Regeneration of desiccant - how to open the container ..

Discussion in 'Aluma CCD Series' started by Kalpesh Jasapara, Nov 22, 2020.

  1. Kalpesh Jasapara

    Kalpesh Jasapara Cyanogen Customer

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2020
    Messages:
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    Hello,

    Hope you are all doing well. Thank you so much for your help.
    I have been taking bias and darks for calibration using the maxim dl with the Aluma 8300 for a few weeks.
    I just got around to start taking flats (have not calibrated the exposure yet), please see attached .fit file.

    At -20˚C I Observe that there are some artifacts, perhaps some frost formation. Later I verified that at zero-degrees I do not see the same. I have opened the Aluma only once to attach the fw8g-aluma and not since. With the attached fit file can you please confirm if it is frost ?

    If so, according to the "C-2 Regenerating the desiccant", of the manual it suggests I need to regenerate it. I am unable to "open" the container from the camera body. Turning 90 degrees is not helpful. Is force needed to pull it out of the camera body?

    Perhaps I am doing something wrong, kindly assist.

    with regards,
    -Kalpesh
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Doug

    Doug Staff Member

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    Yes a bit of force is required, as the O-ring can be very tight.

    Make sure the slot is vertical, and pull!
     
  3. Kalpesh Jasapara

    Kalpesh Jasapara Cyanogen Customer

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2020
    Messages:
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    Hello Doug,

    Thank you for your quick reply.

    Yes some slight additional force was required to pull it out, thanks.

    But I am surprised, I see only the container and no O-ring, perhaps that explains the frost.
    I did have it facing downwards as suggested in the document while taking the container out.

    Can you please send me the specification of the O-ring, something I can pickup from a local hardware store?

    with regards,
    -Kalpesh
     
  4. Doug

    Doug Staff Member

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  5. Kalpesh Jasapara

    Kalpesh Jasapara Cyanogen Customer

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2020
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    Hello Doug,

    Thanks again for a prompt reply.

    My bad. You are right. I was incorrectly expecting in the outer cavity, see attached.

    Let me remove the o-ring and go ahead with regeneration of the desiccant, will update here in case I have problems with the frost again.
    While the container is removed I have kept the camera in a closed container with a few large camera-use-desiccant packs, hopefully that will help too.

    with regards,
    -Kalpesh
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Doug

    Doug Staff Member

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    The outer groove is part of the locking mechanism.

    Not a bad idea to store the camera with desiccant. But also important to keep it in a dust-free environment.
     

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