[pct-l] condensation on inside of homemade tarptent

[PCT at DelNorteResort.Com (stillroaming)]

> ...because the fabric is colder than the surrounding air on both sides...
Eric, you might rethink that statement. :)

> beat dew is to either heat the fabric (maybe by having a warm body and
> less ventilation)

Heating the fabric would work, it raises the dew point. But, um, it would
be difficult. A warm body is also moist. Warm moist air mixed with cold
air produces RAIN (condensation). Not under my tarp thank you. :) Your
body is going to release water via your skin and breath.

> More ventilation will not stave off dew, in fact, it actually encourages
it.

If a moving air mass is not at dew point, it will assist in keeping your
tarp
dry through evaporation; less condensation. Further, a moving air mass
can 'hold' more water.

> beat dew is to either heat the fabric (maybe by having a warm body and
> less ventilation)

Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Lee (GAMES)" <elee@microsoft.com>
To: "stillroaming" <PCT@DelNorteResort.Com>; <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 6:27 PM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] condensation on inside of homemade tarptent


Scott wrote:
>
Dew is a slightly different example, but same concept.
>

Right, but I bet that Craig's (the orginal poster's) problem was dew
(meaning condensation on both sides of the tarp because the fabric is
colder than the surrounding air on both sides), not condensation
(meaning condensation on only the underside because the air inside is
warm and wet while the air outside is cold).  More ventilation will not
stave off dew, in fact, it actually encourages it.  The only ways to
beat dew is to either heat the fabric (maybe by having a warm body and
less ventilation) or by cutting radiative loss (by pitching under
trees).

Of course camping in drier locations (i.e. not in long grass, or by
water) will help in either case.

Eric