Help! HEQ5Pro mount problems

[NJB (Noel)]

Hi. I haven't used my HEQ5pro mount for a while (and it worked perfectly the last time). Today I started it up, but the Synscan controller wouldn't turn on. I've tried, and observed, the following:

• The light on the mount comes on when I supply it with power.
• The 12v power supply indicates it is fully charged.
• Tried a different 12v power supply, also fully charged.
• The Synscan hand control will start up if I plug the power into it directly (which seems to indicate it is functioning okay). Naturally that mode is no use for driving the telescope.
• The cable connecting the mount to the hand control checks out okay when tested with a LAN cable tester.
• I tried another cable (a lan cable actually).
• Jiggling the connections makes no difference.

I don't know what to try next or what to investigate. Any suggestions?

Noel

Oh, and P.S.: It didn't get water through it in the floods we had in January. It was kept safe and secure, and high and dry.

[Fox]

Easier said than done, but do you know somebody close by who has a working HEQ5Pro, that will help isolate what is at fault. Either that, or lug it into your local Astro shop. My local Bintel are so helpful, although I am a good customer as well. Fox

[NJB (Noel)]

Thanks Fox. Hmm, I was afraid that was the answer. Unfortunately I don't yet know anybody here who also has a HEQ5Pro. And my local Astro shop is not as local as it was when I bought it. (I moved.) I'll just have find the time around work committments to do the trip.
Noel.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Hi Noel,
I have the HEQ5Pro.
I know I'm a fair drive from you, but you're welcome to test your controller on my mount.
I'm home most of this week.

[Fox]

Whilst persevering to diagnose the problem yourself, perhaps another owner in your area may chime in and offer assistance. The only problem I've encountered so far on my LXD75 has been the cable connectors, which spurned me to buy my own (RJ, or whatever they're called) connector crimping tool. Fox

PS: jjjnettie... you beat me to it...! Cheers
Fox

[Shiraz (Ray)]

Hi Noel. Suggest that you try another cable or two if you can. I had 4 various cat5 cables of unknown provenance in my junk box and, when my original controller cable gave up, found that only one of them would work with the HEQ5pro. Of the two new ones I bought, one worked OK and the other didn't. Did not bother to find out why, but this part of the system seems to be a bit hypersensitive - maybe these IDC connectors are not ideal for power wiring?. Regards Ray

[pjphilli (Peter)]

Hi Noel

I had problems with my HEQ5Pro when new. Others also did and the main problems appeared to be and/or
1. Power supply
2. Connecting cord
3. Firmware
However, since your mount was working OK last time you used it and you seem to have checked out the first two of the above thoroughly that leaves no 3. - replacing the firmware as set out on page 13 of the Synscan Instruction Manual. It was this trick that cured my problem.
The procedure may seem a bit hairy but in practice I found it went very smoothly.
By the way I replaced the silly short curly connecting cord with a 2 metre Cat 5e patch lead and I choose a red one to distinguish it from other scope cabling (Jaycar Page 309 Cat 5e patch lead, red, 2m Cat no:YN-8212.)
Otherwise something may have happened to the internal mount electronics but sorry I can't help you there. The only thing I can suggest is that the cord socket at either end of the cord may be damaged and it could be worthwhile checking continuity with an ohmmeter from the end of the cable through to the internal electronics of both paddle and mount (try this first). I say this because one of the problems with the original short curly cord is that it gave excessive strain and movement on the mount socket when the cable was stretched and pulled at an angle. My 2 metre patch cable eliminated this problem. Best of luck!
Cheers Peter

[NJB (Noel)]

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions (and offers of help). I have checked the cable (and a substitute I tried) with a cat5 cable checker, and also established that it is supplying power from the mount. So it seems that the hand controller is the most likely culprit for now. I have updated the firmware a number of times in the past, and the current update on it is 3.27.

I have a friend who is going to bring his controller out on Saturday, and we will see if that works. I also have to go with my wife to a seminar next Wednesday night at Springwood, so if necessary we will leave a bit early and visit Ron at Sirius Optics where I originally bought the mount.

I think for now there is nothing to do but wait till Saturday, and then maybe Wednesday.

Noel

[NJB (Noel)]

It seems that it is the hand control that is faulty. A friend brought his over to try and it worked. Thanks Renato! And Ron (Sirius Optics) tells me the hand control is still under warranty.