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update. ive been playing with the Lesvedome PCB/ASCOM board and too find it very usefull for synchronised dome rotation. Its a bit clunky, as im only using it as convenient USB/ASCOM interface to my own controller, but easy to do.
the pics show closed /nearly closed open/nearly open limit switches and the homemade rotation encoder. The limit switches are brilliant! ($35ea from Altronics), they are very robust and adjustable in every way possible, very easy to set up.
I went with closed /nearly closed, open/nearly open control because it allows very smooth operation with a speed controller and much better system monitoring. 10% of coding time was open-close operation, easy, and the other 90% for what if something goes wrong!. So many switches allows constant monitoring (and instant alarm/response) to switch sequencing errors, motor failure/overloads and automatic recovery proceedures.
Why bother. Well, given rain and still open is a bit catastrophic, being able to recover from that automatically, or alarm early before destruction is a bonus IMO
I can also just lean over in bed and push close at all costs on my radio remote control if needed on an alarm.
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