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Hi there!As I see a lot of questions about long-term outdoor storage with covers, I thought I'd share here my successful experience after 18 months of non-stop outdoor storage of my gear under a cover. To date, I have absolutely no evidence of any consequences of outdoor storage on any of my equipment, despite wind, rain, snow, high and low temperatures. I consider this a success that it would be unfair to keep to myself. To avoid any unnecessary suspense, here's my current storage solution, from the outside in: 1. Telegizmos 360 for medium newtonian reflectors 2. Geoptik medium-sized cover 3. Dew towel-detector 4. Guidescope covers 5. Rechargeable desiccant 6. Active air duct to the outside 7. Garden protection box for electrical connectors 1. Telegizmos 360 for medium newtonian reflectors: This is the main protection against almost anything. The fabric is strong, multi-layered and the reflective inside fabric limits heat radiation and therefore dew formation at night.  2. Geoptik medium-sized cover: Under the telegizmos, I'm still using my old cover. It's a very effective three-layer blanket that I used for 8 months as my main cover. Unfortunately, the outer layer started to delaminate and ice built up between the first and second layers in winter.I'm still using it under the Telegizmos because before installing the active ventilation system (see below), I noticed some dew build-up under the Telegizmos. I think the temperature gradient at the top of the cover between inside and outside was too high, which led to dew forming. Using both covers, I've never had this happen.  3. Towel dew detector (and absorber): I use the towel to absorb any arising dew that could arise from humidity accumulating under the covers over several nights. This is how I noticed that dew formed once during the first week of using telegizmos without the geoptik cover and without the active air sucking described below. With both blankets, I never found the towel damp. As a precaution, I continue to use it. It also nicely protects the gears well.  4. Guidescope covers: made from cardboard packaging, this layer is designed to prevent the guidescope screws from damaging the covers. It also raises the covers so that there is a generous gap between the covers and the gears. In the event of hail, the solid telegismos and this spacing will ensure that the OTA is not damaged .5. Rechargeable desiccant: Although I'm not sure it's still useful, I still use my rechargeable desiccant. It can be regenerated by plugging it into the wall overnight. It absorbs 250 mm of water. I can't do any harm. Initially, I was restricting the lower part of the cover so that having this was making much more sense.  6. Active air duct to the outside: This is undoubtedly the most important part. To make sure that no moisture builds up under the covers over several nights or weeks, I installed a duct pumping air from the top of the installation, next to the OTA, to the outside of the cover. The outlet is at the back of the blackbox, which is never under the cover. The air flow is generated by an Intel processor fan that I wasn't using. It is active 7/24. This DIY job cost me about 30 euros and it ensures that the air is renewed at a rate that prevents moisture build-up.  7. Garden protection box for electrical connectors: the green box contains the main connectors and a circuit breaker. I'm planning to put the ethernet-on-electricity socket in there, but I need to organise the contents more seriously and I keep putting it off, without any consequences so far. The grey box is empty. It only raises the green box in case of heavy rain or snow. So I think my equipment is pretty well protected. The only limits I can see are very strong winds and very strong hail. However, with the external wall that I have all around the roof, the winds have to be extremely strong to affect the stability of the equipment. I've never had a problem, but I did once bring the OTA indoors because an exceptionally strong storm was forecast. Hail can be a problem when the hailstones are the size of tennis balls. But I've never seen that where I'm leaving in Switzerland. My location on the Swiss plateau, et 650m elevation, 72% humidity in average with a peak in January at 85%. Stored in this way, my cameras can be ready in 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the need to check collimation. In my experience, this is an excellent way of keeping instruments outdoors without having to build a proper observatory. I hope this contribution is useful. Clear skies !  |
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Well Done! Great description and photos. I get apprehensive leaving my equipment out for more then a couple days. for the short term exterior storage I use a bed sheet and then a 365 telegizmos cover. Cheers, |
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| Thank @Al Loan. A telegizmos and a bed sheet is indeed a great solution for short term storage. In the longer term, the issue is that the cycle day/night may lead to progressive accumulation of humidity under the cover. This humidity trapped inside may then start condensing at night on the inside of the cover. That makes the bed sheet a very good first protection. However, in the longer term, I see not other solution than ventilating. As the covers have not holes at the top, there is no alternative to active ventilating. |
