Thanks for the ideas
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Originally Posted by naskies
* More than one 12V power input port - so you can hot switch between batteries or AC power supply without power cycling everything.
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Already taken into account. The battery backup input will essentially be the same as an unmetered 12V input. Allowing hot plugging of the main powersupply in the presence of the battery, or if you're happy without voltage or current indication just run entirely from the battery backup.
Quote:
Originally Posted by naskies
* Multiple temperature sensor probes on the scope side associated with individual dew heaters.
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This may get complicated from an algorithm point of view. I was intending to go down the route on >80% humidity switch on all dew heaters to a pre-set point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by naskies
* Ultrasound proximity sensors (e.g. that detects < 3 cm range) that can be added as-needed to avoid OTA vs tripod crashes.
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Brilliant. I like it! Though I don't like the idea of ultrasound but mag prox switches on the other hand would be a great idea. Could even be combined with the power switches to not just give an alarm but actually cut the power to the mount.
Quote:
Originally Posted by naskies
* Following on Rick's idea of a separate ground-based box, perhaps you could integrate a weather-proof area for incorporating an all sky camera? It'd be useful for nomadic imagers - just plonk the battery box onto the ground adjacent the scope and you have an ASC view ready to go.
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I think I'm slowly getting out of my depth here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by naskies
* Similarly near the box, having an integrated IR temperature sensor and/or an IR rain sensor (that will result in an alarm played via speaker).
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IR rain sensor sounds interesting. Why IR temp sensor? What advantage over the existing humidity and temperature sensor?
Quote:
Originally Posted by naskies
* Lots of spare analog inputs and digital outputs that can be easily extended for additional devices (like a Phidgets I/O board).
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Not sure what the application here is but analogue inputs are very computationally intensive. I'd want a pretty good reason to include this because memory is a premium and I'll be struggling to get all this into 8k as it is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by naskies
* 5V power supply for USB hubs.
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Already have an internal hub included but I could provide an external 5V line. May not be a bad idea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by naskies
I'd be very careful with this approach... I've heard of several people accidentally destroying USB devices when disconnecting pins via multiple relays, and the ground pins being cut momentarily before the power pin - resulting in lots of current where you don't want it  |
Yeah I was originally intending to cut power+/- first and then power with GND remaining in contact at all times. Especially these days with switchmode supplies charges can build up where you don't want them and fry stuff quite easily.
Though looking at my USB hub I am now thinking I can just assert the reset pin on the USB hub chips. We'll see.