Just finished my Heater ctrl Box

[man1]

I have build a Dew Heater control box for my new XT10i. I have 3 channels, #1 will be for the tel rad, eyepiece, red dot and the 9x50 finder scope. #2 will be for the edge of my Dew Shield and the secondary mirror. #3 will be at my primary. All is powered by a bench lab power supply. Since I don't travel with my setup I have a dedicated 12VDC line run to the scope from the house.

I haven't wired the heating elements themselves yet... since I have to measure the XT10i tube first. The wattage will be very specific for each location that needs heat. I purchased some fireproof material made from lava rock and all together will go into a Velcro sleeve that attaches to wherever it is needed.

Cheers, man1

[smeyer8015]

Very nice. Mine is still in the "box of parts" stage. I bought the same controller but the 3 channel version.

[Don Quixote]

Very nice, Man !
Looks very professional.

You electrical engineers always amaze my !

Thanks for sharing your project.

[Juno16]

Nice looking rig man1!

You sure can’t beat those controllers. I just use one controller for dew heaters for both the main scope and guide scope. I just sized the heater bands to heat slightly more than I need for each at 12v and marked the controllers at 6 and 9 vdc for reference. Never go beyond 9.

Great workmanship! Looking forward to seeing your completed project!

Thanks,
Jim

[man1]

Thanks for all the comments...

I am working at -30C type of temperatures that's why I didn't put metal connectors directly on the box, but extended the feeds. The eyepieces and all the finders are rather small not only will I cut the wire accordingly for wattage, but I also wanted an extra PWM controller so that I have more adjustment range compared to the big tube. I never opened one before I bought the PWM ctrl's. For redundancy I went with 3 separate units. I could have easily made my own from scratch using cheap 555 timers and a couple of mosfets, but I could never get all the parts that cheap as already made from China.

Cheers, man1

[man1]

Very nice, Man !
Looks very professional.

You electrical engineers always amaze my !

Thanks for sharing your project.

Good Morning Mark...

I am thrilled my UPS tracking is telling me that my scope reached Chicago.... UPS is telling me I will get it by Friday....

Cheers, man1

[Juno16]

Thanks for all the comments...

I am working at -30C type of temperatures that's why I didn't put metal connectors directly on the box, but extended the feeds. The eyepieces and all the finders are rather small not only will I cut the wire accordingly for wattage, but I also wanted an extra PWM controller so that I have more adjustment range compared to the big tube. I never opened one before I bought the PWM ctrl's. For redundancy I went with 3 separate units. I could have easily made my own from scratch using cheap 555 timers and a couple of mosfets, but I could never get all the parts that cheap as already made from China.

Cheers, man1

-30C!

Wow, having lived on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico for so long (1972), I really can’t imaging those kind of temps.
It’s like a swamp here most of the year which soaks the atmosphere with moisture and temperature gradients. Not ideal, but it’s mine!
You probably get dew early, then it freezes!

Yeah, can’t beat those Wm controllers. I think I paid about $2 (maybe less) directly from China! Just took awhile.

I know that you are fired up to receive your new scope!


Thanks,
Jim