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Post by johnno on Jan 26, 2014 14:19:47 GMT
Took this off another forum.
Other problem could be PAE data in the hand box adding corrections after a slew. It's aspic ally extra syncs you may have done to I prove pointing, if you have moved the mount and never cleared the sync data it could be adding an extra calibration to the end of the move.
Go into the utility menu, I think, and select PAE. I know there is a selection to clear it, and probably to view it. See if there is anything there and wipe it out.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2014 23:10:25 GMT
Its a hard one to call, all you can do is do tests again, and if it plays up try another cable before you start digging the old one up, have you got plenty of spare cable? if its possible run a cable from mount straight to your room bypassing junction boxes just for testing. Did you manage to test it with another power supply? another thing, are the clutches ok, not slipping
how far away is the power supply from the mount, have read that sometimes this can cause problems if its to far away and that the power lead is not up to the job a bit on the thin side. Did you manage to check if the red led flickers when slewing at full speed as this also indicates that its not getting enough voltage or amps
I've never dealt with cat5 but I would of thought it was for indoor use only, except if its well protected from the elements, pity you cant get to it, you could of sealed up the ends of the conduit so that there's no water standing in the pipe work Thanks John some fantastic info.
I've testing at the minute at it's look like the problem could be in part the buried cable. It could that water has go into the cable or the socket box on the wall I need to take a closer look. I tried to do an alignment as normal from my office but had a near disaster! Basically after centring my first star I got the usual option for the second star but before pressing anything the scope was off!! I could not stop it only change direction it went mad. Luckily I could see what was going on from the scope cam. I had to ask my wife to run out and switch it off while I tackled the beast Anyway after that I disconnected the scope to HC cable from the external socket and connected it direct to the HC to check this cable and I have managed to do a rough alignment. That said initially the HC did freeze shortly a couple of times so not perfect.
Next step for me is to take a look at socket cables and or the socket box. I also have the Mallincam control cable running the same route and Cat5 but no issue with that. Some things to try out but worst case scenario I'll have to replace the cables with something more suited to the task. I also now know for sure I need some way of switching off power to the mount from my office as if my wife was not here I could have had even more problems!
Also John, when lining up at the scope I did not see any flickering with the red light on the mount.
Thanks again and watch this space
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2014 23:12:18 GMT
Took this off another forum. Other problem could be PAE data in the hand box adding corrections after a slew. It's aspic ally extra syncs you may have done to I prove pointing, if you have moved the mount and never cleared the sync data it could be adding an extra calibration to the end of the move. Go into the utility menu, I think, and select PAE. I know there is a selection to clear it, and probably to view it. See if there is anything there and wipe it out. Nice one I'm going back out in sec I'll have a look.
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Post by johnno on Jan 27, 2014 2:57:17 GMT
looks like you've narrowed it down, but I've just had another idea have you had a look at the HC socket and at the mount and the plugs as well, might have some dirt on the contacts, loose or bent, don't know if WD40 would be ok to use in the sockets.
I'm still looking
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 9:11:08 GMT
looks like you've narrowed it down, but I've just had another idea have you had a look at the HC socket and at the mount and the plugs as well, might have some dirt on the contacts, loose or bent, don't know if WD40 would be ok to use in the sockets.
I'm still looking Hello John,
I did some testing indoors last night and had a good look at the sockets but they seemed fine. I did a couple of fake alignments and everything seemed to work fine with no repeat of the previous problems. The only thing I can thing of is that maybe the problem is the socket to socket extension so I'm hoping to test that this weekend and will change it if necessary. Other than that, it could just be an intermittent problem or as Ken suggested the mount don't like the cold and damp but that would be a shocker! Worth noting that FLO have been very good trying to help resolve the issue.
One thing I did notice last night (though a different issue) was the level of noise the mount was making. Normally this mount is very quiet but last night it seemed to be making a buzzing noise and at one point a kind of ticking noise, any ideas on that one? Not sure how long it's been doing this as I normally work remote it never used too!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 16:02:44 GMT
Okay, done some more testing and here is what I think may be the problem. I think due to the length of the cable from mount to external socket, external socket to internal socket and then internal socket to the hand controller is too long. I'm thinking I may be losing power from the mount to the hand controller and back again. I have done various tests but only have the problem with the same cables used last time out. Now if I cut out the socket to socket I have no problem. Or if I use 5 metre cable from the mount (normal one is 10 metres) to the internal socket it is fine. So do we have any electrical geniuses here that could confirm this possibility?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 16:10:03 GMT
Hi Karl I have heard of 25M being used no problem, I my self use a 10M without any ill effects. The question is when it works is the underground one out of the equation?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 16:15:32 GMT
Hi Karl I have heard of 25M being used no problem, I my self use a 10M without any ill effects. The question is when it works is the underground one out of the equation? Hi Carl,
Yes the underground one worked when I reduced the 10 metre one from the mount to the external socket to 5 metres. I think the socket to socket cable must be 20 - 25 metres so if you add the 10 metre and then another 2 metre one in my office it starts stacking up a bit. Is there a way of testing power loss?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 16:16:26 GMT
Ooh, I think I can check the voltage on the hand controller?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 16:29:02 GMT
Ooh, I think I can check the voltage on the hand controller? Okay, no is the answer! Just checked the power voltage and it is 20.4 V. Changed back to the 10 metre and again 20.4 V. So I guess what it is telling me is that is the power going to the mount. Next question I guess is what is the correct voltage that should be going to the mount? I a 12V 5amp adapter plugged direct into the mains supply.
