I guess it may depend on your flats panel, but this seems like it might also make a good flats panel controller since it's just a simple dimmer switch. Seems like you've got a multipurpose device on your hands there. Great value for money!
That DIY dew heater is way cool Amy. Now you can discern if you have a red dew night or a green dew night. A blue dew night would be frost. Ha. Good job.
I have used the same rgb dimmer for the last couple of years - it works perfectly. One thing you should be aware of, the way you wired the rca plugs, you have plus on chassis/ground, usually chassis/ground is minus if connected. You potentially risk a short circuit between plus/minus if not being careful.
Thanks Amy. I just ordered one of these to use for my sky camera heaters. And I just checked my SCT heater strap which comes in at 15 Ohms, or would need only 0.8 amps. (V=IR). Plenty of power here for cold or wet nights :).
@@AmyAstro Just got one of these units delivered via Amazon today. Using some jumper wires from the terminals, I found I was able to control my dew heater strips just as well as using my Kendrick control unit. Other than taking the time to modify with the RCA jacks, this controller appears perfectly capable of doing an equivalent job right out of the box. Nice!
This is super cool Amy. Thank you for sharing. Now....for something completely and totally unrelated. Did you just pop up on a random TikTok "Hey Mom???" 😂😂😂
Your cat pawing the screen at the end gave me quite the laugh, LOL. What a cool, simple DIY solution! See, astrophotography isn't ALL expensive! (Just most of it.) Great video Amy!
The "Johnson power pole" connectors are about 80% reliable - I have really not been happy with those connectors and cannot recommend them. A superior connector are the black and yellow ones that are used for RC cars XT60H - those work every time and withstand wiggling, though you'll have to be handy with a soldering iron to connect them..
Simplistic dew controllers are a hit and miss and not to be encouraged. You either have to dial not enough power or too much. Not enough is wasted and too much heat uses more than necessary power if on batteries and generates more than necessary heat around the lens. The better controller is one that measures the dew point (temp & humidity sensors) and heats the area a few degrees above the dew point (monitored with another sensor under the dew strap). Not mentioning other controllers such as one that keep temp an adjustable amount above ambient or even better above the dew point is just so basic and lacks understanding and investigation.
I have a Kendrick controller and a Dew-Not controller and they both have this basic design and have been using them for years. Which unit are you talking about for $20 bucks in parts?
@@johnadastra1754 it's not about price but doing it right. A fire under the telescope would also keep the dew away for even a lower price. Kendrick also make a controller that can keep the temp a few degrees above ambient which is better than those simple dial controllers. Kendrick has been promising for a few year a dew point controller but other manufacturers also make them.
@@GregMcCall the whole point of budget builds is about cost and this is perfect for those people who have a problem and not a lot of money to spend. That's the whole point of the video and this type of project. It's probably 4x cheaper than a similar off the shelf product and 10x cheaper than any automated one. Yes, there are limitations, but this is cheap, easy and still solves a problem for those people without big bucks that astrophotography typically demands.
@@GregMcCall And this is what you have on your scope? A unit that continuously samples outside temperature and atmospheric dew point, then sends just the right amount of power to the heater strips, and then monitors lens temperature to be just the right point so no condensation occurs, and also records amps used so not an electron is wasted. And you built it yourself? Please send the schematics so we all can build one.
@@brandonporter4227 Budget build? And how do you think its a Budget Build with a heading "DIY Build Your Own Dew Heater Controller - It's so Easy!" No Budget in that heading. It is however a DIY and it is easy. A dew point controller would be more complex. It is not a perfect dew controller for beginners or anyone else. Re beginners, dew point controller needs no setting because as long as you keep the surface warmer than the dew point, you get no dew so it's set and forget which is more of a perfect for beginner description.
Exactly what i was looking for 🙂
Thanks Amy!
Very timely! I'm building something similar to that right now!
I can't wait to see what you do Michael!
Finally some kitties! Great & easy DIY project. I'll have to build this myself.
Yes love the kitties
Nice little project Amy, perfect for those rainy days........which everyone seems to have at the moment!
I think so too! Fun trying something new.
Great work Amy!...A great solution for budget astrophotographers...Thank you
Absolutely! It was a fun project.
Love this. Thank you Amy.
And someone else mentioned i may have a go at making a flats panel controller as well.
Go for it!
I found this interesting and helpful, thank you Amy!
Thank you so much. Cheers!
Just came across your channel. Very cool content!
Thank you and welcome!!!
I really like DIY! Thank you for the video.
Thank you so much! I love having small projects!
Well done Amy
Thank you!
I guess it may depend on your flats panel, but this seems like it might also make a good flats panel controller since it's just a simple dimmer switch. Seems like you've got a multipurpose device on your hands there. Great value for money!
Good call!
