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Old 12-08-2013, 06:34 PM
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wasyoungonce (Brendan)
Certified Village Idiot

wasyoungonce is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Mexico city (Melb), Australia
Posts: 2,359
Unfortunately the Gemini 1 (if it is a is Gemini 1) is susceptible to ground loops created by differing ground potentials. Lets say using 2 different power supplies that have their grounds connected. I suspect any issue you see is more likely a ground loop issue.

Most modern switch-mode power supplies have a floating ground reference to real ground by a capacitor. Now connect 2 floating grounds together you can get a loop of current. For example the ground thru a computer USB/RS232 converter and your mount PSU may be causing a loop.

Couple this with the auto-guider port ground not being an actual ground, it is passes thru a resistor to ground, another suspect for ground loop issues with Gemini 1's. So I suspect it is a possible ground loop issue. Some users have al sorts of troubles others, like me, none.

Only real way around this is to use battery power.

Most good antistatic gear is ...expensive but I do admit, so is your equipment. Problem would be moving around can create static so you would need station earthing points.
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