[Paul Haese]

I have discovered a unique problem that I cannot seem to nut out myself. I have sought help from a couple of guys I know that a handy with electronics and electrics and it has stumped them too. I did get plenty of good suggestions from them but I thought I would put this out for people who might know how to sort this.

The problem:

When I connect up CCDautopilot which connects my mount (the sky6), maxim (controls the camera and guiding), Focusmax (focusing), pinpoint (plate solving), AAG cloud sensor (weather), rotator (Pyxis) and the scope dome driver (the roll off roof), everything is fine. Then when I open the roof via run imaging session; about 15 seconds into the roof opening the main camera (QSI) disconnects and makes Maxim hang, that caused all sorts of havoc. I need to reboot the entire system to get everything working again.

Now just to let you know the cameras (both guide camera and QSI), Focus (robofocus), dew heater and rotator run off the mount hub pro, which is powered by a 20amp 13.8v regulated power supply sold at Jaycar.

The roof is powered by a power cable coming out of the power point into the hardware USB card.

Scope dome do say to use heavily shielded USB cables as the system can produce some problems with cheap USB cables. I have good cables but not perhaps heavy shielded ones.

To test things out I have left the roof off the connect with CCDautopilot and opened that separately. It still did the same thing. I have even totally disconnected the USB cable that connects the roof hardware to the computer (removed the USB cable altogether) and when I open the roof or close it the camera disconnects and hangs maxim (no matter whether it is connected to CCDautopilot, or not).

I have not yet powered the Mount hub pro on a separate power system, from say the house or a battery. That would tell me whether the regulated power supply is at fault.

I have bought heavy duty double shielded cables from Lindy.com.au which should arrive next week. That may stop the problem although I doubt it.

I have opened the roof first then started the computer and all the appliances and things seemed ok, although I cannot tell about a full run yet.

The roof has an inverter than converts the 240 power to 0.9kw for a three phase motor. I have used a wiring loom that was supplied by the manufacturer of the scope dome gear and it acts exactly like the loom I had done myself before they sent me the plug and play one. So I don't think that is the problem.

To me this seems like a voltage spike or drop but I know there might be some other explanation. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have and I will answer those as best as possible. I really need to have the whole system connected.

Officially stumped????