That DIY dew heater is way cool Amy. Now you can discern if you have a red dew night or a green dew night. A blue dew night would be frost. Ha. Good job.
I have been working on that Patrick! lol
I have used the same rgb dimmer for the last couple of years - it works perfectly.
One thing you should be aware of, the way you wired the rca plugs, you have plus on chassis/ground, usually chassis/ground is minus if connected. You potentially risk a short circuit between plus/minus if not being careful.
Thank you for letting me know. I will check it out.
@@AmyAstro You have the polarity inverted. Swap them over
Thanks Amy. I just ordered one of these to use for my sky camera heaters. And I just checked my SCT heater strap which comes in at 15 Ohms, or would need only 0.8 amps. (V=IR). Plenty of power here for cold or wet nights :).
Perfect!
@@AmyAstro Just got one of these units delivered via Amazon today. Using some jumper wires from the terminals, I found I was able to control my dew heater strips just as well as using my Kendrick control unit. Other than taking the time to modify with the RCA jacks, this controller appears perfectly capable of doing an equivalent job right out of the box. Nice!
@@johnadastra1754 this is wonderful!!! I am pretty pleased with mine. Less expensive than my astro zap that I purchased 4 years ago.
Well done Amy. I was wondering if that could be done. I always thought the $100 + was a bit (quite) much for the controller. - Cheers Kurt
You can do it! Always fun trying to find a work around. This is not perfect, but definitely fits a budget.
This is super cool Amy. Thank you for sharing. Now....for something completely and totally unrelated. Did you just pop up on a random TikTok "Hey Mom???" 😂😂😂
No, I am not on tik tok. lol You have me curious now.
@@AmyAstro LOL you have a doppelganger! Let me see if I can find the tictoc for ya ...
Can you place a usb cord to power from battery pack? Thanks
Your cat pawing the screen at the end gave me quite the laugh, LOL. What a cool, simple DIY solution! See, astrophotography isn't ALL expensive! (Just most of it.) Great video Amy!
Glad you liked it! I made the mistake of showing Pester the Cat TH-cam channel with birds. Now he won't leave it alone. He wants his TH-cam time now.
@@AmyAstro HAHAHA...too funny!!!
Amy, when you started Astrophotography, did you ever think that this would lead you down the additional discovery path of electronics?😄
It is crazy what this hobby has introduced me to. I think this is why I love it so much.
The "Johnson power pole" connectors are about 80% reliable - I have really not been happy with those connectors and cannot recommend them. A superior connector are the black and yellow ones that are used for RC cars XT60H - those work every time and withstand wiggling, though you'll have to be handy with a soldering iron to connect them..
Ah the panic of watching that. Its a great idea, but I know I'd wreck it.
If I can do it anyone can!
Simplistic dew controllers are a hit and miss and not to be encouraged. You either have to dial not enough power or too much. Not enough is wasted and too much heat uses more than necessary power if on batteries and generates more than necessary heat around the lens. The better controller is one that measures the dew point (temp & humidity sensors) and heats the area a few degrees above the dew point (monitored with another sensor under the dew strap). Not mentioning other controllers such as one that keep temp an adjustable amount above ambient or even better above the dew point is just so basic and lacks understanding and investigation.
I have a Kendrick controller and a Dew-Not controller and they both have this basic design and have been using them for years. Which unit are you talking about for $20 bucks in parts?
@@johnadastra1754 it's not about price but doing it right. A fire under the telescope would also keep the dew away for even a lower price. Kendrick also make a controller that can keep the temp a few degrees above ambient which is better than those simple dial controllers. Kendrick has been promising for a few year a dew point controller but other manufacturers also make them.
@@GregMcCall the whole point of budget builds is about cost and this is perfect for those people who have a problem and not a lot of money to spend. That's the whole point of the video and this type of project. It's probably 4x cheaper than a similar off the shelf product and 10x cheaper than any automated one. Yes, there are limitations, but this is cheap, easy and still solves a problem for those people without big bucks that astrophotography typically demands.
@@GregMcCall And this is what you have on your scope? A unit that continuously samples outside temperature and atmospheric dew point, then sends just the right amount of power to the heater strips, and then monitors lens temperature to be just the right point so no condensation occurs, and also records amps used so not an electron is wasted. And you built it yourself? Please send the schematics so we all can build one.
@@brandonporter4227 Budget build? And how do you think its a Budget Build with a heading "DIY Build Your Own Dew Heater Controller - It's so Easy!" No Budget in that heading. It is however a DIY and it is easy. A dew point controller would be more complex. It is not a perfect dew controller for beginners or anyone else. Re beginners, dew point controller needs no setting because as long as you keep the surface warmer than the dew point, you get no dew so it's set and forget which is more of a perfect for beginner description.