Hi,
Same as Tony I found this posting quite late.
I have started with the remotization of my Observatory maybe a year ago and it grew steadily and so far I can say I am finished to 99%. That missing 1% will never come because I always find somehting to improve or change
I am using boards from
www.controlanything.com which come in a huge variaty of communication possibilites and switching possibilities.
I am using the board ADR85ProXR which has 8 SPDT 5amp 240v relays as well as 8 A/D inputs be it 8 or 10 bit resolution.
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Remoto/ADR85ProXR.jpg
Also I just purchased a new one with 2 boards as everything grew and now I have 16 SPDT relays 5amp 240v which are the AD1216 and XR165
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Re...D1216XR165.jpg
You just need to write a program in VB.net with simple commands consisting of 2 or 3 bytes.
The communication I use is serial because it is easy and the serial ports do no hang up
Here a few images of the installation in my Observatory
Main switching like PCs, power to the columns etc. Sorry for the mess
but it works
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Re...enterBoard.jpg
and here a view into the control box of one oy my piers
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Re...ControlBox.jpg
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Remoto/ROR-20.jpg
The big black bos is a UPS for Rack installation and delivers 500VA which allows me to keep alive my pier for about 30 minutes
and here the box closed
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Re...-remoto-00.jpg
In order to have the safety functions I am using so called reed relays as used in home security which are activated via magnets.
Here the roof safety in closed state
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Remoto/ROR-00.jpg
open state
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Remoto/ROR-02.jpg
Here on one of my GEM Losmandy G11
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Remoto/ROR-07.jpg
Here a screenshot of my GUI for switching nearly everyhting
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Re...SCC1-RSCC2.jpg
The software developed slowly as I am no programmer and with the help of a friend in germany I have been improving everything
Here the GUI for switching the hardware mounted on a pier
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Remoto/ROR-17.jpg
Now another safety is to know if after switching on a device like tha camera it is really drawing power or not. Therefore I developed so called Currentloop relays using a reed relay and a handmade magentic coil. If current flows a magnetioc field is cerated and the reed relay clsoes and send a signal to the A/D inputs.
Here an image of my archaic relays
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Remoto/ROR-18.jpg
Also I needed to know if my power supplies inside the pier cointrol are on and therefore I made another safety switch using a simple optocoupler circuit. If both supplies are running then I get green light. This is achieved by connecting in series the both optocuplers.
Here a picture of that simple circuit
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Re...521-1GB-00.jpg
In this case for testing purposes I used a half fried TLP504
on only one channel.
Here the real circuit in the box
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/Re...Opto12v24v.jpg
and last but not least the view of my desk in my warm room into the cold room
http://rainerehlert.com/ObsReal14/cons/Monitores-04.jpg
The missing 1% is a good bandwidth in order to control it safely remotely
If you would like to have specific info about anythinf just contact me via private message.
Sorrry for the long post.