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  2. Greg even though I have sealed the motherboard and cards with circuit board lacquer, I am still thinking about doing something. Most of the year it is quite dry. Only three months a year I need to worry about. I found an easy to use thermostat that outputs twelve volts once a temperature (I set) is reach. This thermostat can also come with a moisture detector to detect dew. So I was thinking of using something like a simple dew heater or nichrome wire that kicks in once conditions near the PC become dangerous. It would be a pretty simple project and the PC I recently had built is 6 core and is the fastest thing I've ever seen, so I really want to look after it. I think this project would be worth the small amount of time and money. I'll checkout the dehumidifier option, could be even easier. Ray
  3. I run de-humidifiers in the observatories 24/7. Greg
  4. Earlier
  5. I found a product called circuit board lacquer. Also called circuit board varnish or clear coat. Dries super fast, does not conduct electricity. For anyone considering this, make sure not to spray it inside any open plugs for obvious reasons. Keep away from fans as well. Moisture proof your observatory electronics people. Ray
  6. poppasmurf started following New website, Orchid, Observatory PC Keeping Moisture Out and and 2 others

  7. Orchid

    poppasmurf replied to wingeing Pom's topic in Off Topic - Funny Videos - Interesting Concepts

    Not the type of orchid I’m used to seeing. Shane
  8. So far mate I’ve not had moisture issues with pc in obs that I’m aware of anyway. In the years I’ve had the obs the first pc died but it was nearly a decade old when it went in. These days I have a desiccant type stuff in there just as insurance. I think the Prof has a dehumidifier in each of his obs. He’ll chime in when he sees the post. Shane
  9. Just got my observatory PC out of the computer repair shop again, new motherboard, new processor, power supply, tower, etc. Computer guy showed me traces of moisture that had wreaked havoc on my previous PC for years. How do others here keep there computers, laptops, PC or other configs immune from dew / moisture / frost / dampness / etc. It is easy to ensure things don't get moist damaged when you are using them, but for PC's inside observatories permanently, there are challenges. I am thinking something like a dew heater on a thermostat that kicks in once it gets to eight degrees or similar could word. Desiccant would not really work because of the air flow that must happen for a PC tower pulling air in from outside the tower. Otherwise spraying the motherboard (front and back) with a lacquer to waterproof it could also work (but this could interfere with plugs etc). The challenge is certainly not beyond me, but I imagine others in colder climates must have already pioneered various paths. Please share. Regards Ray
  10. Orchid over the New Forest this morning. Greg

  11. Beauty

    Radar replied to wingeing Pom's topic in Off Topic - Funny Videos - Interesting Concepts

    Beautiful colours on it either way. Ray

  12. New filter

    Radar replied to poppasmurf's topic in Equipment Discussion

    I think you will love NB mate. Its quite a craft. Over the last new moon, I managed to get a few hours on The Swan in Ha. Bad weather since, but the first clear night I get I'll get the SII and OIII data. However the monochrome Ha data is great to look already. I really enjoy NB. Ray

  13. Beauty

    wingeing Pom replied to wingeing Pom's topic in Off Topic - Funny Videos - Interesting Concepts

    Just been told by Chris Packham that it is what we call a Rosechafer Greg

  14. Beauty

    poppasmurf replied to wingeing Pom's topic in Off Topic - Funny Videos - Interesting Concepts

    Looks like what we call a Christmas beetle.
  15. Just rescued this beauty from the greenhouse. Greg

  16. New filter

    poppasmurf posted a topic in Equipment Discussion

    Received my new filter today. First NB filter for me. Got the Baader 1.25” 7Nm Ha. Should add some good stuff to galaxy shots. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I should have gotten the 7 position external filter wheel instead of the 5 pos internal when I got my camera. Shane

  17. New website

    poppasmurf replied to Paramount's topic in General Astronomical Discussion

    Awesome Gordon. Painful to have to start from scratch but you’ve done a great job mate. Easy to navigate and well presented. That ME looks a beast wish I could afford one. Shane

  18. New website

    Paramount posted a topic in General Astronomical Discussion

    Hi For those that have been interested in my astroimages and time lapse videos, I had a website called "Imaging the heavens" Unfortunately the hosting site has announced that they are "pulling the plug" on June 30th and will no longer be hosting any websites so I've been having a go over the last 4 days at building a new website using Wordpress and Elementor and have managed to get something up and running, it will have a new name but the theme is largely the same ie night and astrophotography. It is called "In the still of the night". It is largely finished now apart from a few tweaks or possibility of extra pages in the future. If you'd like to have a look at how far I've got so far it can be found at the link below. There was no ".com" available but I did get a ".space" which I thought was very apt https://www.inthestillofthenight.space Best wishes Gordon

  19. Leafcutter Bee

    Radar replied to wingeing Pom's topic in Off Topic - Funny Videos - Interesting Concepts

    Great timing mate. Ray
  20. As I had the macro out for the Bee - I also took some flower pics. Greg
  21. Spotted this one bringing her prize back to the flowerpot this morning. Greg

  22. Pearl Cluster

    wingeing Pom replied to poppasmurf's topic in DSLR and CCD Astrophotography

    Nice work Shane Greg

  23. Yesterday's EPOD

    Radar replied to wingeing Pom's topic in General Astronomical Discussion

    Well done Prof. Ray

  24. Yesterday's EPOD

    wingeing Pom posted a topic in General Astronomical Discussion

    Got the EPOD yesterday: https://epod.usra.edu/blog/2020/05/m51-and-group.html Greg

  25. White one

    Radar replied to wingeing Pom's topic in Off Topic - Funny Videos - Interesting Concepts

    Wow Prof, that is quite incredible. Ray
  26. You've seen plenty of macros of our red poppies - but here's the first white one Greg
  27. They are over engineering their software. Programmers needs to justify their jobs I guess, and by creating new features all the time gives them the work they need. I recently had to fill out my address on a website contact form, and as you start to type, the AI on the site tries to predict your address (anywhere in the world) and inputs your address incorrectly and prevents me from writing it in. Great example of over-engineering and programmers coming up with software that is not necessary and just makes things more annoying to use. Could give you ten other examples. Frustrating, ahh! Ray

  28. Pearl Cluster

    Radar replied to poppasmurf's topic in DSLR and CCD Astrophotography

    Beautiful work mate. Ray
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