Store scope in fridge???

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #1 12-03-2008, 10:16 PM

Okay, sounds crazy, I know. But since some people go to extraordinary lengths to get their scopes down to ambient temperature, what would be wrong with using an old outdoor refrigerator to store a telescope in?

My thoughts are that you could jury rig the thermostat to kick in whenever the temperature went above, say, twenty degrees, to prevent it from overheating. And then when you were planning an observing or imaging session you could have the fridge set to automatically match the outdoor temperature. Crack open the fridge (and a tinny too), stick it on the mount, and away you go...

Please tell me what's wrong with idea without sounding too patronizing.

Thanx,

Brian.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #2 12-03-2008, 10:27 PM

Been there, done that Brian!

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=21753

citivolus (Ric) · #3 12-03-2008, 10:29 PM

As you are lowering the temperature of an air mass, water would be prone to condense out. This could potentially lead to rust or mildew forming. I'd be very careful about how you go about it, as it would take a whole lot of silica gel to keep that much air dry.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #4 12-03-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citivolus

As you are lowering the temperature of an air mass, water would be prone to condense out. This could potentially lead to rust or mildew forming. I'd be very careful about how you go about it, as it would take a whole lot of silica gel to keep that much air dry.

Maybe in Redland Bay where the air is typically humid. Down in Cooma it's very dry. I've done it a few times now. Don't take the scope out of the fridge UNTIL the outside air is a couple of degrees colder than the average air mass inside the fridge. You take it BEFORE the ambient air is cold and you have trouble, but not otherwise. I also put the scope into the fridge while the fridge was still warm, and draw their temperature down together - and slowly. I haven't had any condensation.

I don't do it any more though - it's too easy to get it wrong and end up with a wet paddle pop on a stick.

rmcpb (Rob) · #5 13-03-2008, 08:40 AM

Novel idea but has some serious drawbacks in that mainly the scope could be too cold and keeping a scope in a sealed unit will cause mould problems.

Stick to the tried and true method of keeping it in an unheated shed so it can follow the ambient temperatures fairly closely would be the best IMO.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #6 13-03-2008, 08:45 AM

LOL!! Rob - I don't keep the scope in the fridge - I do it on the day!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmcpb

Novel idea but has some serious drawbacks in that mainly the scope could be too cold and keeping a scope in a sealed unit will cause mould problems.

Stick to the tried and true method of keeping it in an unheated shed so it can follow the ambient temperatures fairly closely would be the best IMO.

rmcpb (Rob) · #7 13-03-2008, 09:50 AM

Better to be clear Chris

Kokatha man · #8 13-03-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miaplacidus

My thoughts are that you could jury rig the thermostat to kick in Crack open the fridge (and a tinny too), stick it on the mount, and away you go...

Surely you're not suggesting that the Australian Legal System is going to let its 12 men/women pervert the course of justice and influence your fridge's operating temp for a measly tinny Brian!?!

avandonk · #9 13-03-2008, 11:02 AM

You would be better off with a small window type airconditioner cooling a small room or large closet. Any condensation would form on the cold heat exchanger. On a hot day in Melbourne I run my airconditioner and set it to the temperature it would be at about twilight (guess). The optic is then the last thing to go outside. The standard thermostat in a fridge has a large temperature difference between off and on. You could get a better one from Jaycar where you can set these temperatures if you do use an old fridge. But you are playing with mains so a qulified electrician would have to install it.

Thats what makesthis hobby fun as there is no correct answer to a problem. We just try to make do.

Bert

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #10 13-03-2008, 08:45 PM

Thanks for your thoughtful replies, everybody. I think I will try and come up with a plan B (er C, um D...)

And just for the record, the tinny would have been the same size as a C8.

Cheers,

Brian.