Have had my SCT's in storage for about five years under various
temperatures and humidity, in other words not so well climate control. However, much to my surprise, I was going to use them recently but, upon removing the SCT covers, there is fungus on each corrector. Appears to
be on the outside and not internal at least from what I can tell. I
only found out about proper climate control recently and after the fact
as I was not aware that scopes needed any kind of special storage. So...
I have carefully removed the fungus and UVC irradiated the correctors
and cover interiors for the specified time. Now the question becomes
how to store the OTA's? Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control. I was thinking of placing each SCT in a zip loc bag,
large enough for each, and then including fresh capsules of rechargeable silica gel. That would be as close to climate control as I could get.
I could actually include humidity monitors within the bags.
Your thoughts on the aforementioned welcome and thank you in advance.
JJ Sauer
On Thursday, 24 February 2022 at 08:12:28 UTC-5, JJ wrote:
Have had my SCT's in storage for about five years under various
temperatures and humidity, in other words not so well climate control.
However, much to my surprise, I was going to use them recently but, upon
removing the SCT covers, there is fungus on each corrector. Appears to
be on the outside and not internal at least from what I can tell. I
only found out about proper climate control recently and after the fact
as I was not aware that scopes needed any kind of special storage. So...
I have carefully removed the fungus and UVC irradiated the correctors
and cover interiors for the specified time. Now the question becomes
how to store the OTA's? Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control. I was thinking of placing each SCT in a zip loc bag,
large enough for each, and then including fresh capsules of rechargeable
silica gel. That would be as close to climate control as I could get.
I could actually include humidity monitors within the bags.
Your thoughts on the aforementioned welcome and thank you in advance.
JJ Sauer
Why "store" them at all? Cover each end, put a dust cover over them and just leave them in the open.
Have had my SCT's in storage for about five years under various
temperatures and humidity, in other words not so well climate control. >However, much to my surprise, I was going to use them recently but, upon >removing the SCT covers, there is fungus on each corrector. Appears to
be on the outside and not internal at least from what I can tell. I
only found out about proper climate control recently and after the fact
as I was not aware that scopes needed any kind of special storage. So...
I have carefully removed the fungus and UVC irradiated the correctors
and cover interiors for the specified time. Now the question becomes
how to store the OTA's? Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control. I was thinking of placing each SCT in a zip loc bag,
large enough for each, and then including fresh capsules of rechargeable >silica gel. That would be as close to climate control as I could get.
I could actually include humidity monitors within the bags.
Your thoughts on the aforementioned welcome and thank you in advance.
JJ Sauer
On Thu, 24 Feb 2022 08:12:24 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
Have had my SCT's in storage for about five years under various
temperatures and humidity, in other words not so well climate control.
However, much to my surprise, I was going to use them recently but, upon
removing the SCT covers, there is fungus on each corrector. Appears to
be on the outside and not internal at least from what I can tell. I
only found out about proper climate control recently and after the fact
as I was not aware that scopes needed any kind of special storage. So...
I have carefully removed the fungus and UVC irradiated the correctors
and cover interiors for the specified time. Now the question becomes
how to store the OTA's? Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control. I was thinking of placing each SCT in a zip loc bag,
large enough for each, and then including fresh capsules of rechargeable
silica gel. That would be as close to climate control as I could get.
I could actually include humidity monitors within the bags.
Your thoughts on the aforementioned welcome and thank you in advance.
JJ Sauer
Where are you located? What sort of climate are we talking about here?
On 2/24/22 11:08, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 24 Feb 2022 08:12:24 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
Have had my SCT's in storage for about five years under various
temperatures and humidity, in other words not so well climate control.
However, much to my surprise, I was going to use them recently but, upon >>> removing the SCT covers, there is fungus on each corrector. Appears to
be on the outside and not internal at least from what I can tell. I
only found out about proper climate control recently and after the fact
as I was not aware that scopes needed any kind of special storage. So... >>>
I have carefully removed the fungus and UVC irradiated the correctors
and cover interiors for the specified time. Now the question becomes
how to store the OTA's? Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control. I was thinking of placing each SCT in a zip loc bag,
large enough for each, and then including fresh capsules of rechargeable >>> silica gel. That would be as close to climate control as I could get.
