Have a guess

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

ok folks - something to ponder

here is a photo of a jaycar 12 volt thermous type mug

it has a thermometer in its workings that allows you to set and monitor the temperature of your beverage

what astro related task could it double as ?

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...1&d=1306246815


geoff

[Tandum (Robin)]

Buttered Rum Maker

[bartman (Bart)]

Well if it has one of those peltiers in it, you could turn it around and use it to cool down a camera and keep it at a set temp with the thermo settings???????
Of course you will need to dismantle it from the cup....

Bartman

[ZeroID (Brent)]

EP warmer !!!


Do I get a prize ?

[multiweb (Marc)]

Dew control?... and one spare mug for coffee?

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

YEP

Brent and Marc are spot on - EP dew control

don't ask me how or why i thought of it, but i was working on ideas for a heated box and the darn thing sprang to mind


the mug is supposed to have a temperature range of about 10 to 80 degrees C
of course you don't want it that high (80 degrees)
i only managed to get it to maintain about 20 degrees C (i have lost the setting instructions for it)

maybe not to use as your main means of heating your eyepieces - but a good backstop if you have one.

i reckon with a little ingenuity you could get a 1.25" and a 2" eyepiece in there together

one thing i noticed though - it needs to be run from a straight 12v source
it conks out on a modulated source

geoff

[bartman (Bart)]

Darn......I was over-engineering!

[ZeroID (Brent)]

So where is my prize ..??

Actually if you built a small insulated warming drawer/box and chucked one of these inside it could warm several EPs. Put the latest cold one inside to catch up and have the others nested around it in holes. Switch and swap as required.

Bears thinking about for my 'Astrocase' idea ....

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

the mind boggles Brent - the mind boggles

amazing what anyone can do with a little thought (perhaps lateral)

great idea

geoff

[gb_astro]

Just don't get it mixed up with your coffee cup.

gb.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

" Just can't remember how many times I've drunk my EP and loaded my coffee into the focusser ..."

I've already given this some thought with my latest project, the Astro Office. Large ABS case I've got that will hold the laptop and extended screen, EP's and bits. In the base will be two power supplies, one for the lappie, another for the scope mount, lights etc. They will keep the EP's warm and handy. Using a modified PC supply to give me +12v at 20 amps, +5v at 10Amps and 3.3 V at about 5 amps. Should be useful for heaters, slow fans etc. Very eco friendly, what ?

Means packup at the end of a viewing/photo session will be just power it all down, shut the lid and walk off.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Geeks.
Just keep you ep's next to the vent of your lappy.

[scopemankit (Chris)]

A hand warmer - no more gloves!

[gbeal]

Triple J is onto it. I use a desktop, mounted in a small enclosure which is in turn mounted on one leg of the rolling pier. The rear area has enough room to accommodate an eyepiece or two, handy while "dobbing" at the same time as imaging.
Gary

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

My lappy is usually in a hutch.
Just a black recycling box from bunnings, tipped on it's side
just enough room to stash a few bit and pieces