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| My scopes are always been left under a tarp (of sorts, Geoptiks more recently) for up to 10 years in a stretch and I never had issue with dew forming *inside* the cover (if it wasn't already there to beging with). I used to run a greenhouse heater in the winter months after a session if the scope was really really drippin' but I do it rarely nowadays. Needless to say, as for all things exposed to the elements, just a spot of rust here and there. IOW, I think all the above are a bit overkill and the blanket actually counterproductive (I used to have it myself but it was doing more harm than good). |
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Thank you @andrea tasselli. I am indeed relieved if you consider it overkill. I've read so many negative articles and comments about cover-based storage that I was reluctant to do it that way in the first place. But I guess it's like mounts: people tend to be overly cautious (most likely for social reasons) and to pretend that you need at least an EQ6 for a 70mm refractor. Two comments: 1) The towel can't stay wet for days. It's only there to have a clear place that will accumulate moisture and let me know instantly if there's a problem. 2) The air channelling system is very cheap and regulates the atmosphere inside the covers. When it rains, water runs under the tiles of my terrace. This water evaporates vertically. As the covers are wide open at the bottom, because of the tripod legs, moisture can actually start to accumulate in there. In fact, the simple cycle day/night can yield such a result, because the hot air of the day contains more humidity than what the cold air of the night may contain. At night, the excess of humidity will condensate, leaving water firstly on the inside of the cover. Then the whole process starts on the next day. Any such process is killed by the air ducting system. At some point, I think the type of measurement you need to take depends on your weather conditions and your direct environment. And of course: a bit of your own psychology (the desiccant is clearly psychological I guess). In any case, I feel safe this way and since this system has been in place, I've never seen anything to worry about. That's what suits me. |
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| I have been doing this with my AGO 12.5 inch mounted on a iOptron Tri-pier, and with my C11 before that for almost 9 months. I put the dessicant but frankly I don't know if it is doing anything. I am in hot and humid Texas. I have an Orion Cloack under the TG 365 cover. There is no other option and an observatory is not an option. Trying to mount and dismount the OTA would be insanity given the weight. |
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I have had my setup outside permanently for about 2 years now with no issues. I originally used a trash bag with a canvas grill cover over the top but have since moved towards the Telegizmos 365 cover for small refractors. That's a genius idea to use a rechargeable desiccant to keep the humidity under the cover low, I wasn't even aware of such thing as a rechargeable desiccant. I have not have any issues as a result of humidity but I'm sure this could be more of a problem for other types of telescopes such as newts or scts. We recently had one of the first major thunderstorms of the season which included some hail and I contemplated whether I should leave my optics and camera attached or take them off. I ended up wrapping everything with a beach towel and then putting my Telegizmos 360 back over it, there were no issues with any moisture or damage from hail the following morning. Wind has always been a concern, as obviously the tripod cover acts as a giant sail, my solution is I keep my tripod weighed down with a 45-lbs kettle ball underneath the spreader plate, this keeps the center of gravity really low so that even if the wind does blow it off the pavers I have everything set on, it will remain upright.    Funny thing, my 2 year-old nephew whenever he sees my setup always refers to it as "tree" lol |
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Interesting thread. Anyone have experience with deep desert environments? The primary issue where I live is a silty dust that gets into everything that is left outside, along with summer temperatures that can hit 120 Fahrenheit. For instance, even in our well sealed home, dust collects on everything, (I clean my regular camera gear weekly that sit on the shelves in my office). I haven't seen an effective outdoor solution, but am open to suggestions. |
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David Goldstein: Not in a desert environment, but it does get really hot in south Texas. During the summer I do remove my imaging train at the end of each session before I cover things up. I don't have any idea if high heat hurts the imaging sensors, but it is easy to just take the camera off. I take flats after every imaging session anyway. |
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Ashraf AbuSara: It does not, at least modern CMOS sensor do not as they are good up to 70 degC (non-operating). |
