Telescope DEW HEATER Strap System -- Works with ASIAir
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
- Your Astrophotography rig needs a Dew Heater Strap! For beginners just getting started or those looking to upgrade, I go over the dew system I use and how it works seamlessly with the ASIAir so I never have to think about it!
Links (non-affiliate):
Splitter Cable: bit.ly/3tRVeZg
60mm Guidescope Strap: bit.ly/3MKrS7I
RASA 8 Strap: bit.ly/3CBnfIv
My Equipment:
Telescope: Celestron RASA 8
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
Mount: iOptron CEM40
Filters: 2" Baader RGB and f/2 3.5/4nm Narrowband SHO
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini
Guide Scope: Orion 60mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
ZWO ASIAir Plus
ZWO EAF (Electronic Automatic Focuser)
Twitter: / nickjlake
Insta: / nickjlake
Astrobin: www.astrobin.com/users/bortle9/
Video shot on Pixel 4 XL
Rode Wireless Go microphone system
Photographs of the universe, with galaxies, stars, nebulae, supernovas, comets, planets, Moon, Sun. Inspiring wonder about the night sky, even from the light pollution of Chicago. - Наука та технологія
Thanks for watching, everyone! What dew solution do you use for you Astrophotography setup?
Hey Nick! For my Edge, I use a Dew-Not heater and AstroZapdew shield. For my GT81, I use a couple of straps I had custom made (unfortunately, the guy no longer makes heater straps). Power is supplied by a Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advance. The PPBA has an "auto" feature that will adjust the power depending on ambient conditions. You can set the aggressiveness, but I've always found the default to be more than adequate.
@@JonnyBravo0311 some else mentioned that auto feature on the Pegasus. Sounds really neat!
I also use the ASIAIR. Recently I bought the Plus version to have that dew heater control capability. The brand of heater that I use is called HERCULES (12V) which I bought on AliExpress. Unfortunately, like most heaters, it comes with a cord about 3 times longer than you actually need (irritating). So I have folded the cord back on itself two times and wrapped it with a spiral cord binder. That helps to better manage the cable excess and keeps the appearance tidy (no bunched-up cord excess). Personally, I think all dew heater straps should come with shorter cords but offer cord extensions if you want to lengthen it. It is not rocket science! Good video and important topic! Oh, BTW, once I forgot my dew heaters and it threatened to ruin my night.....luckily a friend had some disposable hand warmers (chemical bags), that when banded to the OTA, it worked and saved the night!
@@jpastroguy hey good solution with the hand warmers! Just a little bit is all it takes some nights 😎. Totally agreed on the length; gonna cut mine down to size one of these days!
thanks for the great information, very good video... I noticed that you are quite a fan of C.S. Lewis! Thats great!
Greetings from the South Island of New Zealand. Great advice regarding the cable splitter. I now have one on order so will soon be able to power my AstroZap straps from the ASIAir Pro. Please keep your videas coming; your no nonsence informative astrophotography advice is really appreciated.
Very glad it was helpful!
Thank You for this video.
I have a RASA8. I ran the Celestron Dew Ring at 30% (with the dew Shield in place), pointed straight up and got dew around the secondary. So next night out, I cranked up the power to 70%. No dew, but I got clearly defined spikes on all but the dimmest stars on my image.
I want to try the AstroZap strap outside the OTA, controlled by the AsiAir. Your video, and your pictures on Astrobin, proved that your process works!
I'm trying that.
Thanks for the informative Video!
Excellent video, as always. I was happy to get your guidance on the 30% power rating on the ASIAIR port for the dew heaters. Such good advice! Thanks!
Thanks, John! Yes, that's such an easy set-it-and-forget-it feature!
Thanks for the video ... specially the comment on how asi air can control the output. Saved $$
A dew heater band is a must! I just learned this tonight! Haha! Guess that’s one way to learn the hard truth. Doing research now to check out the options so thank you for sharing :)
Ha! Hey, trial and error is great, and the learning never ends 😎 Glad it was helpful!
I have a small USB dew heater that works great for my little William Optics Z73 and custom power box. Always use it in PNW. I haven't used one for my guide scope but I use a little 30mm or oag. I've never bothered with an expensive controller. I agree with you, super important. Plenty of time I've come out in the morning and frost all over the rig except the telescope glass. 😊 Great explanation! Cheers!
Thanks! Yes I have been thinking about a USB heater solution if I do a rig with something like the Z73.
Talk about synchronicity! I just received my dew heaters yesterday and found that I know very little about dew. Your video was/is perfect! Especially about the 30% usage with the ASIAir. I read somewhere that a fully loaded ASIAIR could become overloaded while using dew heaters. I’m guessing this would occur if you had a full compliment of equipment along with heating your strips at 100%. Do keep up the great videos-much appreciated.
So glad to hear it was helpful! Yes, depending on the setup the ASIAir could get overloaded but thankfully the heaters only require a trickle!
Great tip to use a “Y” adapter cable from the ASI Air. 👍🏻
Thanks! Yeah it's a really nice solution
I didn’t realise that you could tweak the output voltage! Thanks.
