Getting better!!!

[DJVege]

OK! Tonight's viewing was much, MUCH better!! :) I got some vids of Alpha Centauri (just to make out the 2 stars), and Jupiter. My Jupiter vids were also much better...more detail (Thanks Dave for teaching me about GAIN).

However, as usual, i always stumble across somethin! :D So, i do a rough polar alignment (how much better is this? Even with a simple rough alignment!!). I attach my little motor thingy to the RA axis thingy, get it to automatically move...hoping that whatever I'm looking at will stay in my view for a longer period than a few minutes...BUT NO!! My motor drive, a GS-280 (looks just like this one on Bintel -> Bintel RA Motor Drive) moves too fast, or too slow!

EDIT: In fact, it IS the one from Bintel :lol:

It has 3 speeds! normal, 2X and 4X. Normal is too slow, and 2X is too fast! Anyone know what I can do about that?? :shrug:

Other than that, the night was awesome! :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

Must have been a great night, DJ!!! You posted it twice :lol:

If your motor will not change speed, you might have to wire in a potentiometer. Then you can fine tune any speed you want. Wire it up to the 2x drive so you can slow it down to the right tracking speed :thumbsup:

[DJVege]

LOL! I saw that. Why did it come up twice?? I posted, then edited, and it came up twice. :doh:

Ok. I kind of understand what you're saying, and kind of don't!

What do you mean "my motor won't change speed"? It does, but it only had 3 speeds. Normal, 2X and 3X.

How do I wire up a potentiometer?

[ballaratdragons]

I mean, it isn't variable. No dial to speed up or slow down, only has the preset speeds.



You'll have to open up the little motor thingy, and wire in a potentiometer and that will give you variable speed. To test which terminals to use on the 'Pot', test it on a light globe or some other small electric device (a computer fan, little electric motor, etc). Then using the terminals that allow you to speed up or slow down, solder the wires to the 2x drive to them. You can either drill a hole in the case to poke the 'Pot' out, or use longer wires and mount the 'Pot' somewhere else.

[DJVege]

Hmmm...ok. I'll get a 'Pot' this week. However, i'm still not sure on where exactly on the board I solder the 'Pot' to. I know where the 2x switch is, of course.

If I take a pic and post it, will you be able to tell?

Thanks Ken!

[Phil]

Try changing the batties DJ then ones have been in there a while. This should help.
Phil

[acropolite]

If the motor is a stepper type or has some form of electronic speed regulation, any form of resistive control is likely to be inneffective.

[DJVege]

Guys, seeing as this thing takes 8 "D" batteries, can I just buy a 12V charger for it? At home I have a powerpoint obviously, so I can save the batteries for outdoor trips. Will this work?

[mill]

Dj do NOT put a pot on that motor drive, it is quarts controlled.
This DC motordrive is designed to fit all Bintel BT Deluxe German Equatorial Mounts and the gear is designed for those mounts only.
I dont know if you have the Bintel mount but for other mounts you could need a differrent gear.
Also if your polar alignment is not right, the stars will move out of view and it all depends on how well you are polar aligned, the better aligned the longer the object stays in view.
The speeds on the controller are only there to do small adjustments to keep an object in view, for example the moon (the moon has a differnt sidereal speed than the stars).

[DJVege]

OK mill. Warning heeded! :) No 'Pot'!!

I don't know if it's a Bintel mount or not, but the gears fit perfectly. My polar alignment isn't perfect, only rough, but the object should still stay more or less in view, moving only left or right on screen. (Deviation in the "NOT RA" axis. :)).

Any word on if a 12V DC power cable will work instead of the batteries?

[mill]

If the gears fit then it would be ok.
A 12V dc powersupply should work as long as it is properly regulated, so not an el cheapo one.
With that i mean: the cheap ones can output between 12V and 18V dc and have a lot of ac on top of that because there will be only a bridge rectifier in it and if you are lucky an capacitor.
The more expensive ones should have a proper voltage regulator in them and will output 12Volts at all time give or take 0.5V (depends on the load).
But for that price you could also buy a 12V 12Ah rechargable battery from Jaycar or Dick Smith for about $30.00
The only thing with batteries is that they have to be charged, so if you already have an battery charger then that is the best way to go.
The amperage that an plugpack should deliver would be about 1 to 1.5Amps at 12Volts.

[Phil]

Take the bat. out and hook it up to12v DJ the motor mount was from Bintel got the same time. I no the motor has to be put on the right way all the stars will move the wrong way. I wish we had run it when you where hear.
Phil

[DJVege]

What up, Phil!?

I'm pretty sure the motor is on the right way. I've figured out that if I press the UP arrow, it goes in the direction the stars are moving, and the DOWN arrow, the opposite direction. :)

I'll see if I've got a 12V DC supply here at home, otherwise I'll get one, and possibly that rechargeable battery that mill sugegsted.

Thanks!