheers,
DJDD

Dennis · #8 17-11-2008, 10:28 PM

Living in Brisbane I’ve had fungus grow on a VC200L corrector lens, a Sigma 400mm F5.6 lens and my Pentax 7x63 binoculars, all over the last 10 years.

I now keep all my optical gear in the spare room with a dehumidifier running during the hot, humid, summer months. On those occasional real stinkers of a day, the dehumidifier can pull almost 10 litres of water out of the air!

Note that the above gear did suffer from long periods of inactivity, and I suspect that had I used the gear on a more regular basis like I do now, I may not have had those problems.

Cheers

Dennis

rmcpb (Rob) · #9 18-11-2008, 09:56 AM

Another way is to have it sitting on a shelf inside, not sealed up, and it will be just fine.

DJDD · #10 18-11-2008, 10:57 AM

Thanks, Dennis and rmcpb.

given i now live in MEL I won't have to worry about too much humidity but since it seems problems can arise I will just keep it sealed with dessicant in the bag.

cheers.

PCH (Paul) · #11 18-11-2008, 07:02 PM

A question along the same lines as the original...

I had a separate shed put in the back yard for all my stuff. The shed's all clean and water (rain) proof, and the gear stays there all the time. Does anyone think this is a particularly good or bad idea?

I'd be interested to hear opinions

Cheers,

Max Vondel (Peter) · #12 18-11-2008, 08:48 PM

Just give it a bit of a breather from time to time PCH. I mean just open the door on a fine day for a few hours to release any trapped moisture. I live in Sydney and have never had any problems with camera lenses or telescopes. Maybe if you recap the optics after condensation you may have a problem. My favorite experience is with a Pentax ME body I left out by mistake about 20 years ago. No lens and it rained all night. When I discovered my mistake I raced down and opened the film compartment. The water just poured out. I removed the batteries (and threw out the film).
I still use the camera today - it was fine, maybe a comment on the camera's of yesteryear.

acropolite (Phil) · #13 18-11-2008, 09:29 PM

Ditto what the others have said re storage. At the latitude of Melbourne, provided the OTA is stored initially in a dry state that's all you need to do. I leave my LX90, ED80 and newt stored for months on end with no problems, I do however make 100% sure that they are completely dry after using before I pack them away.

PCH (Paul) · #14 19-11-2008, 10:25 AM

Thanks Peter and Phil,

- yep, I do those things so I feel a good deal more confident now - thanks

I had no choice in getting them out there as SWMBO was fed up of having the front room full of my stuff. Sigh - they just don't understand do they

Cheers

Benny L (Ben) · #15 25-11-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

I'm yet to hear of anyone who doesn't rush home, rip open the box and have it mounted and observe through sucker holes that very night! Good luck!

But I hear what you say. You need to seal it in a plastic bag with plenty of dessicant, I would suggest.

ps. Melbourne is not too much problem re humidity combined with heat. Keep it inside your heated house through the colder/wetter months.

dad and i bought a 14" meade ACF and had it in the box for 9 months before first light.. only to find that it was waaay out of collimation :/

rmcpb (Rob) · #16 25-11-2008, 03:35 PM

My stuff lives in a small shed and its been OK for years now. Its well ventillated with an insulated roof and wide eves on an elevated wood floor. I have vents in the floor and under the eves to control the humidity and heat. The walls are unisulated colourbond with shrubs to the north and west to protect it from the really hot sun.

DJDD · #17 25-11-2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmcpb

My stuff lives in a small shed and its been OK for years now. Its well ventillated with an insulated roof and wide eves on an elevated wood floor. I have vents in the floor and under the eves to control the humidity and heat. The walls are unisulated colourbond with shrubs to the north and west to protect it from the really hot sun.

Thanks for the reply, Rob.

cheers,
DJDD

deadsimple (Ash) · #18 25-11-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJDD

can keep it in its box before it needs to be used?

I'm usually ripping open the package as soon as it's in my hands and the courier has to drag me back to sign for it. Not opening for a few minutes I could probably handle, but several months? That's crazy talk, please surrender your astro-badge and gear at the door!

On a more serious note, I usually store things in a clean closet (with a stable, neutral temperature) - electronics, books, optics, computers, medication. Never had any issues. The silica gel idea is one I might adopt though.

Roger Davis · #19 26-11-2008, 12:34 PM

Just a quick addenda, on the bottom of the box is written:

Best Before: MM/DD/YYYY
DO NOT REFRIDGERATE AFTER OPENING.

Of course, just kidding, good little scope for guiding. One sits next to my 100mm ED.

DJDD · #20 26-11-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadsimple

I'm usually ripping open the package as soon as it's in my hands and the courier has to drag me back to sign for it. Not opening for a few minutes I could probably handle, but several months? That's crazy talk, please surrender your astro-badge and gear at the door!

well, the several months turned into a week!
may i have the badge back?