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DewBuster™ Controller Technical Bulletin
Performing a Trial Run at Home
Note: This bulletin assumes you are just trying to familiarize yourself with operating your DewBuster™ Controller prior to your first night under the stars. If you suspect a malfunction then perform the full test as directed under the Troubleshooting Problems bulletin.
New DewBuster™ Controller owners may want to familiarize themselves with its operation prior to their first night under the stars. This is best done indoors but does not require setting up your mount, simply put the heater strips on the telescope. If done outdoors, the telescope must be shaded or the sun will heat the telescope and prevent the heaters from turning on.
1. Attach the temperature sensor to the main heater and strap it onto the telescope as directed in the owners manual.
2. Plug the DewBuster™ Controller into a power source and turn the control knob to 5 which represents 5 degrees F. above the air temperature.
3. Assuming the telescope is about the same temperature as the air, the TEMP CONTROLLED output's LED will remain on constantly (100% power) while the telescope warms up. The MEDIUM POWER outputs are not controlled by the temperature sensor so their LED will blink steadily regardless of the telescope temperature.
4. When the telescope reaches a temperature 5 degrees warmer than the air, the TEMP CONTROLLED output's LED will start blinking and may even turn off for a short period of time. After the temperature stabilizes, the LED will blink as the TEMP CONTROLLED output applies whatever power level it takes keep the telescope at the set temperature differential.
5. If your home's A/C or heater cycles on you will see the blink rate of the TEMP CONTROLLED output's LED vary as the DewBuster™ Controller tries to make the telescope temperature track air temperature changes.
6. The temperature sensor is very sensitive. If you cup your hands around the air sensor the warmth of your hands will trick the air temperature sensor into thinking the air is warming up and the LED will turn on continuously because it is trying to warm the telescope up. Remove your hands and it will stop blinking until the scope cools back down.
7. Now turn the control knob to 10 degrees. The TEMP CONTROLLED output's LED will go to full power until the scope warms up to the new temperature setting, and then it will start blinking again. The MEDIUM POWER output's LED should still blink (40% power).
8. Now turn the control knob back to 5 degrees. The LED will turn off (0% power) until the telescope cools back down.
Now lets try "manual control" of the MEDIUM POWER outputs when no temperature sensor is in use:
9. Unplug the temperature sensor(s) and increase the control knob to the fully clockwise position. Notice that the MEDIUM POWER output's LED is on constantly (100% power). This is "Dew Burn-Off mode" which is useful for removing dew that has already formed on your optics.
10. Slowly reduce the control knob setting and observe that the MEDIUM POWER output's LED changes to a fast blink and then blinks slower and slower as the control knob is decreased. This allows the MEDIUM POWER output to be set anywhere between 40% and 100% power.
You should now have a good feel for how the DewBuster™ Controller works and understand that under normal conditions the TEMP CONTROLLED output's LED should blink. You should understand that the blink rate tells you how much heat is being applied and if it stays on or off then something is wrong such as an improperly positioned temperature sensor. You should also understand that the Medium Power LED should blink unless the control knob is set fully clockwise to burn off dew.