Heq5pro Slewing Problem

pjphilli (Peter) · #1 05-07-2008, 09:05 PM

Hi
I have just spent about an hour trying to get my HEQ5PRO mount to slew.
I have followed all the setting up procedures and preset the scope at the park position. However, when I go to slew to the alignment stars the scope does not slew but gives the message "slewing complete". It does this with all the alignment stars and if I escape from alignment it will not slew to other objects or to the park position either.
I notice that sometimes on initial power on the message "start from park position" is indicated and the scope sometimes seems to operate normally if this is the case. But mostly this message is not seen and the scope does not slew.
Am I still doing something wrong with the start up? All other conditions with the scope seem normal and I am operating from a fully charged battery which was showing 12.3volts which is normal. The scope has been working properly over the past couple of nights, but I have had this problem before which only seemed to go away after many re-starts.
Cheers Peter

h0ughy (David) · #2 05-07-2008, 09:35 PM

does it dim when you slew? have you set the slew speed to 9 for a manual slew? have you re engaged the axis lock?

Tandum (Robin) · #3 05-07-2008, 09:56 PM

It's not low power is it? The red LED on the mount flashes with low power.

AlexN · #4 06-07-2008, 09:28 AM

My first thought was as David said, Axis perhaps aren't locked.. does it sound like its slewing? motors making more noise than the usual whine??

Karls48 (Karl) · #5 06-07-2008, 09:35 AM

Measure voltage on your battery under the load condition. Connect your multimeter to the battery terminals and then slew the scope. 12.3V on your battery after full charge, with no load is indicating that your battery is on its way to the scrap.

White Rabbit · #6 06-07-2008, 10:55 AM

Sounds to me like you arnt giving it enough amps. The mount needs 2 amps and if you bought a 12v adapter from dicksmiths it may only be miliamps.
Make sure the power supply is 12v and 2amps.

pjphilli (Peter) · #7 06-07-2008, 05:54 PM

Thanks All for the prompt replies. I will look into all your suggestions. I notice that JayCars has a 12voltdc 5amp switchmode supply for about $30.
Do you think that this will do the trick? - I know some don't like switchmode
power supplies but I don't know why. I also have a feeling that my problem may be a software glitch that I am somehow triggering? Cheers Peter

AlexN · #8 06-07-2008, 06:19 PM

make sure that 12v5a switchmode powersupply is regulated.. if it is, that will definitely be sufficient.

pjphilli (Peter) · #9 07-07-2008, 04:52 PM

Thanks Alex and Others

This afternoon I have again been doing extensive testing with the mount.
I made sure that my battery was fully charged and I also tried the mount
with my benchtop regulated power supply capable of supplying 4 amps.
Still no go - ie the mount does not even try to slew but straight away delivers the message "slewing complete" when an attempt is made to go to
an alignment star or other objects.

Voltage checks and the steady red led on the paddle indicates there are no power problems.

However, after many attempts the mount did start to slew but it failed again after about three starts.

Something that might be significant is that the mount seems to work when
straight after Initializing and the following beep the message comes up
"START FROM PARKED POSITION?"
The times it does not work it appears to come up with the message
"NO LINK TO M.C. STAND-ALONE MODE". I do not know what this message means and there is no reference to it in the instruction manual. Could this be my problem and how can I force the mount to always start from the parked position?

Cheers Peter

jinxsta · #10 07-07-2008, 05:12 PM

Hi, I had a similar problem and found that it would start up normally slew, align and goto and then would lose the connection from time to time.
What was hapening the square black plug on the hand paddle cord was being pulled just far enough to lose the connection when slewing it would catch on the axis lock lever. What I did was turn the cord around so that the square black plug end was at the hand paddle end if that makes sense.
Since then I haven't had the problem or the same m.c stand alone message that you have been getting.

Zuts · #11 07-07-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjphilli

The times it does not work it appears to come up with the message
"NO LINK TO M.C. STAND-ALONE MODE". I do not know what this message means and there is no reference to it in the instruction manual. Could this be my problem and how can I force the mount to always start from the parked position?

Cheers Peter

This message appears (on my EQ6 Synscan 3.2) hand controller if you power up the controller without connecting it to the mount. For example if you wish to flash the bios.

I had a similar problem recently. The problem went away when I upgraded to the latest BIOS.

I would say flash the BIOS. Then if the problem doesnt go away try your controller on another mount and their controller on your mount. If a different controller works I would be checking for lose wires inside and if your controller works on another mount, check for lose wires in the mount.

Hope this helps
Paul

pjphilli (Peter) · #12 08-07-2008, 11:16 AM

Hi
Daniel - Thanks - I understand your point and I will follow your advice.
Paul - Thanks - I checked the wiring externally and internally and unplugged/replugged the small plugs. The control board wiring appeared ok
and I must say of high quality. My paddle had Version 3.20 installed and I have now reloaded latest Version 3.22 from the net (a procedure that went smoothly - phew!). I then tried the paddle and on first couple of attempts received the "No link ---" message. I then tried unlugging/replugging the paddle with the mount powered up. This time I heard a distinct click (like a relay) inside the mount and the mount then worked properly. I then tried re-initiating the power up, Initiation, star alignment, object finding several times and all went well. Sometimes, but not always, I receive the "do you want to start from the park position" message but I consistently hear the reassuring click after Initiation and the dreaded "No link ---" message has not returned (yet) - time will tell! Many thanks for your excellent advice.
Cheers Peter

SMR (Steve) · #13 10-07-2008, 06:42 PM

Sounds like you're making progress ... good news.

