Refractors in garage - Forums

Topic starter

Apr 12, 2025

I live in Houston and have a detached garage. Have kept my Newtonian there for 4 years without issue. It is very hot and humid here. I have never seen condensation in the garage during any type of weather

I am purchasing my first refractor (WO Ultracat) and am curious about keeping it on my scope buggy (like I do my Newt) that I use pretty frequently. Does a slightly ventilated detached garage pose issues with keeping a refractor there? All I have been able to find via web searches and forums so far is to put desiccant pouches ‘in’ the scope prior to putting lens cover on.
- will this work?
- does the minimal airflow in the garage minimize the level of humidity concern?
- any suggestions as I do not really want to bring my scope and everything attached inside just for convenience sake (I use it more when not in house).

Thanks all!

Engaging

Tony Gondola

Frequent contributor

Apr 12, 2025

I'd be more concerned with heat. I know in my detached garage here in Oklahoma the heat can be unbearable. I would never expose camera lenses or a quality refractor to those conditions. Prolonged high heat can degrade coatings, lubricants and other materials, I would avoid do that if at all possible.

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Oscar

Apr 12, 2025

I keep my frac in the living room

Kyle Goodwin

Apr 12, 2025

My refractors are in my uncooled observatory year round here in Georgia, without issue. They're AP and Takahashi. I do have a radiant barrier/insulation on the inside of the roof, which keeps it somewhat below the daytime high inside generally, and I have a dehumidifier which keeps it below 65% RH.

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Dale Penkala

Apr 13, 2025 · Edited: Apr 13, 2025

I have my Esprit 100 in my obsevatroy year round without issue. I’m here in Michigan but my weather is much different then yours I’d bet. In the summer I get very high humidity because of the surrounding lakes but I still do not have any issues.
I keep my Esprit 120 on my AVX mount for “visual only” in my “attached” garage semi insulated (walls insulated, ceiling not) again without issue.

Dale

Bill McLaughlin

Apr 13, 2025

In Central Oregon my 106N has been in my roll-off for 20 plus years and looks perfect. Average temps in Summer maybe 80, highs about 103, more inside. Humidity low most of the time. Lowest winter is about zero but that is rare, typically more like 20 degrees.

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CraigT82

Apr 13, 2025

I cordoned off a corner of my garage using wooden battens screwed to the wall then thick poly sheeting attached to the batten with Velcro. Inside I have a small desiccant dehumidifier which I leave on the lowest setting. Due to the small volume of the enclosed area it barely uses any energy to keep the air in there nice and dry and a few degrees warmer than ambient. All of my Astro kit is stored in there, refractors, newts, mounts… everything

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