lxd 55 control box burnt

[clueless]

My control box made a frazzle sound and I smelt burning inside. The light still works and the autostar works, but no movement in the motor.
I'm shattered as I only bought the mount recently and there is no way I can't buy a new one. I suppose the question is........is it kaput..do I need to scrap it to the bin and out the scope away for god knows how long. Could it be just a burnt chip...can I buy a new control box....is there life on mars? I'm devastated :(:shrug::help::confused2::sadeyes: :mad2:
Andrew

[mikerr]

Andrew, it might be worthwhile contacting Bintel to ask if they service the hand controls.

http://www.bintel.com.au/

Which model hand control is it? 947??

Good luck.

Michael.

[clueless]

Hi Michael,

I'm pretty sure the hand control is fine......it's more the computer control panel that everything plugs into.
I'll be pulling the box off the mount when I get home to check the circuit board to see what has been fried. I have no idea about electronics.
If it is fried I hope I can send it somewhere to get it fixed, or perhaps buy a replacement computer control panel.
I've just spent a couple of weeks setting the mount up and I got the goto pretty close.....now this has happened and it's like a kick in the guts.

[bojan]

Most likely the transistors or IC's in the output stage are burned.
As suggested earlier, contact the vendor. I am pretty sure it can be repaired, as long as the processor still works OK (and this seems to be the case with yours).
If not, then contact North Group from Nainjing (manufacturer, contact person is Gilman - it is ~200US$ to replace the whole controller and motors).
See here:
http://northgroup.en.made-in-china.com/product/rqDmOpPEabcH/China-Goto-Telescope-Mount.html

[jjjnettie]

:( So sorry to hear of your troubles. I hope the fix is quick and simple.

[cjamo9]

a place in melbourne called module repairs might be able to help you. i get faulty pcbs for aircons and fridges fixed by them at a very good price.

[Barrykgerdes]

Talk to Bintel about it. They may be able to fix it. They have lots of no how and contacts.

Meade boards have lots of 10uf 25v tantalums that seem to blow from time to time causing the familiar burnt noise and smell. This often fuses the track which causes the shut down. The fused track can be bypassed after the capacitor is changed.

Barry

[Larryp]

Many years ago, Astro-Optical Supplies had somebody repair a Meade LX3 controller for me-maybe they still have somebody to repair electronics.

[cjamo9]

they are in ringwood

[clueless]

Thanks for all your input peeps, I'll sus it out and let you know what happens.

Andrew

[clueless]

All fixed $80

[bojan]

What was the problem?

[clueless]

Hi Bojan

The error was mine. I had the polarity around the wrong way when I plugged in thepower supply. It was an easy fix. Live and learn:)

[bojan]

So, you fried something (tantalum caps or transistors) when reversing polarity?
It would be a good idea to place the diode in series to prevent situations like this (it can happen to anyone, BTW..)