The "start from park position?" message appears at start-up if you told the mount to park before you shut it down. This means you don't have to re-do your star alignment if you haven't moved the scope or mount while it was switched off. Just switch it on, say "yes", enter the time and away you go.

Steve.

RobF (Rob) · #14 09-08-2008, 08:36 PM

Peter,

Just wondering if you still get any problems?
My new HEQ5Pro is doing all the things you describe. Have tried upgrading to latest 3.23 firmware (which seemed to go fine), but still getting dropouts from time to time.

I'll have to try reversing the hand controller cable though...

Rob

Chippy (Nick) · #15 09-08-2008, 08:58 PM

As of today, I'm the proud new owner of HEQ5Pro myself. Hope I don't have the same problems being reported here. But great to know help is at hand if I do

and also great to be a member of the 'HEQ5Pro' Club! Whoohoo!!

I've never used an EQ mount before, and wasn't really planning on getting one just yet, but one came up for sale 2nd hand -so I thought what the heck. You only live once right

Noticed it has SynScan 3.10 - is it worth upgrading straight away?

Hope your problems are gone for good BTW.

gmbfilter (Geoff) · #16 09-08-2008, 10:11 PM

My new mount is doing all this strange "stuff" that's being described works well then not so well its even done 360's on several occasions. I will get replacement handset next week and hopefully this will all go away

RobF (Rob) · #17 10-08-2008, 01:05 AM

I think most people in the HEQ club are happy Chippy - hope you stay happy too!

Mentioned in another thread Geoff started I think I may have confirmed my problems were due to poor connection between handset and mount. Reversing cord and wedging plug at handset end made it behave very well for hours and lots of slewing around tonight.

I'm definitely a GOTO addict now - "found" stuff tonight that would have taken me hours before with my tiny old 4.5" newt and micro-finder!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chippy

As of today, I'm the proud new owner of HEQ5Pro myself. Hope I don't have the same problems being reported here. But great to know help is at hand if I do

and also great to be a member of the 'HEQ5Pro' Club! Whoohoo!!

I've never used an EQ mount before, and wasn't really planning on getting one just yet, but one came up for sale 2nd hand -so I thought what the heck. You only live once right

Noticed it has SynScan 3.10 - is it worth upgrading straight away?

Hope your problems are gone for good BTW.

pjphilli (Peter) · #18 10-08-2008, 11:14 AM

Hi All
Looks like I opened the proverbial can of worms by originally opening this thread.
Rob - Yes I am still getting the same problem with my HEQ5Pro. I have just upgraded to the newest version 3.2.3 software but I am not confident that this will fix the problem.
A few nights ago it took me 3/4 hour before my mount stopped playing up, then it performed perfectly for the rest of the night. The problems I had were getting the message that the mount was not connected and when I did connect and tried to do alignment the mount went to crazy directions.
I am not sure whether the problem is hardware or firmware.
I too suspected the lead as I am not too impressed by RJ-45 connectors for hand controller cables as I think there is too much freedom of movement in the plug/socket connection. However, by extensive wiggling, changing the cord around etc I have not been able to prove that this is the problem.
The fact that when I can eventually get the mount going and it then performs perfectly, appears to me that the problem is in the initial firmware/hardware handshake. I hope that somebody will eventually throw some light on this problem. Geoff, best of luck with the new handset, please let us know the results. Cheers Peter

mick pinner · #19 10-08-2008, 11:57 AM

l hope you guys get your problems sorted, however it is not your responsability to waste your time with these hassles. the problems you describe have been going on from day one, IMO ring the supplier tell them the mount is coming back and you would like it returned when all the problems are fixed, otherwise they will keep sending out mounts to other customers with the same problems. these are not high end mounts but the suppliers have a duty to supply a mount that does what it promises.

danielsun · #20 10-08-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjphilli

Thanks Alex and Others

This afternoon I have again been doing extensive testing with the mount.
I made sure that my battery was fully charged and I also tried the mount
with my benchtop regulated power supply capable of supplying 4 amps.
Still no go - ie the mount does not even try to slew but straight away delivers the message "slewing complete" when an attempt is made to go to
an alignment star or other objects.

Voltage checks and the steady red led on the paddle indicates there are no power problems.

However, after many attempts the mount did start to slew but it failed again after about three starts.

Something that might be significant is that the mount seems to work when
straight after Initializing and the following beep the message comes up
"START FROM PARKED POSITION?"
The times it does not work it appears to come up with the message
"NO LINK TO M.C. STAND-ALONE MODE". I do not know what this message means and there is no reference to it in the instruction manual. Could this be my problem and how can I force the mount to always start from the parked position?

Cheers Peter

Yes, You are not alone with this problem. I have been having the exact same problem with my new EQ6 with the erratic runaway slews and NO LINK TO MC STAND ALONE MODE messages, and I am not 100% but I think it may be the hand controller to mount connection because only once whilst trying to find the problem It seemed to do it when I gave the cord a wiggle but other times nothing. What makes it difficult to diagnose is that t only does it at totally random times and the last 2 sessions of use it has been faultless.
So I will continue on and if I find any firm answers I will definitely keep everyone posted.

Cheers Daniel