I could actually include humidity monitors within the bags.
Your thoughts on the aforementioned welcome and thank you in advance.
JJ Sauer
Where are you located? What sort of climate are we talking about here?
Southeastern NY state, close to NYC
On Thursday, 24 February 2022 at 08:12:28 UTC-5, JJ wrote:
Have had my SCT's in storage for about five years under various
temperatures and humidity, in other words not so well climate control.
However, much to my surprise, I was going to use them recently but, upon
removing the SCT covers, there is fungus on each corrector. Appears to
be on the outside and not internal at least from what I can tell. I
only found out about proper climate control recently and after the fact
as I was not aware that scopes needed any kind of special storage. So...
I have carefully removed the fungus and UVC irradiated the correctors
and cover interiors for the specified time. Now the question becomes
how to store the OTA's? Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control. I was thinking of placing each SCT in a zip loc bag,
large enough for each, and then including fresh capsules of rechargeable
silica gel. That would be as close to climate control as I could get.
I could actually include humidity monitors within the bags.
Your thoughts on the aforementioned welcome and thank you in advance.
JJ Sauer
Why "store" them at all? Cover each end, put a dust cover over them and just leave them in the open.
On Thu, 24 Feb 2022 12:21:44 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
On 2/24/22 11:08, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 24 Feb 2022 08:12:24 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
Have had my SCT's in storage for about five years under various
temperatures and humidity, in other words not so well climate control. >>>> However, much to my surprise, I was going to use them recently but, upon >>>> removing the SCT covers, there is fungus on each corrector. Appears to >>>> be on the outside and not internal at least from what I can tell. I
only found out about proper climate control recently and after the fact >>>> as I was not aware that scopes needed any kind of special storage. So... >>>>
I have carefully removed the fungus and UVC irradiated the correctors
and cover interiors for the specified time. Now the question becomes
how to store the OTA's? Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control. I was thinking of placing each SCT in a zip loc bag, >>>> large enough for each, and then including fresh capsules of rechargeable >>>> silica gel. That would be as close to climate control as I could get. >>>> I could actually include humidity monitors within the bags.
Your thoughts on the aforementioned welcome and thank you in advance.
JJ Sauer
Where are you located? What sort of climate are we talking about here?
Southeastern NY state, close to NYC
Well, it could be worse. I'd worry more about fungus on the inside
surfaces, which would largely destroy the scopes. The scopes should
have good seals around the corrector. If you cap the other end, make
sure you trap very dry air inside. Don't cap it on a humid day! You
might want to vent your corrector cap. Just a few little holes so that moisture doesn't get trapped.
Fungus doesn't grow just because the air is moist. It grows in liquid.
Its presence almost certainly means you're getting condensation on the optics, which is bad in terms of depositing acids and other
contaminants. So you need to figure that out.
There's no reason you couldn't bag them (on a dry day) with a batch of desiccant inside. Pretty standard practice for lots of optics.
On 2/24/22 13:45, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 24 Feb 2022 12:21:44 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
On 2/24/22 11:08, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 24 Feb 2022 08:12:24 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
Have had my SCT's in storage for about five years under various
temperatures and humidity, in other words not so well climate control. >>>>> However, much to my surprise, I was going to use them recently but,
upon
removing the SCT covers, there is fungus on each corrector.
Appears to
be on the outside and not internal at least from what I can tell. I >>>>> only found out about proper climate control recently and after the
fact
as I was not aware that scopes needed any kind of special storage.
So...
I have carefully removed the fungus and UVC irradiated the correctors >>>>> and cover interiors for the specified time. Now the question becomes >>>>> how to store the OTA's? Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good >>>>> climate control. I was thinking of placing each SCT in a zip loc bag, >>>>> large enough for each, and then including fresh capsules of
rechargeable
silica gel. That would be as close to climate control as I could get. >>>>> I could actually include humidity monitors within the bags.
