Losmandy hand controller not working

[JRC (John)]

any losmandy G 8 or g 11 gurus out there I would appreciate some help. My GM8 (non Gemini) -which is a few years old - was fine but has had a failure in the hand controller somewhere possibly a loose connection

RA drive works on the various rates whether HC is plugged in or not
Dec drive works when plugged into RA slot is motors & wires all OK

RA & Dec pushbutton drives don't work.

Inspected back of circ board in the drive controller unit - all looks good, all connections LOOK fine (I dont think too much of Losmandys watersealing!)

About to pull the HC apart to check its connections; One solder joint on the lowest diamond has no solder...is that normal ?

Any hints appreciated - have you encountered or is there a known problem with this setup ?

Thanks John 0408 444 312

[blink138 (Pat)]

ha ha john i started a thread a few weeks ago, just a little further down this page but had no response
however i always start by changing the battery but i sort of knew that that was not the problem
the gemini HC is not a complicated device at all so i did not think that was the problem, so i logically thought of the cable and voila!
must admit had a bit of trouble finding one, no computer store had one and i found one online after googling
yours may not be the same problem, but maybe it is!
hope you sort it
pat

[wasyoungonce (Brendan)]

Hi John

The Digital drive HC is pretty simple. There is a schematic of it on the Yahoo Gemini site, see if this link works.

Also an image of the back of the PCB here. If the links do not open try the Gemini Yahoo site files section, down the bottom, for: controller.jpg and handcontroller.jpg. You need to be a member...or I can send you them via email...PM me if you need them.

All the buttons do is take +5V (RJ12 (6 pin RJ jack), pin2, black) and allow this to be switched by appropriate button presses to the appropriate out pins:3/4/5/6 to command direction movement. The capacitors are just de-bounce for the switches.

So, is your HC LED on? This shows if you have +5V. Sounds as if this wire is broken somewhere...usually in the RJ jack or lead, this would kill all other button operations..

Do you have a multimeter to trace the wires and connections? Measure for the +5V and that it is getting to the buttons!

If you need more help or have any questions fire away.

Brendan

edit:
Hi Pat...sorry didn't see your thread and would have replied if I did.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

John,
I used the Losmandy GM8 motors and hand controller to "upgrade" an ol' TV Carton mount.
Works very well.
If you have a the same "basic" controller as I, I may be able to assist....
(Brendan - those links don't work....)

[wasyoungonce (Brendan)]

Hi Ken

the links work for members of the yahoo Losmandy group.

If anyone wants them I can email the diagram. Although...there is not much to see. meh...easier to post them up...

[JRC (John)]

You are all very helpful and I thank you

The problem was some broken wires (2,3,4 ) out of 6 but the outer core wasn't obviously damaged until I stretched it slightly. The circuit diagram, and discovering the HC is just a bunch of switches, helped a lot.

Anyway Mike at Bintel fixed it in about 35 seconds. Free (well I did buy some more gear whle I was I the shop). Particular thanks Mike!!

Merry Christmas to all!



All works finr