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Old 20-07-2013, 08:32 PM
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Exclamation Bizarre happenings - static?

Tonight something weird happened....

I was just about to focus my new setup, and was measuring the height of the CCD whilst attached to the scope.... touched a tape measure to the focuser - at this moment a Microsoft.NET framework error appeared, something lamenting the focuser it seemed....
I disconnected the focuser, reconnected - all seemed ok....

A little later, I'd fired up PHD, and needed to focus the guide scope. As I touched the guide scope/focuser/rings - the same error appeared again....

I couldn't recover from that - had to force shut-down the PC....

I do want some sort of image tonight... so I'm not going to go for three (yet).... has anyone seen anything like this???
Do I need to ground the scope or something???

Last edited by Lee; 21-07-2013 at 09:44 AM. Reason: typo
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Old 20-07-2013, 08:51 PM
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h0ughy (David)
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do you run your usb connections through a powered hub? there maybe a short in a cable?
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Old 20-07-2013, 09:09 PM
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Yes, I use a powered hub on the pier....
I'm not touching it at the moment - I had one of those nights initially... but am getting some nice Ha subs at the moment....
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Old 20-07-2013, 09:34 PM
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Quote:
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Yes, I use a powered hub on the pier....
I'm not touching it at the moment - I had one of those nights initially... but am getting some nice Ha subs at the moment....
probably one you have had for a few years? Maybe time for a new one just in case there is a power leak. i have had a couple that have gone that way, or it could just be a cable? moisture is a real cause for this as well?

glad your imaging
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Old 20-07-2013, 09:37 PM
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No, its fairly new... I have just added the filter wheel? Wouldn't surprise me if it was something to do with that mongrel....

Might try a new hub first in any case....
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Old 20-07-2013, 09:38 PM
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moisture is a real cause for this as well?

glad your imaging
It's actually dry as a bone tonight....
nice imaging weather (narrowband)...
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Old 20-07-2013, 10:25 PM
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If I use the mains power supply for my QHY8 I get the occasional spark as I plug things in, even if all the 240V items are plugged into the same extension lead. Feeding it from the same 12V supply as everything else the problem goes away.
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Old 21-07-2013, 06:32 AM
adman (Adam)
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Probably a ground loop - there has been some previous discussion on eliminating these. At best they can cause some whacky behaviours in connected equipment, at worst they can fry stuff and give you a nasty shock
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Old 21-07-2013, 08:29 AM
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Lucky you just got a popup window and immediate reconnection. I once touched the alu leg of the G11 tripod on the field on a very dry windy night, went ouch! ...zap, Gemini beeping and rebooting and laptop blue screened. Nothing major damaged but since then I did a lot of reading on ground loops and opto-isolators. I spent the money on two Keterex USB isolators and never looked back. I place them on any connection between a serial to USB adaptor and imaging device or laptop. I have one between the Gemini RS-232 port and the laptop and one between the AO serial to USB and the laptop.
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Old 21-07-2013, 10:27 AM
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I've done a little drawing, and I have no less than 6 power supplies hooked in to G-11/Atik-CCD/focuser/PC/USB hub/Dew heater....

This may explain the mysterious death of the Atik camera a few months back.....
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Old 21-07-2013, 10:32 AM
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Quote:
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I've done a little drawing, and I have no less than 6 power supplies hooked in to G-11/Atik-CCD/focuser/PC/USB hub/Dew heater....

This may explain the mysterious death of the Atik camera a few months back.....
yep that sounds like a nice cocktail mix. I am enjoying the sun in the observatory right now
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Old 21-07-2013, 12:31 PM
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On the OTA, the complex of focuser/filter wheel and CCD (which is connected to the USB hub too) is the issue I think....
I'm going to rewire so all of this runs from the one 12v supply... already been to Jaycar...
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Old 21-07-2013, 12:41 PM
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On the OTA, the complex of focuser/filter wheel and CCD (which is connected to the USB hub too) is the issue I think....
I'm going to rewire so all of this runs from the one 12v supply... already been to Jaycar...
Get a hitecastro Mount Hub Pro and it'll simplify your life greatly. It's got all the USB/Serial/GPS/Power in one at a fraction of the cost.
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Old 21-07-2013, 03:17 PM
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... Nothing major damaged but since then I did a lot of reading on ground loops and opto-isolators. I spent the money on two Keterex USB isolators and never looked back. ...
Marc, they describe them as USB2 full speed. Does that mean 480Mb/s or 12Mb/s full duplex? The datasheet doesn't say, and the 12Mb/s meaning is misleading but fairly common.
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Old 21-07-2013, 03:27 PM
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Marc, they describe them as USB2 full speed. Does that mean 480Mb/s or 12Mb/s full duplex? The datasheet doesn't say, and the 12Mb/s meaning is misleading but fairly common.
Not sure Andrew. TBH I haven't noticed any drop in speed before and after I used them. The Gemini only gets pulse every second or so depending on how you guide so that's never been an issue. With the AO the fastest correction rates I ever got would have been 5Hz. With or without it was the same also. To me the main thing was isolating and preventing possible damage. At the time I bought them (5yrs ago) I was using USB1.0 with a Toshiba satellite so it was dog slow as is.
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Old 21-07-2013, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by mithrandir View Post
Marc, they describe them as USB2 full speed. Does that mean 480Mb/s or 12Mb/s full duplex? The datasheet doesn't say, and the 12Mb/s meaning is misleading but fairly common.
"Full Speed" is only 12 Mbps: http://www.everythingusb.com/speed.html

Cheers,
Rick.
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Old 21-07-2013, 05:00 PM
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I've just built a switchboard type box from a boating switch-panel and a DC-DC converter for 5V for the hub....
All works so far, no smoke let out of anything....
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Old 21-07-2013, 05:47 PM
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I've just built a switchboard type box from a boating switch-panel and a DC-DC converter for 5V for the hub....
All works so far, no smoke let out of anything....
that's pretty clever i see you set it to 5v
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