The magic of electricity

[lhansen]

I powered up the observatory this morning, I heard the crackle of electricity, a small bang and the smell of roasting electronics.

The damage so far
FLI ML8300C
2* mount hub pros
All active USB extenders
PC controlling camera and mount
Mount electronics (need to confirm)

What didn't get damaged ( strangely)
SBIG ST402
FLI PDF focuser

So, its back to the drawing board



Lars

[Stardrifter_WA]

Sorry to hear of your loss Lars. This is the reason that all my observatory equipment goes through an RCD.

[Poita]

What on earth caused it?

[lhansen]

I have an RCD, just didn't trip. Damage appears to have been propagated through the USB, Only i cant figure out how. Power circuits seem fine. to add insult to injury, I just got the FLI a week or so ago.

[naskies]

Ouch - sorry to hear that :( Glad that you're physically okay, though.

[lhansen]

Physically I'm fine, mentally? Mind you I've been considered mental for years (largely by my family)

At least it wasn't lightning

[TrevorW]

Insurance perhaps ??

[multiweb]

Man... that's a nasty list of damaged gear. Did you have anything like optical isolators on your USB lines? I got really paranoid about all this ground loop stuff years ago when I zapped my mound tripod touching it with static electricity (alu legs) and blue screened the laptop via the USB lines.

[lhansen]

optic isolators on USB, tell me more, please

[lhansen]

The number of policy changes I'd have to make in any monthly period would make it difficult:help:

[multiweb]

Some info here (http://www.keterex.com/kxusb150.php).

[lhansen]

Thanks for that, have located a few, not cheap, but cheaper than replacing/fixing the damaged gear

[multiweb]

When I bought mine (x2) they were $150 a pop. But I protect over $5k of gear with them. HUB, AO, Cameras, etc... In 5yrs I've only blown ciggie plug fuses on the field even with genie brownout and other funky voltage fluctuations. Touching wood.

[lhansen]

The best place to locate isolator is? in front of each item or in front of the USB hub they connect to?. I have an awful feeling that it was the computer going ballistic that took out the USB components.

[multiweb]

Between any USB line and device that is connected to a different power supply from the PC (i.e. mount, Camera, HUB) or connected via a serial or serial to USB adapter (robofocus, Autoguider ports, rs-232, etc...)There is no issue between the USB port of the PC to the USB port of the camera or mount but there is a problem if somehow the PC is also connected to the mount via a serial adapter or the guiding port of the camera to the mount directly.

[Tandum]

A UPS would stop it getting in in the first place.

I know your pain lars. We had a lightning strike here 2 weeks ago. Everything plugged into a power point has been written off except for one TV and a PS3. The dome PC got zapped as well and I don't have another pc or the weather to check cameras mounts etc. Soon I hope.

You should really hit up Insurance. It costs enough.

[lhansen]

I got a couple of spare PCs, you are welcome to one if it would help

Regards

Lars

[Tandum]

Cheers mate but they are almost ready to pay up, I feel it in my buns

I used all my spare bits to get a pc going for us and a media center going for the TV

[lhansen]

Roof and mount controller definitely gone. Looks like 240v straight through the heart. Those USB isolators are starting to look very attractive

[Marke]

Thats a nasty accident Lars hope its up and running again soon.
Dont know if its feasible for you but I run every thing except pc off
12v , even the hub is 12v dc powered . Only cable I have is 1 usb from pc to hub.

[Tandum]

Did you hit up Insurance Lars? I just got a $750 cheque from them to fix the TV antenna system here :)
I'm missing the 6pm news ...

[Kunama]

Just read this thread Lars, sorry to hear about all the damage and loss.
Do try to hit up the insurance, they may be of some use.

[wasyoungonce]

Lars sorry for your loss...do you know what caused the fault? Doesn't sound like lightening more like a component fail that put voltages where they shouldn't!

[coldlegs]

Lars
You may be able to re-use the mount hub pros as controllers by re-wiring the usb directly to the controller pcb as I did here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=95655
This assumes it's only the usb side damaged. As for the usb isolators, there are lots on ebay for about $40 and they are pretty much all the same.
Regards
Stephen

[lhansen]

Opened up the MHP and identified the source hub (dlink in mine). Bought two dlink hubs and will replace the busted one with the purchased hub. Fingers crossed, that will work.

Now have optical isolators on all (new) active USB cables. Mount repair this weekend, camera got a US vacation.

Many thanks for comments and helpful advice

Lars