Now I've finally hit the point of too many damn cables from the mount that its annoying me. So im looking around for solutions that others may of used or could recommend to deal with all the usb and power cables.
I know only of the Mount Hub Pro and wonder if anyone could recommend any others?
I don't know whether it would be useful to you or not, but Bluetooth to the mount works well and would knock out one cable. It cost me less than $12 in parts to get going.
I've had no problems running a Lodestar guider along with SBIG STL11K and Apogee U16M cameras on the one hub. I'm using Maxim which turns off guiding while doing an image download.
Hi Rick, those RIG Runners seem to use Anderson plugs. I don't know much about them. Could you tell me what sizes, numbers etc I would need for a normal mount setup for say camera, focuser, mount, microwave, foot-warmer etc.
Peter
Hi Rick, those RIG Runners seem to use Anderson plugs. I don't know much about them. Could you tell me what sizes, numbers etc I would need for a normal mount setup for say camera, focuser, mount, microwave, foot-warmer etc.
Peter
It depends on your gear, they have all kinds of conversion cables: http://www.powerwerx.com/adapter-cables/
or just get the bare ended cables and make up your own. Their USB cable is handy if you need 5V @ 3amps.
Hi Rick, those RIG Runners seem to use Anderson plugs. I don't know much about them. Could you tell me what sizes, numbers etc I would need for a normal mount setup for say camera, focuser, mount, microwave, foot-warmer etc.
Peter
G'day Peter,
I bought a crimper and I have been making my own cables using 15, 30 and 45 amp Powerpoles. I've mainly used the 15 amp ones but for the main power feed to the scope and a couple of high current devices (dew heater and U16M camera) I used heavy duty cable and connectors.
Most of the cables have a red-black Powerpole pair at one end and a 2.1mm or 2.5mm centre positive jack plug at the other end. It's wise to check (and re-check) the original PSU for each device with a meter, of course.
Probably not want you want...I did a DIY 4 port powered USB hub (actually just used the PCB out of a mono price USB hub) with +12V distribution and +8V out for a DSLR power.
I had to build in a +5V PSU for the USB hub, and a +8 PSU for the DSLR but this was easy as I already had +12V available. All put in a small box that I made to fit between the OTA and dovetail. Keeps cabling neat and out the way. I use right angle +12V power plugs for DC out so keeps cables real close and neat to the OTA.
I have tested it running all 4 USB ports at once: DSLR; USB to RS232; USB focus controller; and TEMPERHUm device ......no trouble running all that data down one USB cable to my lappy.
There are plenty of spare +12V jacks and the +8V DSLR is a different sized jack....drawbacks...well not enough USB ports IMHO, and the mono price hub I used was not the best USB hub design I've seen.
However, designing and making your own USB hub....it is quite involved!
Anyway food for thought..FWIW
edit:
Oh... I run my dirty DC power (for dew heater controller) thru a different cable at the front of the OTA/mount as far as possible from the clean +12VDC (above). The above distribution system, filtered DC ...squeaky clean, for cameras etc.
Oh and one more thing...I reckon that we should all be looking at something like the "Raspberry Pi". Some folks already have it doing guiding with PHD, but the open ended ability to use one of these for astronomy is limitless (maybe over VNC). What use the Ethernet to control it, it has USB ports, RS232 (via GPIO breakout, although it runs USB to USB to RS232 converters ok..I think) and even a video camera pin port (underdevelopment). I saw element 14 is now selling cases for the Pi.
Really sounds like a project that can be used to accomplish many astro things easily and remotely.
Last edited by wasyoungonce; 01-01-2013 at 08:30 PM.
No doubt about it Brendan, that Pi looks great - and I suppose it is inevitable that it has to run a Linux of some flavour. Pity that - over the years, I have loaded 10 or more Linux's on different machines and announced with gusto that THIS TIME I will master it. I never have.
Great embarassment all 'round. But I admit it. I am a LInux luddite.
No doubt about it Brendan, that Pi looks great - and I suppose it is inevitable that it has to run a Linux of some flavour. Pity that - over the years, I have loaded 10 or more Linux's on different machines and announced with gusto that THIS TIME I will master it. I never have.
Great embarassment all 'round. But I admit it. I am a LInux luddite.
Peter
Hi Peter, I am looking at the possibility of using a Pi as VNC. Some one has made it into a small laptop knock-off, see here, but, IHO this defeats the purpose unless you want a small low power field computer.
I was thinking something like remote desktop control, here (just run Pi over Ethernet, no KB or mouse needed (except in controller computer)), or VNC, here, with Putty.
It appears that others have similar ideas using what called INDI...which I think is like an ASCOM protocol over VNC. I'm not sure of anything on this but it looks like this is all set-up to run a Pi over VNC controlling instruments over Ethernet. Some drivers are already working but ATM it is immature.
However all said..this looks promising and IMHO is the way of the future...put a small computer like the Pi on your OTA and control everything connected to this via VNC Ethernet back to a main computer. The Pi gives wireless, LAN, USB control ....plus much more in a very small package (~6cm x 8cm) and low cost.
Maybe this deservers its own thread?
edit:
I forgot to say what I know of Linux etc......you could write it all down on the back of a postage stamp!
