How to Keep your Astro equipment electrics protected from the wet and damp

[@siegfriednoet]

Great tips Glenn and well explained. When I was young, at the school (long time ago ....) we used hairspray on the boards to make if resistive to moisture, that worked well But so many years later there are better solutions like you are showing here

[@Astrobloke]

Hi Siegfried. Now you mention that I have heard of that before. Not used hairspray and as you say we have products for the job. Thanks for watching and commenting, clear skies

[@BruceMallett]

I've only been in this hobby for less than two years and so far I've had the dew/moisture take out a power station, two wireless routers, a USB hub, and the circuit board in the EQ6R-Pro .. twice. The second time the EQ6R-Pro head came back from Skywatcher (they were incredibly good about it and replaced the board both times under warranty) I ordered a can of conformal coating and sprayed it down. I'm gradually working my way through the other equipment. Like you say: be careful not to coat connectors. ;)

[@Astrobloke]

Hi Bruce. I have had gear taken out too but luckily not as bad as yourself, you have been unlucky. I think having an observatory helped. Thats good that Sky Watcher provided you with good customer service and replaced your boards, hopefully now treated you will have no more issues.

[@DavidMills_Physicist]

You can usually detect the conformal coating because it's fluorescent under UV light.

[@Astrobloke]

Nice tip thank you, was not aware of that. I’ll have to get a UV light source or take my gear to a nightclub 😂

[@DavidMills_Physicist]

@@Astrobloke A cheap UV torch is handy for anything like this, good for finding coolant leaks in things too.

[@Astrobloke]

@@DavidMills_Physicist i am on Amazon right now sorting one as being out in the country I am kind of short of nightclubs 🤣

[@astrostufftomtrubridge7915]

Hi Glenn, we've used CC for many years in the mod so yeah top tip, generally we spun the boards for track side coverage whilst masking heat sink contact points, switch, connector and any other devices etc. Some pcbs can be deceptively uncoated but have a hard micro film applied hard to remove. But certainly no harm in applying some, maybe some companies are happy to leave their boards deliberately untreated 🤔 hmm. Atb Tom..

[@Astrobloke]

Hi Tom. It seems like a kind of essential treatment for electrics that will be out in the elements. I think however the extra costs of adding this in the manufacturing stage means a lot of companies don't bother and by the time things start to fail the warranty has long passed.

[@roberthope4723]

Useful advise and product info thanks Glen.

[@Astrobloke]

Thanks mate

[@GarnettLeary]

Brilliant video. Excellent ideas and tricks.

[@Astrobloke]

Thank you Garnet.

[@donondre7314]

I would probably cover the top side of the connectors as well. The Sky Watcher electronics I've seen so far did not have any conformal coating. It's an extra step during manufacturing that costs money, so you usually don't find that in cheap consumer electronics. It's probably not a bad idea to cover the PCBs of your mount as well.

[@Astrobloke]

I have read it adds quite a bit to the cost of producing so assumed my sky watcher mounts would not have it. I will be treating them for sure. Thanks for commenting

[@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy]

Thanks, Glenn, GREAT idea. I just purchased a can via the link you supplied.

[@Astrobloke]

Hi Pat, thank you. Nice and easy to apply and I think will give good long lasting protection for all that expensive gear we have

[@walterhaase]

Great video Glen. The only weak spot after this is the external ports. I use a product called DeoxIT. It cleans electronic connections and leave a lubricating coat on them. I would think WD-40 Electronics cleaner would do the same. Might be overkill, but easy to do and just one more piece of mind.

[@Astrobloke]

Thank you very much for that recommendation. I have an electrical contact cleaner bought some time back from Maplins. I will check the can and see if it also applies the same sort of lubrication. I think anything is better than nothing.

[@davekemp750]

Brilliant idea, my mount is always outside under cover so I'll be getting that sorted ASAP

[@Astrobloke]

Hi Dave. Cannot hurt and will give some good protection

[@NckBrktt]

Hi Glen. Yes, I lost my allsky raspberry pi after massive moisture event. Also lost my HEQ5 mobo which I had to replace. I think maybe the coating needs to be on both sides of the board ?

[@Astrobloke]

Hi Nick. Thanks for commenting. Yes both sides for full protection. I was kind of just testing with that video but everything is good so going to spray the other side now

[@jeremyhigginson9307]

Another great video, with really useful info Glenn, thanks!

[@Astrobloke]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching. Hope your build is going well

[@Tony-Elliott]

Nice information Glenn thanks for sharing

[@Astrobloke]

Thanks Tony, you are welcome

[@SimonsAstro]

Such a great idea Glenn, simple but effective and a relatively cheap way to protect your electronics and keep them going for longer! We should all have a can😀 Clear skies mate!

[@Astrobloke]

Thanks Simon, hope this will give long lasting protection. Also not being expensive its something we can all consider doing.

[@AstroBoater]

Hi Glenn. I’ve thought about doing this in the past but I’ve been unsure whether or do so but now you’ve tested and given the thumbs up I’ll definitely give this a go. Cheers

[@Astrobloke]

Hi Mark, glad to be the guinea pig mate. Seems like the idea solution.

[@woody5109]

Great video, another good idea for you guys in the wet zone. Last night was first go with the new Orion 8”, focusing is challenging, wow, I’ll try again tonight, better coalition maybe? (I’m new to these newts)

[@Astrobloke]

Thank you Woody. They require a little tweaking but you’ll be very well rewarded

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Great idea Glenn I really don't know why I've never thought of it before as we used Ambersil at a previous job I had. I'll probably get some now for the mount electronics & mini PC's in the observatory. Clear skies mate.

[@Astrobloke]

Thanks Tich. So you have used this before? Hope I covered everything ok. Seems like its ideal for our gear out in the atmosphere of the UK.

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

@@Astrobloke Yeah you pretty much covered it, when we used it it were for IED detectors for the MOD. It were a great job but sadly didn't last due to redundancies.

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Yeah mate we used to make electronic devices for the MOD & that were used to protect the electrics, shame the job were short lived as I really enjoyed it there but pretty much everyone were made redundant after the orders were done. I think you've covered everything ok to mate

[@Astrobloke]

@@dumpydalekobservatory I bet that was interesting work. Thanks mate.

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

No worries weird my first comment went so that's why I replied again & now its back lol. KZbin is weird sometimes lol

[@bond3348]

Good idea 💡 👍

[@Astrobloke]

Thanks Mark

[@desbarry8414]

Glen what about your thoughts on preventative measures? My EQ6R is now housed permanently in my Keter Shed Obs. What about a video on humidity damp prevention?

[@Astrobloke]

I completely agree with that and have always included good ventilation and even heat sources. I know others even go further with dehumidifiers. I think the only problem is as good as your Observatory may be once that roof is fully open your gear is exposed to the conditions, i have had nights that are so dew heavy everything is coated. Hoping this will help.

[@syberand]

The way I see it and I might be wrong. But dew is not the big problem, since it is basically demineralized water. My gear is often covered in dew and frost and I keep the electronics on so those parts should be good. I have a box next to the mount with the computer and powerbricks and it is around 30 degrees celcius. When I move gear between outside and inside I try to let it come up to temp slowly so I wont get dew weird places.

[@Drone-bloke]

Brilliant❤

[@Astrobloke]

Thank you

[@syberand]

The slewing problems you had, was that also with a wire or just when using your phone to slew with?

[@Astrobloke]

I need to check with a wire but that was just wifi. Could be that but will have to test

[@Astrospacegeek]

😉

[@Astrobloke]

Thank you