I feel sick - fried my camera

troypiggo (Troy) · #1 02-07-2014, 07:00 PM

Astrofest just a few weeks away, I thought I'd do a fresh dark and bias library. So camera (QSI583ws) was not on mount in normal configuration. Plugged in power supply and bzzzt -puff of smoke. I had accidentally used the mount's 24V supply instead of the camera's 12V.

It's dead. I've emailed QSI to see if I express courier it to them for repair (if possible, that is), if I can get it back in time for Astrofest.

Other option is to just get the board, which I assume is all that's fried, sent over here and I find some kind and skillful soul to assist replacing here.

I can't believe I did it.

RickS (Rick) · #2 02-07-2014, 07:23 PM

That's terrible luck, Troy. I have a tech that we have used for many years to fix digital gear that can't be replaced easily. Try QSI first but if needed I can point you at him...

Cheers,
Rick.

allan gould · #3 02-07-2014, 07:25 PM

Can't help at all Troy but you have great gobs of sympathy from me.
Allan

RickS (Rick) · #4 02-07-2014, 07:32 PM

I have a few spare cameras too. If you need a loan let me know.

RB (Andrew) · #5 02-07-2014, 07:34 PM

Oh wow, so sorry to hear Troy.
Man that'd be so gut wrenching.

troypiggo (Troy) · #6 02-07-2014, 08:14 PM

Thanks for the sympathy, guys. One of the more embarrassing and stupid things I've done.

Thanks for the offer, Rick. Will see how QSI goes.

codemonkey (Lee) · #7 02-07-2014, 08:35 PM

That's horrible! Sorry to hear that, Troy. Hope you can get it sorted out without having to lose a kidney to finance it.

troypiggo (Troy) · #8 03-07-2014, 04:34 AM

Just heard back from QSI. US$300 minimum repair cost plus parts, and usually 2-3 weeks. Doubtful they'll get it done in time for Astrofest.

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #9 03-07-2014, 06:31 AM

Oh boy bet that made you sick in the stomach. Sorry to hear of your loss mate. I am surprised that the plugs used for both mount and camera are the same, is there a way you can change this to prevent accidents like this in the future?

I hope you get it sorted, good luck.

Octane (Humayun) · #10 03-07-2014, 07:52 AM

Commiserations, as discussed yesterday!

Well, $300 sure beats $3,000 for sensor replacement!

Go to Astrofest with your 5D instead?

I'm so glad it's a cheap repair for you!

H

troypiggo (Troy) · #11 03-07-2014, 09:30 AM

Cheers guys.

H - the $300 is min only just for them to look at it. The actual cost will be upwards from there. Plus shipping each way. Don't see myself getting much change out of $1k at best.

MrB (Simon) · #12 03-07-2014, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astroman

....
is there a way you can change this to prevent accidents like this in the future?

I was thinking the same, maybe a good long length of coloured heatshrink on the plug end of the lead, say red for the 24v plug and green for the 12v, at least then you will know at a glance which is which... gotta be better than both being black

h0ughy (David) · #13 03-07-2014, 12:40 PM

wow - i bet your control of english was stretched at that point.... i really hope you get things going soon

AstralTraveller (David) · #14 03-07-2014, 01:36 PM

Oh poo. How sad. I bet you know what an ohnosecond is now!

It seems to me that part of the problem is that there is no standard for low-voltage plugs. A given plug and socket size can be carrying anything from 3V to 24V. It's an accident waiting to happen and it's only luck (well partly luck - partly paranoia) that I haven't let the magic smoke out of something or other around the house. It's a real anomaly. Mostly you can't connect the wrong things together because the plugs don't match (eg 10A mains vs. 15A mains vs. 20A mains or USB vs. SATA vs. HDMI vs VGA).

Troy, all is not lost! You can easily get the magic smoke back in for far less than what QSI is charging.

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/10622

troypiggo (Troy) · #15 03-07-2014, 01:39 PM

I'll be putting some coloured tags on the ends of the leads. Most plugs are 2.1mm or 2.5mm. The unfortunate thing is there is only item that's 24V - the Tak mount.

Houghy - actually quite the opposite. There weren't enough words in the english language to help me describe what I was thinking.

David - love the blue smoke link. Ha.

Amaranthus (Barry) · #16 03-07-2014, 01:49 PM

Troy, are you absolutely sure it is dead? I've had this type of thing happen to me before, including a PSU on my desktop when I accidently flipped it from 240 to 110 V! But it had a built-in safety mechanism, e.g. a two-metal wire, that conduct (and bend) deferentially. Once the wires cool down and make contact again (i.e. wait a few hours), the unit worked once again. The 'smoke' in that case was ozone created by the arc. I'd suggest trying it again now, just in case...

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #17 04-07-2014, 08:15 PM

My commiserations buddy.

As Barry suggested, I'd try it again, just in case.

trent_julie · #18 04-07-2014, 08:48 PM

Troy,
Would it be worth asking your local tv repair-man / electronic technician to look at it? If it was a power reversal it could be quite an easy fix. It could come in a lot cheaper.

Trent

DavidU (Dave) · #19 04-07-2014, 10:29 PM

With any luck it may be a reverse polarity protect diode or current limit resistor.

trent_julie · #20 04-07-2014, 10:56 PM

Yup, I've seen regulators pop with this too. I've not seen too many reverse polarity diodes go though. CCDS require a few different voltages, but I dare say the suspect regulator would be the parent regulator. Either way chances are that with smoke it would be visually evident. If its out of warranty it might be worth it.

Trent