CDAP-PRO Family Dew Controllers

Astro-Smart’s Computerized Dew Annihilator Pro Family With Options For Integrated Rain/Snow, Sky Quality(SQM) and Observatory Control Products with Standalone and or PC Remote Control Capability  for any telescope.

In the following pictures you can see Model RCOSM-CDAP, SM-CDAP, RC-CDAP and CDAP-PRO systems with common 4 heat channels and coupled temperature sensor  channels(CH1/CH2<—>DTS-12)(CH3/CH4<—>DTS-34). The center ATHS channel is for ambient temperature and humidity monitoring normally placed against the optical tube of your main imaging telescope.  The RC-CDAP-PRO  system adds additional features such as LEDs next to CH1/CH2 and CH3/CH4 show the dew control PWM rate, a low voltage cutoff circuit with LED indicator for power supplies for battery source protection and a fan cool down feature for primary mirror RC’s with LED indicators. As an example in this configuration as shown above, DTS sensors and heater channels 1/2 would be attached to secondary while DTS sensors and heat channels 3/4 would be attached to the primary of your RC and or SCT. With the FAN control offering for the primary, any time the temperature of primary exceeds ambient, the FAN would come on and cool the primary and turn off primary heatFor more information on operatoin of this product see the user manual links and video tutorial links on this page. The SM-CDAP-PRO  system adds additional features such as an added SQM meter sensor integrated in this 4 channel differential dew controller to combine SQM an Dew Control in an all in one package with LEDs next to CH1/CH2 and CH3/CH4 show the dew control PWM rate and SQM sensor enable LED indicator. The new RCOCSM-CDAP-PRO  system is the ultimate all in one flagship system which has integrated observatory control with rain sensor detection, safety control, Sky Quality Meter System And Dew Control. The relay contacts switch outputs are rated up to 120V/240VAC 15Amps. Typical DC use is 12/24/32V at 1-5 Amps. plus a sky quality meter (SQM) system which informs the user of sky conditions and a intelligent computer software GUI consultant informing the user if the sky conditions are suitable for imaging, visual, technical work or too just cloudy and or presence of non steady sky’s due to too much atmospheric fluctuation and reflectivity. The SQM features of the RCOCSM-CDAP-PRO include a graphical reporting system on the software GUI which graphically maps NELM(Naked Eye Limiting Magnitude)  and MPSAS (Magnitude Per Square Arc Sec) over a programmable measurement scale as low as 1 sample every 3 seconds. Please, see the video links below on these amazing products.

RCOCSM-CDAP-PRO	SM-CDAP-PRO
RC-CDAP-PRO	CDAP-PRO

For more information on operation of these products see the user manual links and video tutorial links on this page.

Since, the inception of this unique product at Astro-Smart, the Computerized Dew Annihilator Pro was many years in the making, over long periods in astronomy using existing products on the market to control dew, identifying their weaknesses and limitations making the product you see before you. Features such as Patent Pending Heat Distribution which minimizes heat currents on optics during imaging,  Humidity Measurement, Dew point and Differential Temperature Alarms with automated  decision making on Dew Control, Heat Algorithm Program Selection Updateable Firmware, Computer Control, Intelligent Software Computer GUI interface with Multi-Readout Large LCD and Keypad interface to name a few.   The Astro-Smart Computerized Dew Annihilator Pro are Observatory Class Dew Removal Systems designed to be user friendly, serviceable, elegant and reliable and include the following model features:

The PC SW remote interface snap shot main screen is shown to the left has been tested across multiple PC operating system platforms.   The snapshot on the Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family product page shows current remote activity of all parametric values, virtual keypad and various graphs to track ambient temperature, Optic temperatures, Power Out per channel,  Dew Point and monitoring of Alarms. 

This super professional version software gives you the capability of data acquisition and processing suite for Multi-Channel Real Time Data Acquisition, Variable Acquisition Rate, Variable Power Distribution Algorithm Selection, Flash Memory Storage Of Critical Sensor Calibration Data, File Storage and Plot Retrieval for Extended Regression Data Analysis including .csv, .txt, .png file formats for easy interface to Office Products(Excel, etc) and a Simulator Trainer Mode. Snapshot shown below.

Below is the new SQM interface tab for the Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family which have purchased the SQM option on any of the dew controller models. The sky quality meter (SQM) system which informs the user of sky conditions and a intelligent computer software GUI consultant informing the user if the sky conditions are suitable for imaging, visual, technical work or too just cloudy and or presence of non steady sky’s due to too much atmospheric fluctuation and reflectivity. The SQM features include a graphical reporting system on the software GUI which graphically maps NELM(Naked Eye Limiting Magnitude)  and MPSAS (Magnitude Per Square Arc Sec) over a programmable measurement scale as low as 1 sample every 3 seconds.

Please, see the video links below on these products. List of key videos shown below but are plenty of others…

[CLICK ON THIS LINK TO ->Goto the support Video page for viewing products in action–>]

-New User Selectable Output Heat Power Curve Algorithm Selection and Help Tool….

-New Logging Enable/Disable and Auto/Manual Mode with Temperature Sensors Enabled…..

-New RC-CDAP-PRO interface….Click Picture and watch video #6.