Your thoughts on the aforementioned welcome and thank you in advance. >>>>>
JJ Sauer
Where are you located? What sort of climate are we talking about here?
Southeastern NY state, close to NYC
Well, it could be worse. I'd worry more about fungus on the inside
surfaces, which would largely destroy the scopes. The scopes should
have good seals around the corrector. If you cap the other end, make
sure you trap very dry air inside. Don't cap it on a humid day! You
might want to vent your corrector cap. Just a few little holes so that
moisture doesn't get trapped.
Fungus doesn't grow just because the air is moist. It grows in liquid.
Its presence almost certainly means you're getting condensation on the
optics, which is bad in terms of depositing acids and other
contaminants. So you need to figure that out.
There's no reason you couldn't bag them (on a dry day) with a batch of
desiccant inside. Pretty standard practice for lots of optics.
Thanks, that's the plan (bagging them). Not sure what size ziploc
needed for the 8" SCT though, that's going to be a big one!
On Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 6:12:28 AM UTC-7, JJ wrote:
Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control.
This is puzzling. You would not be able to store them even with poor
climate control if you were homeless. So why on Earth couldn't
you keep them inside the house - under the bed, say, if there's no
other room.
Unless there are other members of your family less enthusiastic
about astronomy than yourself.
If you can store them outdoors without them being stolen, that
would indicate you live in a rural area, so you wouldn't need a building permit to install a shed on your property - and upgrade it to have
climate control... although I suppose that's an expense too.
Maybe a dessicant is all you can manage - but then I'd suggest
something that provides a hermetic seal, not just a plastic bag.
I vaguely remember there's a sort of metal container for lard
that would be suitable...
John Savard
Why "store" them at all? Cover each end, put a dust cover over them and just leave them in the open.
Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control.
On 2/24/22 16:23, Quadibloc wrote:
On Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 6:12:28 AM UTC-7, JJ wrote:
Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control.
This is puzzling. You would not be able to store them even with poor
climate control if you were homeless. So why on Earth couldn't
you keep them inside the house - under the bed, say, if there's no
other room.
Not homeless (yet!) but lost my job when Covid hit the US. Out of work
ever since and don't qualify for any unemployment, so living on the last
of my savings. My home is oil heated, and right now the cost is
tremendous for oil heat, so I keep it minimal (50F) and wear down coats
and pants all day. It keeps me warm, but anything in the house is
subject to varying humidity and temperatures. 50F is the minimal
thermostat setting so the heat doesn't run all that much. This has been >going on for two years. Then, during the summer, I don't run the AC to
save on electricity so it might get up to 87F inside. Not good for the >scopes. I never thought it would be an issue until I removed the
corrector cap recently and there was the fungus.
Have had my SCT's in storage for about five years under various
temperatures and humidity, in other words not so well climate control. However, much to my surprise, I was going to use them recently but, upon removing the SCT covers, there is fungus on each corrector. Appears to
be on the outside and not internal at least from what I can tell. I
only found out about proper climate control recently and after the fact
as I was not aware that scopes needed any kind of special storage. So...
I have carefully removed the fungus and UVC irradiated the correctors
and cover interiors for the specified time. Now the question becomes
how to store the OTA's? Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control. I was thinking of placing each SCT in a zip loc bag,
large enough for each, and then including fresh capsules of rechargeable silica gel. That would be as close to climate control as I could get.
I could actually include humidity monitors within the bags.
Your thoughts on the aforementioned welcome and thank you in advance.
JJ Sauer
On Thu, 24 Feb 2022 16:34:09 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
On 2/24/22 16:23, Quadibloc wrote:
On Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 6:12:28 AM UTC-7, JJ wrote:
Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control.
This is puzzling. You would not be able to store them even with poor
climate control if you were homeless. So why on Earth couldn't
you keep them inside the house - under the bed, say, if there's no
other room.
