Encoder Steps

[mick pinner]

could someone tell me how to determine how many steps an encoder has. thanks.

[mick pinner]

just found that the original Losmandy encoders are 4096 and geared 2:1 so 8196. is my assumption right?

[gary]

Hi Mike,

Not necessarily and not quite.

Firstly the very original Losmandy (i.e. pre 2003) encoders were 2048 geared 2:1 to
provide 4096 steps.

Then several years back I flew to Hollywood, met with Scott Losmandy and
suggested he install 4096 step encoders which would be then geared 2:1
to provide 8192 steps (not 8196 steps as per your post), which was the
highest resolution available at the time.

Unfortunately the Losmandy encoders have a little printed circuit board installed
that obscures the original manufacturer's label. If you can make out the text
through the gap in the PCB, an S1-512-NT is a 2048 step encoder and an S1-1024-NT
is a 4096 step encoder.

Chances are they will probably be the 8192 step solution. As a further check, suggest
you perform the Daytime Encoder Test as per the Argo Navis User's Manual pp 116-117.


Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080
Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[mick pinner]

if l cannot read the numbers what is the procedure to determine the steps?

[gary]

Hi Mick,

London to a brick they will be 8192.

However, here is a procedure to check.

Enter 8192 in SETUP ALT STEPS and SETUP AZ STEPS.

Please refer to the Daytime Encoder Test on pp 116-117.

Power off the unit and center a distant terrestrial object. Power on the unit.

DIAL up MODE ENCODER, press ENTER. Spin the DIAL one click
to show ENCODER STEPS. Lock the RA axis and rotate the scope in Dec axis 360 to
re-acquire the target. The right-hand ALT steps value on the display should
return to within a step or two from where you started.

Now lock the Dec axis, unlock the RA axis and repeat the test in RA.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080
Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au