How use desiccant with permanently attached camera?

[STEVE333]

Even before receiving my ASI1600MM camera with filter wheel I started reading how it was recommended to keep the camera in a desiccant container when not in use to help prevent fogging during use. I keep my camera/filter wheel combination permanently attached to the W.O. Star71 telescope (prevent dust motes and the ability to reuse Flats). The question was: How can I keep the camera in a "dry environment" while still having it attached to the telescope?

Answer - Use a ZipLock bag. The picture below shows the camera with the 1-gallon ZipLock bag "zipped" tight around the adapter connecting the telescope to the filter wheel/camera combination. You can see the desiccant bags (I put two inside the plastic bag) are still nice and blue. I've been using this setup for about a month now and the blue color of the desiccant hasn't had any noticeable change. We have high humidity here this time of year (74% today, but, over 80% isn't uncommon) but so far no problems with any dew forming on the camera window.

100_1132 by STEPHEN KING, on Flickr

Comments/Suggestions welcomed.

Cheers,
Steve

[Baskevo]

Thanks for the tip Steve! I also keep everything attached, but we don't usually have to worry about hold or cold weather here. I am still worried about it though, and this is probably just a good idea in general!

[yobbo89]

good idea, i can show you a camera, scope setup that from dew has a fair bit of rust due to the end of the night i'm in a quick rush to pack things up and there is typically a bit of moisture around . i'm always constantly scouring bolts painting them to fight of oxide , my asi 1600 fan grill is a rusty cesspool.

[STEVE333]

Thanks for the tip Steve! I also keep everything attached, but we don't usually have to worry about hold or cold weather here. I am still worried about it though, and this is probably just a good idea in general!

Others say that over time the cooled cameras can "leak" and moisture gets inside. They say this approach (keeping the camera in a closed container with desiccant) definitely helps.

good idea, i can show you a camera, scope setup that from dew has a fair bit of rust due to the end of the night i'm in a quick rush to pack things up and there is typically a bit of moisture around . i'm always constantly scouring bolts painting them to fight of oxide , my asi 1600 fan grill is a rusty cesspool.

Sorry to hear about the rust. Hope this approach works for both of us. Can you purchase a new fan grill?

Cheers,
Steve

[yobbo89]

Thanks for the tip Steve! I also keep everything attached, but we don't usually have to worry about hold or cold weather here. I am still worried about it though, and this is probably just a good idea in general!

Others say that over time the cooled cameras can "leak" and moisture gets inside. They say this approach (keeping the camera in a closed container with desiccant) definitely helps.

good idea, i can show you a camera, scope setup that from dew has a fair bit of rust due to the end of the night i'm in a quick rush to pack things up and there is typically a bit of moisture around . i'm always constantly scouring bolts painting them to fight of oxide , my asi 1600 fan grill is a rusty cesspool.

Sorry to hear about the rust. Hope this approach works for both of us. Can you purchase a new fan grill?

Cheers,
Steve

I think i'll replace the rusted grill when i sell it haha, i've had it for a few years now, 100s of hours of use. the uv from the sun is fading the anodized colour on it too , i have two of them , the other one doesn't get much use so i might part ways with both and get something with a wider chip .