-New RCOC-CDAP-PRO interface….Click Picture and watch video #9.

-New RCOCSM-CDAP-PRO With Sky Quality Meter….Click Picture and watch video #10.

  Sensor Options:

Optional  standard remote sensors are available (2RSCDDDH-D) to operate differential mode dew removal. One sensor is needed to operate Channels 1 and 2 output and a second sensor is required to operate Channels 3 and 4. These Remote Sensors allows you to control the heating of separate optical elements. For instance, one remote sensor would be placed with your heater at the corrector and a second sensor could be placed on your finder scope objective lens or eyepiece or use two sensors on one large objective with two heater straps control. In these setups, each pair of heaters are controlled by their respective sensor while the supplied ambient temp sensor which comes with standard Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family purchase can be placed on the main optical tube objective for ambient sensor collection. Using these sensors in this configuration  allows greater dew control for the user. These items can be purchased at the same time as you purchase your Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family or at a later time.   Please, see our Astro-Stap Dew Straps.

accuracy and faster response in  all  environments  . One sensor is needed to operate Channels 1 and 2 output and a second sensor is required to operate Channels 3 and 4. These Remote Sensors allows you to control the heating of separate optical elements. For instance, one remote sensor would be placed with your heater at the corrector and a second sensor could be placed on your finder scope objective lens or eyepiece or use two sensors on one large objective with two heater straps control. In these setups, each pair of heaters are controlled by their respective sensor while the supplied ambient temp sensor which comes with standard  Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family purchase can be placed on the main optical tube objective for ambient sensor collection. Using these sensors in this configuration  allows greater dew control for the user. These items can be purchased at the same time as you purchase your Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family or at a later time.    Please, see our Astro-Smart Dew Straps.

Optional accessory that Astro-Smart offers is the rain sensor (4RAINSENSOR-RCOC-CDAP). For use with RCOC-CDAP-PRO or any Astro-Smart Model with custom build option. That is correct. I can add this sensor to all variants of the CDAP-PRO model  as a custom build option to new or preowned models. Goto the purchase page for this option. This sensor informs the user of rain fall when observing remotely and gives the user safety option decision making capability for the correct time to open and closing  the observatory.   The rain sensor can be used for informative purposes or can be used for safety control with observatory operation.

Optional accessory that Astro-Smart offers is the SQM(Sky Quality Meter) Standard  sensor (4SQMS). For use with RCOCSM-CDAP-PRO or any Astro-Smart Model with custom build option. That is correct. I can add this sensor to all variants of the CDAP-PRO model  as a custom build option to new or preowned models. Goto the purchase page for this options. This sensor informs the user of the quality of the sky conditions for imaging, visual or technical work communicating with the user GUI interface which gives the user immediate feedback on cloud and sky conditions letting the user know if imaging, visual, technical work or a poor night for setting up your telescope.   The SQM standard sensor provides dual graphing of MPSAS(Magnitude per square arc second) and NELM(Naked Eye Limting Magnitude. See the video for this new amazing tool.

Mounting, Jacks and Power Supply Options:

Another convenient accessory that Astro-Smart offers is a right angle mounting brackets (RAMB-DM).This allows your Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family controller to be mounted securely on a variety of surfaces.

Another convenient accessory that Astro-Smart offers is a right angle heater connector (RAHC-DM).This allows your heater to be connected to the Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family at a right angle. This may be convenient for you to alleviate any bending that you have of your heater connector and wire.

Another convenient accessory that Astro-Smart offers is the Y RCA heater connector (YHC-DM).This allows your heater to be connected to the Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family with more than one heat strap. This may be convenient for you if you want to distribute two heat straps evenly or you need 5 straps on a 4 port system. 

Another convenient accessory for your Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family that Astro-Smart offers is Three versions of power supplies based on your dew heating needs  chosing between 6, 8 or 10Amp // 12 VDC supplies(PS12VXAMP-D).

COMMUNICATION Upgrade Options:

Note: The Computerized Dew Annihilator PRO family controller comes included with a serial to USB-A cable and converter.  The reason, I use the base serial connector on my units is it yields the greatest flexibility for distance reaching upto 700 feet if necessary to your host computer. With this base serial port, the user can add a variety of add-on options to produce the range desired. Serial port communication can give upto a 700 foot run if needed which is why I picked this port choice in my design. However, if your communication run is shorter, the USB-B option can be requested along with other communication options are listed below.

DEW Strap Options:

Another product Astro-Smart offers is our Premium Dew Heater Straps.

Astro-Smart is proud to announce the offering of our Premium Dew Controller straps that can be used with the Astro-Smart Dew Controller products and compatible with other vendor dew controllers with RCA jack input to control temperature of your telescope optics, cameras, camera lens, telescope eyepieces and sensitive electronics.

The materials used for these Premium Dew Straps include Industrial Velcro, High Quality Insulating Material to project heat toward the optics and away from the atmosphere, 5 foot power cord with male RCA connector and Power Conductor Current capable of 10 Amps.

The specifications of our various Premium Dew Straps, sizes and pricing are provided by clicking on this“LINK”provided to our Dew Heater Straps Product Page. Please note that when purchasing the Astro-Smart  CDAP-PRO Family Products, you can also use the heater straps you may already have.