And will 10% relative humidity dry out the oil-spaced lenses? I know that it is generally acknowledged that the oil does not dry out for decades... but that's assuming normal storage, no?
I think should not be a problem if the lens cell is sealed up properly, but I guess no one will want to try it.
When I got my electric dry box I set it to the minimum of 15% rel humidity. A month later, I found out that some of the stickers on my equipment started to peel off - perhaps due to drying? Now it's back to 30% rel humidity and all's well.
Yes. I think low humidity will cause this.
Anyway, I think those rubber or soft plastic fittings on your telescope or accessories will start to damage at low humidity and the oil in the focuser will dry out, adhesives (I think some scope use it to hold the secondary baffle and secondary mirror) will dry out and crack.
Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing "The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance."
Molecular sieve like Linde 3A, 4A, 5A (pore size) is very good to remove moisture. They are much better than silica gel. What I used to do in the past is to mix zeolite A with some blue silica gel as indicator, the zeolite absorbs water more efficiently than the SiO2 gel, when it expires the silica gel begins to absorb moisture to change color. The regeneration is also simple however not as obvious as silica gel because zeolite can not load CoCl2 which is a good indicator. Faujasite type zeollite like Linde 10X or 13X are also very good in removing moisture.
Due to to the stronger affinity of water to zeolite, to completely regenerate zeolite needs higher temperature let say 400 degree C for zeolite 4A to release all absorbed water.
10" Telekit with Zambuto optics~TMB 152/1200 (construction)~Takashi Mewlon 210~TMB 80/600
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]
Microwave is very effective to heat zeolite 4A and to remove absorbed moisure. It heats by a different way that water molecule as well as the tetrahedral Si-O-Al framework are streched and spun by microwave energy. The temperature of local heat spots is very high and easily exceeds 400 celsius, this is why microwave is so effective for drying purpose in many cases. However, heat-regeneration in a muffle furnace is safer and more reliable because it doesn't bring in thermal shock, which may break zeolite beads into scraps.
10" Telekit with Zambuto optics~TMB 152/1200 (construction)~Takashi Mewlon 210~TMB 80/600
OK.. but I will stick to my electric dry cabinets. Less maintenance (i.e. lazy)...
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]
I have the AR6, and I just leave it in the living room - 80% rel humidity.
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]
I got it just before I went into Astropause. So did not have a chance to view through it. Furthermore, I do not have a mount (yet) capable of supporting the weight (10.9 kg for the OTA only).
Cheers!
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]
Tachyon wrote:I got it just before I went into Astropause. So did not have a chance to view through it. Furthermore, I do not have a mount (yet) capable of supporting the weight (10.9 kg for the OTA only).
Cheers!
I have the a 3036 Bogen tripod (bought this mainly for heavy scopes) and will be loaning a mounthead for my 5 inch.
Want to test it together? I can't use my 5" yet because I send the lens back to US for some cleaning and repair. So got tripod, mount, but no scope.
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." 
