Mount collision!

[SB]

Eeek!
Woke to find my mount in this position this morning! After a good run of 90 frames of Helix the mount was instructed to park.

Ths scope was pressed hard against the mount leg on the focus switch of the Esprit. I parked everything and reset the Asiair and mount. All appears well slewing and parking. Focus moves in and out ok.

Questions
Does the Eq6-R have a fail safe, and should I be checking the belts or anything else?

The mount would have been in this position for a few hours. Interestingly SkySafari reported the position of the mount at the SCP.

Chris

[DarwinAstro]

Chris...... check out this video from Andy. Maybe you need to set your mount limits. Hope this helps.

https://youtu.be/kdJG4_UXyCk

[AdamJL]

I meant to reply to this earlier, but Chris beat me to it! Indeed, make sure you set mount limits in whatever ASCOM driver you're using, whether it's EQMod or GSS.

[Dilsh]

Hey Chris,

That hurt me in the chest seeing that. What a terrible position. Is all your equipment ok??

Ditto on setting mount limits.
Also did you specify the home position at the start of the imaging run. If you have played with your RA and DEC you have to set the park position to home in EQMOD. I had a similar problem (not as bad) when I did not have mount limits and reset my RA and DEC axis.

Again hope the equipment is ok.

Dilshan

[Startrek]

I’ve been running 2 x EQ6-R mounts since 2018 and had to disable setting meridian limits in EQMOD about 2 years ago , the mounts would inadvertently at random times stop tracking and return back to Home Position.
Tried everything to find the source of this spurious problem , updating reloading software, drivers , cables , pulled mounts apart , power supplies the lot
I just run them without limits and never go to bed during a session
I’d try 4 or 5 sessions at the mount before relying on the limits to work autonomously and automatically perfect. It may never happen to you but could be a costly exercise if it happens again !!!

Cheers
Martin
PS: I use EQMOD with Ascom supported Stellarium for my Goto and Nav

[SB]

Thanks Chris (Darwin Astro) I will check that video out. Adam - How do I set this with ASIAIR or is this a one off setting using the software shown in the video? Dilshan - I usually have no problem with the mount parking after a run. In future I might just program the run to turn off the ASIAir thus stopping tracking and ‘freezing’ the mount in the ‘end of run’ position.

I was thinking that the mount may have got its coordinates muddled as the DEC looked spot on but the RA just got it wrong. Would that negate the Meridian limits if the mount thought it was in a different position?

I’ll send the log to ZWO (pity I only saw the upgrade after this run ( could that have fixed the problem I don’t know)).

I often find strange slewing problems after a meridian flip but like Martin says maybe its best to be awake at the time of Flips and Parking!

Thanks for feedback.

Chris.

[SB]

I see someone else had the same problem

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ASIAIR/permalink/1897746580388556/.

Good discussion in this tread too.

Oh yes, Dilshan, so far the equipment appears ok. Thanks

Chris

[Dave882]

First off - I really hope everything’s ok that must have been quite upsetting to see your gear in that position. By the sounds of things you may have dodged a bullet if everything’s working properly. I’m really thankful that my eq8 has hard-stops and even with my c14 and a full image train it can’t hit anything in any position.

I use ASIAIR as well and there have been a few instances where the mount has got out of position but mainly when it’s had trouble platesolving a target or if I’ve been pushing it around manually. I’ve found that things are much more stable using ASIAIR with EQMOD cable rather than through the HC. however, as far as I can tell the limits are only set via the hc!

I tend not park the scope after autorun. Also prefer to supervise a meridian flip but mainly due to the fact that I’ve found the platesolving and guide calibration can be just a bit out at long fl.

[Startrek]

The prime purpose of EQMOD was to replace all functionality of the handcontroller for external or remote telescope control via a PC or Laptop. The handcontroller should be unplugged/ removed and use the EQ Direct method of connection ( Laptop direct to mount port using either an EQ direct eg shoestring cable or standard USB2A to USB2B cable depending on the age and type of your EQ6-R or EQ8 and EQ8-R mounts ) which is the recommended connection for EQASCOM (EQMOD) by the developers

PC Direct or connection via the handcontroller is not recommended by the developers of EQMOD (see attached )

Limits are set in EQASCOM ( EQMOD)
Here’s a video presented by Chris Shilito EQMOD support developer on setting meridian limits
Chris is the EQMOD Guru and has helped me on many occasions ( via EQMOD forum ) the latest being helping me to set up my Auto Home position with EQASCOM on my new EQ8-R pro mount

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AoPld2oEnnA

Cheers
Martin

[SB]

Thanks for all the guidance.
How do I work out the upper and lower Elevation Limits? I plugged in the HC and the format is:

+/- 000.0

Thanks

Chris

[The_bluester]

That should just mean that the mount will not track or slew below the horizon. Your crashed position pictured (Hope your gear all came out OK) would not trigger that even if the mount position is correct in EQMOD. It is pointed at the pole so altitude wise it is above the horizon by whatever your latitude is. The meridian limits would be what you are wanting to set, and you need to work out how far past the meridian your gear can safely track and set the limit to stop the mount before that point. There are two treatments to the meridian limits in EQMOD, park the mount as Martin presumably had and stop tracking, which I use.

