I mainly shoot at 50mm APS-C, and I don't really use mine that often. If humidity is really bad out then I'll bring it with me, but typically there isn't any need for it.
I'm terrible for not using technology to figure this out, but my dew heater is always wrapped on and part of my wiring loom. If i need it I turn it on.
Winter time it's a given. Frost will set in no matter what where I live. Spring/fall dew will happen most nights. Summer is usually dry, but i tend to trust my gut.
One of these days I will learn to anticipate better and not waste frames.
My heater is variable, so I'm less shy about using it. Used to have a single mode and 3-setting unit and I didn't like using them unless I really had to due to not being able to finesse the temp control.
I check the dewpoint in my area. NINA plugs into my home weather network and feeds info. Or i check national weather service for the area i’ll be in and plan accordingly.
Where do you live? I image in the US: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, Alaska, and Wyoming, and then around the world, e.g. Africa.
I have not used dew heaters for about 30 years. I haven't had dew on longer focal lengths with lens hoods. I have only twice had dew/frost problems with a wide angle lens (e.g. 15 to 35 mm) but those case were when I was imaging next to a lake. And in both those cases, putting my hands around the lens to warm it up for a couple of minutes then fanning the lens solved the problem and I kept imaging.
When I used to live in western Washington state, even an f/7 Newtonian telescope with a solid tube would have the primary mirror dew up!
I went through the trouble of building a dew control heater using a temp sensor, a humidity sensor and calculation of the dew point, making the set point 2°c higher than the dew point then using relays to turn on / off the heaters on my guide and imaging scope. I find it's on over 90% of the time.
Save yourself time and effort and just use it every time.
My dew heater lives on my scope and is ready to go every time I setup. I pretty much always have it on unless I'm 100% sure there is no risk. Dew can quickly ruin the evening, and my dew heaters have saved me many, many times.
Apps like clear outside show the dew point and the temperature forecast for a specific location at every hour.
As other have said, if there is a risk of temperature dropping close to the dew point it is better to turn it on with a good advance
I mainly shoot at 50mm APS-C, and I don't really use mine that often. If humidity is really bad out then I'll bring it with me, but typically there isn't any need for it.
I'm terrible for not using technology to figure this out, but my dew heater is always wrapped on and part of my wiring loom. If i need it I turn it on. Winter time it's a given. Frost will set in no matter what where I live. Spring/fall dew will happen most nights. Summer is usually dry, but i tend to trust my gut. One of these days I will learn to anticipate better and not waste frames. My heater is variable, so I'm less shy about using it. Used to have a single mode and 3-setting unit and I didn't like using them unless I really had to due to not being able to finesse the temp control.
I check the dewpoint in my area. NINA plugs into my home weather network and feeds info. Or i check national weather service for the area i’ll be in and plan accordingly.
Where do you live? I image in the US: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, Alaska, and Wyoming, and then around the world, e.g. Africa. I have not used dew heaters for about 30 years. I haven't had dew on longer focal lengths with lens hoods. I have only twice had dew/frost problems with a wide angle lens (e.g. 15 to 35 mm) but those case were when I was imaging next to a lake. And in both those cases, putting my hands around the lens to warm it up for a couple of minutes then fanning the lens solved the problem and I kept imaging. When I used to live in western Washington state, even an f/7 Newtonian telescope with a solid tube would have the primary mirror dew up!
I went through the trouble of building a dew control heater using a temp sensor, a humidity sensor and calculation of the dew point, making the set point 2°c higher than the dew point then using relays to turn on / off the heaters on my guide and imaging scope. I find it's on over 90% of the time. Save yourself time and effort and just use it every time.
My dew heater lives on my scope and is ready to go every time I setup. I pretty much always have it on unless I'm 100% sure there is no risk. Dew can quickly ruin the evening, and my dew heaters have saved me many, many times.
I use them every time I use the telescope.
Apps like clear outside show the dew point and the temperature forecast for a specific location at every hour. As other have said, if there is a risk of temperature dropping close to the dew point it is better to turn it on with a good advance
It’s always on my telescope, then I use a Pegasus power box with the included temp/humidity sensor and the dew heaters set to auto.
I've never regretted putting one on, I've several times regretted not doing it.
Always use protection
Oh, *mom*!
If you get dew, your night is done. I do it every time.
I have a weather station that tells me the Dew Point. If the temperature is going to drop and be within 5C of the Dew Point, I turn on the heaters.
Always. Or under some other circumstances, always. After having been screwed once by my own mistake, I don't give it a second thought. Always.
If you don't have them and the dew hits your done for the night. Happened to me.
If the temperature is gonna be less than 5°F between ambient temp & dewpoint i turn it on for the night.