Recommendations for outdoor mount/scope covers (UK) - Forums

Topic starter

Nov 24, 2022

Hello,

I'm thinking of purchasing an outdoor cover for my gear and just wanted to hear some of your opinions and recommendations on what to look for.

I live in the UK so it's raining for most of the year, and I'd prefer to purchase the cover from a UK retailer.

I have a Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro and Skywatcher 130PDS. It would be nice for the cover to fit everything, but I'm not too fussed about taking the scope off and covering the mount only.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Well Written Engaging

Roger Nichol

Nov 24, 2022 · Edited: Nov 24, 2022

The Telegizmos 360 covers are very good. My EQ6-R has been outside under one for 2 years now in the UK. No problems. I sometimes leave the OTA out for a few days or weeks if there is a consistent run of decent weather. I hang two bags of silica gel on the mount or scope under the cover to absorb any moisture. I put them in the microwave for 5 mins then hang on a radiator while I'm imaging.

Helpful

Earle Waghorne

Nov 24, 2022

Hi Kieran,

I used TeleGizmos 365 covers outside and they worked very well. They're waterproof and have a reflective layer inside so that they are well insulated. I found it was good not to draw them too tightly around the mount so that there was air circulation. They make them in different sizes, depending on the scope. I found that the long ones, intended for reflectors, were long enough to cover my power system on a low stool. I did make foam pads to cover the screws on my guidescope mount so that they didn't damage the lining.

I don't know where you are located but you can see these at: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telegizmos-telescope-covers/telegizmos-365-scope-cover-for-10-12-dobsonians.html

Hope this is useful.

CS, Earle

Helpful Respectful Supportive

Arun H

Nov 24, 2022

I’ve used Telegizmos for years and it is great. Generally, I’ll take my scope off and leave the mount covered for weeks at a stretch.

Well Written

Alan Brunelle

Nov 24, 2022

Not sure what the premium for a astro-specific cover is, but I use a very nice outdoor grill cover that I had handy.

They can be had at many hardware stores or home improvement stores. Mine is not silvered, so I suppose it can get hot underneath. It often safely covers my mount for weeks at a time. I usually place a small open box at the top, underneath the cover to promote air circulation. If the scope is on the mount, I park it so the mirror is down, cocked at a fair angle to reduce dust falllng directly on the mirror by gravity. The open box goes on top of the front cover for air circulation, and then I use an insulated moving blanket underneath (had it handy) to prevent direct heat. But the waterproof cover is left to hang loosely, so underneath is exposed to good air circulation. I do suspend a short rope around the setup loosely to prevent wind from ripping the covers off.

Works well. Don't use dessicant. Lots of air circulation.

Grill covers come in many sizes and shapes. They are not necessarily cheap, but I am curious how their prices compare to the astro covers since I never looked into buying one.

Helpful

Olly Barrett

Nov 25, 2022

Telegizmos are expensive but we’ll worth the money, the large one on the left covers my EDGE HD… I also have a cheap (Blue) tarpaulin on hand to go over the smaller Telegizmos cover on my Redcat if the weather takes a really bad turn…

Kieran Gunessee

Topic starter

Nov 25, 2022

Thanks for all your replies, I'll take a look at the Telegizmos stuff, they look pretty good!

Clear skies

Well Written Respectful

andrea tasselli

Frequent contributor

Nov 25, 2022

Telegizmos are good but too expensive, way way too expensive and not worth the money. I use Geoptiks ones which are moderately priced and would potentially last 2 years/2.5 years. They are out 24/7/365 together with the whole of the rig and never failed me in the UK weather. Or, a heavy duty tarp would do just as well but they're heavy…

Ed Litoborski

Nov 25, 2022

I bought a synthetic black shower curtain from Amazon, added a draw string,
cheap, very flexible and waterproof

Arnie

Nov 25, 2022

You may want to consider getting an inexpensive thermometer/hygrometer to go under the cover to see if the desiccant is really lowering the humidity at all. Those desiccants are made to keep the interior of small, sealed packages dry, not the large space surrounding a telescope, especially if it is not air-tight. Any influx of fresh air will quickly bring the humidity back up and these packets actually absorb very little water (about 20% of their total weight). Here in the soggy Pacific Northwest, USA, I've never had them make a difference. I was still getting condensation inside my Celestron C14 EdgeHD.

I've just recently switched to a small, portable bathroom dehumidifier. I place one on a small stand between the tripod legs and seal the whole telescope/mount/tripod with 1 mil painter's plastic dropcloth under the Telegizmo cover. I've modified the dehumidifier a bit by adding a discharge tube to the reservoir that extends through the plastic and Telegizmo to drain the water to the outside. This way I don't have to open up the plastic to drain the water everyday. It consistently keeps the humidity around 40% even when outside it is 95% or raining (which is most of the time here October to April).

They also come in a 12 volt model for recreational vehicles if your scope is not located near mains electricity. There are also battery powered ones, but again, without some sort of modification, that would require opening up the plastic to recharge the battery.

Well Written Helpful Insightful Engaging

Gaurav

Nov 25, 2022

For expensive scope and camera i use Telegizmos and on top of it i cover it with cheap yet durable barbeque cover bought from amazon . so double protection , for another rig i use Backyard sofa couch cover / two of them and another barbeque cover on top , full weather proof solution

Rodolphe Goldsztejn

Nov 27, 2022

I use a telegizmos 365 cover. Winter can be humid and cold and summer dry and hot at my location. Never had any issues with the cover, I have it since 2017, protecting the mount and pier sitting on the balcony.
Note that I remove the optics from the mount before putting up the cover. Even if made for this usage, I don’t want to risk any damage to costly equipment.

Helpful

Tony Garrity

Nov 27, 2022

Another vote for the Telegizmos 365. They just work. Mine is out on the balcony all year round.

If I’m leaving expensive astrophotography gear outside, it’s false economy to go for cheaper options. The 365 range is proven.

Tony

Well Written

Gilmour Dickson

Nov 28, 2022

Another Telegizmo 365 fan here. Yes, they are pricey but so is my equipment and my piece of mind. Mine covers my mount and scope and so far has stood up very well to the Zambian rains. Which are very heavy at this time of year.

Stuart Taylor

Nov 28, 2022

I have had my entire rig (apart from the camera) under a Telegizmos 365 for about a year and a half now (southern UK) and it's done a good job. I place a set of rechargeable moisture absorber units under it too (four altogether - 2 on the tripod accessory shelf and 2 hung on the mount). I have a spare set on recharge and swap them all out every few days. Whenever it's a clear, dry day I take the cover off and air the rig for a few hours too. It works very well. The only thing I do after a session is remove the camera (as I assume they are more sensitive to moisture) but this is hardly an inconvenience.

Given the weight of my tripod, mount and scope (52kg), I really don't want to be setting up fresh every time!

Well Written Helpful

Paolo

Dec 3, 2022

I'm going with the Geoptik cover (medium size,https://www.geoptik.com/prodotto/telo-di-protezione-solare-3/).
Can't tell you how it works yet because I bought it last week and still have to setup everything (rain is pouring and weather will suck for the foreseeable future).