Not homeless (yet!) but lost my job when Covid hit the US. Out of work
ever since and don't qualify for any unemployment, so living on the last
of my savings. My home is oil heated, and right now the cost is
tremendous for oil heat, so I keep it minimal (50F) and wear down coats
and pants all day. It keeps me warm, but anything in the house is
subject to varying humidity and temperatures. 50F is the minimal
thermostat setting so the heat doesn't run all that much. This has been
going on for two years. Then, during the summer, I don't run the AC to
save on electricity so it might get up to 87F inside. Not good for the
scopes. I never thought it would be an issue until I removed the
corrector cap recently and there was the fungus.
This temperature range (and the rate it is likely to change indoors)
is absolutely no problem for the scopes. It is much narrower than what
they experience outside. I've had SCTs permanently mounted outside
(under an observatory roof) for years with no problems, temps from way
below freezing to summer heat, humidity from next to nothing to 100%.
There's no reason you should get condensation on the optics if they
are stored in your house, under the current conditions. The scopes
should be fine without special storage. Maybe the one with the fungus
problem got wet in some other way, or had water on the primary when it
was capped.
On 2/24/22 16:55, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 24 Feb 2022 16:34:09 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
On 2/24/22 16:23, Quadibloc wrote:
On Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 6:12:28 AM UTC-7, JJ wrote:
Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control.
This is puzzling. You would not be able to store them even with poor
climate control if you were homeless. So why on Earth couldn't
you keep them inside the house - under the bed, say, if there's no
other room.
Not homeless (yet!) but lost my job when Covid hit the US. Out of work
ever since and don't qualify for any unemployment, so living on the last >>> of my savings. My home is oil heated, and right now the cost is
tremendous for oil heat, so I keep it minimal (50F) and wear down coats
and pants all day. It keeps me warm, but anything in the house is
subject to varying humidity and temperatures. 50F is the minimal
thermostat setting so the heat doesn't run all that much. This has been >>> going on for two years. Then, during the summer, I don't run the AC to
save on electricity so it might get up to 87F inside. Not good for the
scopes. I never thought it would be an issue until I removed the
corrector cap recently and there was the fungus.
This temperature range (and the rate it is likely to change indoors)
is absolutely no problem for the scopes. It is much narrower than what
they experience outside. I've had SCTs permanently mounted outside
(under an observatory roof) for years with no problems, temps from way
below freezing to summer heat, humidity from next to nothing to 100%.
There's no reason you should get condensation on the optics if they
are stored in your house, under the current conditions. The scopes
should be fine without special storage. Maybe the one with the fungus
problem got wet in some other way, or had water on the primary when it
was capped.
I don't know. It's on all three of my SCT's! They've all been covered
and in storage for four years here in the house under the conditions >described for at least the last two years. Perhaps I should have never
put the tight corrector covers on the scopes in the first place. >Unfortunately, on the 8", it also appears to be on the mirror as well.
I've already removed the corrector and I will clean and deactivate the
fungus as best as I can, then UVC irradiate the interior. Was
disappointed to see that it had the worst attack of all of the scopes,
but the others are smaller.
Definitely going to bag all of them with desiccant, monitor humidity in
the bags, and keep their covers off and the rear open so that the
humidity will be drawn out and into the desiccant.
What a disappointment.
Well, the 8" is done, but unfortunately the corrector has been left with >spots. I am guessing the fungus ate into some of the coating. The
primary and secondary mirrors cleaned up well though. How important is
the corrector coating, will the scope still work ok? It is an old Meade >2080. Probably cheaper to buy new (or used) rather than trying to recoat.
The entire disassembly is now under the UVC. Once completed, will
simply let dry in open air for a while in case some of the distilled
water needs to evaporate. My bags and meters won't be here until early
next week anyway, although I do have the silica gel.
On Fri, 25 Feb 2022 07:03:37 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
On 2/24/22 16:55, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 24 Feb 2022 16:34:09 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
On 2/24/22 16:23, Quadibloc wrote:
On Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 6:12:28 AM UTC-7, JJ wrote:
Unfortunately, I cannot store them with good
climate control.