The critical thing is that you need to be sure that the "Park" position (Usually counterweights straight down, pointed at the pole) matches between software and where you start the mount. After setting it in the park position and initialising the mount and software, don't point the mount by releasing the clutches, move it with EQMOD. That way EQMOD and the mounts actual position stay in sync.

[SB]

Hi Everyone,
So to minimise collision risk I bought the recently released new model EQ6- R pier extension from Testar. It wouldn’t stop what happened in this instance however but will be safer at the meridian.

I’m going to have a look at designing some sort of mount perimeter shutoff switch surrounding the pier that will detect if the image train is about to collide.

Incidentally I tried connecting EQMOD to the mount with usb but it was only looking for COM PORT 4. Any ideas? Also the hand controller only allows entry of the the upper limit but I couldn’t work out what units it was looking for anyway.

Chris.

[Startrek]

Chris,
Are you connecting the EQ6-R mount from your laptop with USB through the handcontroller for EQMOD ( as you mentioned the handcontroller)
If so, EQMOD was designed to replace the handcontroller ( even though some folk still use it , which is PC Direct method )
PC Direct method of connection for EQMOD is risky ( refer my post above ) and not recommended by the developers of EQMOD

Here’s how to connect EQMOD to an EQ6-R mount with USB2A to USB2B max 5m long cable and use a planetarium software like Stellarium.
You can use other Ascom supported planetarium software with EQMOD is you do to want to use Stellarium.

NB: My document is 2 years old now so make sure you use the latest software and driver updates for Ascom and Windows etc…

Hope this is helpful…..

Cheers
Martin

[xelasnave]

You need to keep an eye on things...but I got caught the other night...I set the alarm but was so tired it did not wake me..first time I ever slept thru an alarm...It (80mm) should have parked..the other two did and no problems but when I woke it was day light and for the first time I was able to use the security camera to see what's what...I could see is was very close but I had time to casually go down and address the situation...but the point is it should not have happened ..was it me or the gear I really don't know but one must keep a close eye as things that are unexpected can happen...I am looking at some way to fit a switch so the power to the mount or system is turned off if a certain point is reached...such was the scare my close call gave me.

It seems just like more work but probably the best investment of time one could make.

Alex

[SB]

Thanks Martin,
I used tha stand alone HC as that has the ability to set upper and lower limits. Then I tried connecting a PC to the Mount running the EQMOD software without success.

Are you saying that Stellarium can set upper and lower limits? I normally use Sky Safari with ASIAir.

Chris.

[Startrek]

Chris,
EQMOD is the driver for the telescope mount control which includes home position, tracking , tracking rates, alignment , Slewing , Goto , PEC training , guiding , parking the mount and “setting meridian limits” amongst other features.
You need an Ascom supported planetarium ( like Stellarium or any other Ascom planetarium) to navigate the sky using EQMOD ( EQASCOM) as the cockpit pilot
EQMOD was simply designed to totally replace the handcontroller plus provide a load more features.
I’ve never seen “meridian limits” in the menu on the Synscan handcontroller only Altitude or Elevation limits ( upper or lower ) which is different.
If you set an altitude limit to say 60 deg or 80 deg in the handcontroller, the mount can still track past the meridian in RA and cause the telescope to eventually crash into the legs
Syncan only has a Meridian Flip mode on slewing to targets past the meridian or Goto function ( not tracking past the meridian line)

My recommendation is to ditch the handcontroller and set up EQMOD or with Stellarium or any other Ascom supported planetarium and control your EQ6-R mount that way.

Another driver to control the mount is Green Swamp Server (GSS) very similar to EQMOD but it has some teething problems
EQMOD is good to get started then you can change to GSS later

I still use the handcontroller on my EQ6-R pro but only for the Syncan polar alignment routine, once polar aligned, I unplug it and then use EQMOD and Stellarium for Goto , tracking and everything else

Cheers
Martin

[SB]

Thanks Matin,
My sole aim is to set the upper and lower limits that are stored in the mount motor controller boards once configured. I use ASIAIR with EQMOD with SkySafari for my day to day mount control.

Chris.

[Startrek]

Thanks Chris
Hmm…. can’t help you with the motor board logic
Maybe try the EQ6 -R mount user groups , I think it’s in Google Groups ??
I’m a member of the EQ8 and EQ8-R user group , blokes talk about motor boards and other tech stuff on that forum, so maybe the EQ6-R group might help
Good luck with it
Martin

[alan meehan]

it can happen if you are not alert at the time and can do some serious damage ,mine did the same thing one night but before it crashed into the mount one of my cables caught on the mount but it was still tracking it was so tight it stopped the motor and scored one of the bearings ,i have just stripped it down and replaced it all good now but a lesson learnt

[SB]

This collision almost happened again today! Came outside this morning to see the image train 4mm off the mount.

I think what is happening is that the mount keeps tracking even after when Asiair shuts down.

Until I work out what’s going on, I’m going to put a electrical timer on the power supply to shut off power once the target drops below 40Deg altitude.

Chris