Game changer, right?
AstroZap dew heaters as well for my gear. One on each scope (Esprit and Redcat) and one on the WO 200mm guide scope. I have NOT had a dew problem in two years. It's often very "dewey" in the mid-Atlantic area too. I use a Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox to control them and let it auto-control based on the dew point of the night. I've seen them as high as about 80-90% and I've seen them off or about 10% depending on the night.
Hey that is a cool feature with the auto-control, good to know!
I agree that the ASIAIR is great for powering the whole dew system. When I looked into it, there were not many options and all of them costed roughly the same as the ASIAIR without all the extra usefulness. I'm personally using the Dew Not straps which also works great.
I have heard good things about those too! Maybe on a future setup 😎
@@WindyCityAstrophotography Thank for the video. Could you please clarify:
some opine this is not effective and advice to use a ring heater, that sits in the front of corrector glass. but this looks like simple and easy solution.
i have a celestron Edge HD 8 inches. can u please advice if this is good enough?
I've been shooting AP in Colorado now for a little over 3 years and figured I'd deal with the dew issue when I saw it. So far the dew sheilds have been enough. Even frost seems to be only a rare problem for my scopes, typically only after 4 or 5 am, when I'm basically done. But good to know how easy it is to set up and operate with the ASIair+.
Nice! Yeah it is amazing how it can change based on location. Right by Lake Michigan here it is a pretty inevitable issue
We get a ton of dew here so they are a must. I just wish they didn't come with such longs cables as they tend to be the one thing that messes up what otherwise would be a neat and tidy cable management system when using short length USB3, USB2 and power cables.
Agreed on cable length 100% Probably they could be cut and spliced but I haven't worked up the nerve 😆
Really awesome video with some useful tips. Quick question if you don't mind, I have a 30mm guidescope and I am thinking of picking up an eyepiece dew heater strap. In the meantime, would it be okay to use a handwarmer attached with a rubber band? I did this with widefield astro and camera lenses but thought I would ask someone with more knowledge if this would be viable.
I use the same setup. I used to use usb straps with portable batteries. I could get roughly four hours before.
Nice! I had looked into USB straps too but I am really glad I went this route
Thanks for the video. Do you know what you are adjusting with the percentage? Voltage,amps,time. I can’t seem to find specific information on this anywhere? Thank you in advance.
Thanks for the helpful dew management tutorial Nick - I wish I had watched it before I purchased a dew controller since I already have an ASIAIR Pro. Hmm, maybe I can return it. Thanks for the link to the splitter cable - I tried finding it on Amazon with no luck using every word combo I could think of. Makes sense that ZWO would have it although I'm not going to pay $30 to ship a $9 splitter cable. Any other ideas of where to get this thing or what to call it so I can search for one?
I'm mostly doing visual observing but hope to slowly get into imaging. I'm still getting set up with my various scopes - I have an Astrozap dew shield/heater for my Celestron Evolution 8, and am now working with various straps for my binoviewer and single eyepiece set ups. I have yet to come up with a dew solution to my 12" Orion dob.
Can i connect a celestron dew heater ring to Asi Air pro and control the temp in the same as you demonstrated?
Great information
I've been looking for this. How to apply, settings etc. Thanks.
Awesome, glad it was helpful!
What a great instructional for a noobie. Nice job. Do you see any problem with one long dew strap to fit my C8, then using the same with multiple wraps for my 4" refractor?
Thanks! Glad it was helpful 😎 Probably no real issue doing that with dew reduction, but the Velcro or other attachment method might need some adjustment. But overall as long as the heating element is evenly distributed should a-ok!
great video! I'm over in Detroit area so I definitely have to deal with this issue? Do you highly recommend a metal dew shield? Do you use one all the time coupled with your heater?
Thanks very much! I like my metal dew shield for my RASA because I set my flats panel directly on it and it is very stable. I always have it on (helps with stray light too) and also the heater.
Initially, I set up my dew heaters to power from the ASIair but have moved to a separate power supply. When imaging session completes, the ASIair shuts down & I believe cuts off the power. (Correct me if I’m wrong). I prefer to have the dew heaters stay on so there is no condensation on the lenses in the morning which can leave spots.
Good point about condensation at the end of a session! I almost never am able to image all night (no fenced yard and I need to sleep 😁) though in Plan Mode at least you can choose the behavior when the plan ends, including power down. Autorun has this ability too iirc, but more customizable in Plan mode
@@WindyCityAstrophotography Good point about using plan mode and customizing the power down. Going to try that!
Can you give me a part number for the "Y" spliter, 5.5 x 2.1 (5521) to RCA female. Couldn't find it on AMAZON. I could make my own. I've made a few cables already. Thanks for a new alie in this daunting hobby.
thanks for the video. some opine this is not effective and advice to use a ring heater, that sits in the front of corrector glass. but this looks like simple and easy solution.
i have a celestron Edge HD 8 inches. can u please advice if this is good enough?
@WindyCityAstrophotography if you could ack please
Astrophotography... a collection of single point failures :)
Learned the hard way when starting out that I needed dew straps.
Haha yes, a very large collection 😁