This is puzzling. You would not be able to store them even with poor >>>>> climate control if you were homeless. So why on Earth couldn't
you keep them inside the house - under the bed, say, if there's no
other room.
Not homeless (yet!) but lost my job when Covid hit the US. Out of work >>>> ever since and don't qualify for any unemployment, so living on the last >>>> of my savings. My home is oil heated, and right now the cost is
tremendous for oil heat, so I keep it minimal (50F) and wear down coats >>>> and pants all day. It keeps me warm, but anything in the house is
subject to varying humidity and temperatures. 50F is the minimal
thermostat setting so the heat doesn't run all that much. This has been >>>> going on for two years. Then, during the summer, I don't run the AC to >>>> save on electricity so it might get up to 87F inside. Not good for the >>>> scopes. I never thought it would be an issue until I removed the
corrector cap recently and there was the fungus.
This temperature range (and the rate it is likely to change indoors)
is absolutely no problem for the scopes. It is much narrower than what
they experience outside. I've had SCTs permanently mounted outside
(under an observatory roof) for years with no problems, temps from way
below freezing to summer heat, humidity from next to nothing to 100%.
There's no reason you should get condensation on the optics if they
are stored in your house, under the current conditions. The scopes
should be fine without special storage. Maybe the one with the fungus
problem got wet in some other way, or had water on the primary when it
was capped.
I don't know. It's on all three of my SCT's! They've all been covered
and in storage for four years here in the house under the conditions
described for at least the last two years. Perhaps I should have never
put the tight corrector covers on the scopes in the first place.
Unfortunately, on the 8", it also appears to be on the mirror as well.
I've already removed the corrector and I will clean and deactivate the
fungus as best as I can, then UVC irradiate the interior. Was
disappointed to see that it had the worst attack of all of the scopes,
but the others are smaller.
Definitely going to bag all of them with desiccant, monitor humidity in
the bags, and keep their covers off and the rear open so that the
humidity will be drawn out and into the desiccant.
What a disappointment.
It is quite possible that covering them is what caused the problem in
the first place. Covers can themselves be where condensation forms,
which then drips down on whatever is beneath.
On Fri, 25 Feb 2022 10:52:14 -0500, JJ <[email protected]> wrote:
Well, the 8" is done, but unfortunately the corrector has been left with
spots. I am guessing the fungus ate into some of the coating. The
primary and secondary mirrors cleaned up well though. How important is
the corrector coating, will the scope still work ok? It is an old Meade
2080. Probably cheaper to buy new (or used) rather than trying to recoat. >>
The entire disassembly is now under the UVC. Once completed, will
simply let dry in open air for a while in case some of the distilled
water needs to evaporate. My bags and meters won't be here until early
next week anyway, although I do have the silica gel.
It is unlikely that the damaged coating will have any significant
impact on the view through the scope. It would be most likely to
produce something visible when you are observing the Moon, or when an incident light source (like a streetlight) is hitting the corrector.
Not homeless (yet!) but lost my job when Covid hit the US. Out of work
ever since and don't qualify for any unemployment, so living on the last
of my savings. My home is oil heated, and right now the cost is
tremendous for oil heat, so I keep it minimal (50F) and wear down coats
and pants all day.
On Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 2:34:14 PM UTC-7, JJ wrote:
Not homeless (yet!) but lost my job when Covid hit the US. Out of work
ever since and don't qualify for any unemployment, so living on the last
of my savings. My home is oil heated, and right now the cost is
tremendous for oil heat, so I keep it minimal (50F) and wear down coats
and pants all day.
Ah. This is what I did not imagine. I would have expected that anyone
who is out of a job as a result of the pandemic would automatically
qualify for assistance similar to unemployment insurance, but for as long
as necessary instead of a limited term.
Otherwise, some people might be tempted to defy government regulations
aimed at curbing the spread of the plague.
John Savard
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