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Post by johnno on Jan 30, 2014 16:42:14 GMT
looks like you've narrowed it down, but I've just had another idea have you had a look at the HC socket and at the mount and the plugs as well, might have some dirt on the contacts, loose or bent, don't know if WD40 would be ok to use in the sockets.
I'm still looking Hello John,
I did some testing indoors last night and had a good look at the sockets but they seemed fine. I did a couple of fake alignments and everything seemed to work fine with no repeat of the previous problems. The only thing I can thing of is that maybe the problem is the socket to socket extension so I'm hoping to test that this weekend and will change it if necessary. Other than that, it could just be an intermittent problem or as Ken suggested the mount don't like the cold and damp but that would be a shocker! Worth noting that FLO have been very good trying to help resolve the issue.
One thing I did notice last night (though a different issue) was the level of noise the mount was making. Normally this mount is very quiet but last night it seemed to be making a buzzing noise and at one point a kind of ticking noise, any ideas on that one? Not sure how long it's been doing this as I normally work remote it never used too!
I wonder if that buzzing and ticking noise is the gears not meshing correctly or mount not balanced putting a strain on the motors, if you could replicate the noise again then try it without scopes on that would more or less tell you it needs balancing. IS this the noise
timsastroblog.blogspot.co.uk/2007/04/little-tune-up-for-eq6.html
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 16:51:55 GMT
I wonder if that buzzing and ticking noise is the gears not meshing correctly or mount not balanced putting a strain on the motors, if you could replicate the noise again then try it without scopes on that would more or less tell you it needs balancing. IS this the noise
timsastroblog.blogspot.co.uk/2007/04/little-tune-up-for-eq6.html
Wow no not that bad! I made a video and will try and upload to You Tube. It's not bad but when I first got the scope it made a lovely noise like a bird tweeting. Deffo something not right but as you say could be balancing. That said I've never been able to get a decent balance with this scope in Alt Az!! I've tried all sorts. I can get it balanced with the OTA parallel to the ground but if I move it up, down left or right then it's off. Maybe I need to start a new thread. Thanks John, I'll try later without the scopes.
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Post by johnno on Jan 30, 2014 16:58:02 GMT
Ooh, I think I can check the voltage on the hand controller? Okay, no is the answer! Just checked the power voltage and it is 20.4 V. Changed back to the 10 metre and again 20.4 V. So I guess what it is telling me is that is the power going to the mount. Next question I guess is what is the correct voltage that should be going to the mount? I a 12V 5amp adapter plugged direct into the mains supply. I think something is wrong, 20.4v, should be 12v if your only supplying it with 12v power supply, check your power supply voltage make sure its knocking out 12-13volts [ if its more DO NOT USE] and if possible check what the voltage is when slewing at X9
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Post by johnno on Jan 30, 2014 17:36:20 GMT
Took this off SW website for the mount.
Output Voltage: DC 11V (minimum) to DC 16V (maximum). Voltage not in this range might cause permanent damage to the motor controller or the hand controller. • Output Current: 4A for power supply with 11V output voltage, 2.5A for power supply with 16V output voltage. • Do not use an un-regulated AC-to-DC adapter. When choosing an AC adapter, it is recommended to use a switching power supply with 15V output voltage and at least 3A output current. • If the power voltage is too low, the motor controller will stop the motors automatically.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 17:53:01 GMT
:oGood point Johnno 20 Volts should not be there! Should be around 12 Karl.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 18:08:33 GMT
Took this off SW website for the mount.
Output Voltage: DC 11V (minimum) to DC 16V (maximum). Voltage not in this range might cause permanent damage to the motor controller or the hand controller. • Output Current: 4A for power supply with 11V output voltage, 2.5A for power supply with 16V output voltage. • Do not use an un-regulated AC-to-DC adapter. When choosing an AC adapter, it is recommended to use a switching power supply with 15V output voltage and at least 3A output current. • If the power voltage is too low, the motor controller will stop the motors automatically. Yikes!! This is a 12v adapter, why is it putting in too much power? What would I need to ensure 12v and 3 amps? Thanks John I'm glad I mentioned this now!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 18:18:19 GMT
Karl have you anyway of checking the output of the power adapter (volt meter)?
A regulated supply makes sure that its a constant 12 Volts
An unregulated puts out higher Voltage but drops with a current load on it but the voltage can vary in use which isnt good for our kit.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 18:23:53 GMT
Karl have you anyway of checking the output of the power adapter (volt meter)? A regulated supply makes sure that its a constant 12 Volts An unregulated puts out higher Voltage but drops with a current load on it but the voltage can vary in use which isnt good for our kit. Hi Carl,
I do have a volt metre but like all my gear I don't know how to use it Do I need a trip to Maplins?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 18:33:27 GMT
To test with it just get a 9 volt battery and turn the dial to the position where it says 20V and place the red probe on the positive of the battery and the black probe on the neg of the battery and you should get a reading of around 9 Volts on screen.
If you get that then unplug the power plug from the mount then turn on the power and place the red probe in the centre of the plug and the neg on the outside metal of the plug you should then get a reading.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 18:40:28 GMT
To test with it just get a 9 volt battery and turn the dial to the position where it says 20V and place the red probe on the positive of the battery and the black probe on the neg of the battery and you should get a reading of around 9 Volts on screen. If you get that then unplug the power plug from the mount then turn on the power and place the red probe in the centre of the plug and the neg on the outside metal of the plug you should then get a reading. Thanks Carl, I've dismounted everything. Can I do this direct with the adapter? If not I'll try and set up later to check. Do you know if you can buy a regulated adapter or is there some other kit I will need?
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