Wild weather and the ensuing scope disaster

turbo_pascale (Rob) · #1 03-04-2008, 01:21 AM

Melbourne's wild weather got the better of my roll-off shed tonight, as well as my fence.

Not sure if all the equipment will survive. All the electronic type bits are sitting on the dining table while the heating is going to stay on permanently for the next few days in the hope it will all dry out. What surprised me was how dusty/dirty the rain was - brown junk everywhere.

Managed to fish the roof out of the next-door neighbours yard and get it tied down. With the roof on, at least can leave the scope in place for now and wait for it all to dry up. Will see what the result is sometime on the weekend if anything at all fires up.

Disaster area pics here: http://tinyurl.com/3xtblv

skwinty (Steve) · #2 03-04-2008, 01:31 AM

Hi Rob
My condolences on your disaster. Real bummer.
Hope you are able to salvage your gear without too much expense.

snowyskiesau · #3 03-04-2008, 01:44 AM

Nature can be a real bugger at times.
Hope you're insured.

nightsky · #4 03-04-2008, 02:16 AM

G'Day Rob,
Sorry to hear that,unfortunately were going to have to get used to that sort of weather

,fingers crossed that the equipment is not damaged.
Cheers
Arthur

iceman (Mike) · #5 03-04-2008, 06:33 AM

Sorry to hear it Robert, sure sounded like freaky weather even for Melbourne!

I hope everything gets back online for you soon! I wanna see first light from that modded camera!

h0ughy (David) · #6 03-04-2008, 07:57 AM

i hope you salvage things and that the gear is ok when it dries out

goober (Doug) · #7 03-04-2008, 08:09 AM

Sorry to see the damage, Rob. Hope that Mallee dust comes off and everything is functional again.

It was a freaky day yesterday. I was walking home last night along the sandbelt golf courses and there were tree branches on the ground everywhere, and a few fences had blown over. You don't often see storm warnings issued for the Port Phillip Bay. I think our Tassie office even issued a hurricane warning yesterday. Makes you wonder what real cyclone is like ... this was just the remnants of one!

acropolite (Phil) · #8 03-04-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

think our Tassie office even issued a hurricane warning yesterday

Matsuyker island, just off the Tasmanian south coast, recorded 160Kmh wind gusts according to this AM's news. In Launceston at around 6 last night there was a gust and rain squall that was so severe I moved away from the windows for fear they were going to be pushed in.

Hopefully all your gear will dry out OK Rob.

Terry B · #9 03-04-2008, 09:41 AM

Sad to see. I hope the gear and you are OK
Windy here today also. I checked my observatory this morning and the roof is still on. No rain here though.

dugnsuz (Doug) · #10 03-04-2008, 10:11 AM

You poor guy!
Hope everything is functional again soon
All the best
Doug

Tamtarn · #11 03-04-2008, 10:30 AM

It sure was bad Rob. We were lucky not to have any damage out here. Sorry you had such a bad day and all the best in drying your gear. Otherwise hope your insurance will cover it. Good Luck.

Ric · #12 03-04-2008, 03:02 PM

What a total bummer Rob, I hope everything come good and works for you.

We had the winds come through up here last night though not as strong as Melbourne, then it rained and everything is now also covered in a coating of red dirt as well.

Matty P (Matt) · #13 03-04-2008, 06:17 PM

Ouch! I never like to hear things like this. It sends a chill down my spine.

Hope you are back and running soon.

MrB (Simon) · #14 03-04-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo_pascale

....
All the electronic type bits are sitting on the dining table while the heating is going to stay on permanently for the next few days in the hope it will all dry out.
....

Sorry to hear about the carnage.

Don't wanna sound like an alarmist, but as someone that has repaired a fair few water damaged electronic devices over the years, you'll want to dry them out quicker than that. Galvanic reaction is already at work and you might end-up with corrosion and dry joints.
If you're feeling confident, open up anything electronic to expose both sides(component and solder) of the circuit boards and use a hair-drier to flash-off the water.
Carefull not to overheat the boards, though most components can withstand high(ish) temps for extended periods, a good rule-of-thumb is don't heat the boards 'till their too hot to hold.

Good luck.

Oh, try to shake-off as much from the boards as you can, will save loads of time with the hair-drier.

turbo_pascale (Rob) · #15 03-04-2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

Sorry to hear about the carnage.

Don't wanna sound like an alarmist, but as someone that has repaired a fair few water damaged electronic devices over the years, you'll want to dry them out quicker than that. Galvanic reaction is already at work and you might end-up with corrosion and dry joints.

Thanks MrB. Went to get a cheap hair dryer tonight (those of you who have met me know I have no use for such a device!)

To all: thanks for the best wishes. At one level, am hoping everything is OK, at another level, if I knew that the insurance would pay unconditionally, I'd hope that it is all totally beyond repair so I could upgrade! I'll know sometime on the weekend I suppose!

I'm mostly hoping that EzyStyles old camera is OK, as it only had a few test shots fired off - kind of a bummer for a camera that has lead such a productive life (for a very short amount of time admittedly) to die that way!

GrahamL · #16 04-04-2008, 06:26 AM

Thats just unbelievable weather you guys had ..Hope it all works out well ..
your policys pretty tight rob ?..not that I dont trust insurance companys
but your shed looks to of been modified a little from how it was made .

Phil · #17 04-04-2008, 08:43 AM

God hope everything is ok. Looks like you copped it bad. Hope the gear is ok and works again for you. Sorry to hear the bad news.
Phil

Jen · #18 04-04-2008, 12:23 PM

hope it all works well again and if not look on the bright side its a good excuse to upgrade

turbo_pascale (Rob) · #19 05-04-2008, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightstalker

Thats just unbelievable weather you guys had ..Hope it all works out well ..
your policys pretty tight rob ?..not that I dont trust insurance companys
but your shed looks to of been modified a little from how it was made .

Errr.... well, it is not stock standard

..... the assessor rang today but they are snowed under - expecting them to call in a few days to make some time to come and look at it.

I've got Andrew J coming over to pull it apart and see if the bits will fire up tomorrow. All fingers and toes crossed.

multiweb (Marc) · #20 05-04-2008, 09:59 AM

Bummer! Hope you get back on your feet quickly mate.Sorry to hear about that.