Losmandy Titan not tracking.

Lester · #1 05-08-2009, 08:52 PM

Hi all,

gradually getting the Titan working. Trying to do a drift alignment tonight, but it isn't tracking at the correct sidereal rate. It is balanced to within a 0.25kg. Moves okay when the buttons are pressed on the hand control.

But when aligned on Antares for the drift alignment the star moves out of the FOV quickly in RA. Its as if the RA speed is too slow.

Thanks.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #2 05-08-2009, 09:04 PM

Lester, it hasn't been set to terrestrial by any chance? Or the tracking rate hasn't been changed? I think they are under setup> mount parameters, from memory.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #3 05-08-2009, 09:07 PM

Is the correct mount set in the setup?

multiweb (Marc) · #4 05-08-2009, 09:22 PM

I've seen that before - check if you swapped the RA and DEC cables over.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #5 05-08-2009, 09:24 PM

The obvious first.

Lester · #6 05-08-2009, 09:26 PM

Hi Paul, The hand control, shows sidereal rate, but it doesn't seem to me tracking at all. I just turned off the mount and the speed of the star moving out of the FOV remained at a constant speed from when the mount was on. I can hear the RA motor going tick, tick etc.

Yes Titan is set in the set up.

Lester · #7 05-08-2009, 09:44 PM

Hi Marc, just rechecked the RA and DEC go to the correct motors/sockets.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #8 05-08-2009, 09:47 PM

What about when you try to move the mount using hand paddle manually?

Lester · #9 05-08-2009, 09:57 PM

Hi Paul, I can move the mount with the hand paddle okay in all directions, at slow and fast slewing speed.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #10 05-08-2009, 10:01 PM

bit of a strange one that. Is the mount new Lester? How long have you had it?

Kal (Andrew) · #11 05-08-2009, 10:25 PM

When I bought my G11 it was set for northern hemisphere operation. Do you need to change that switch?

JohnG (John) · #12 05-08-2009, 10:26 PM

Hi Lester

Just a thought, have you got the mount set to the correct Titan mount, I believe there are 2 Titan mount configuations in the Mount Parameters.

Cheers

rsbfoto · #13 06-08-2009, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnG

Hi Lester

Just a thought, have you got the mount set to the correct Titan mount, I believe there are 2 Titan mount configuations in the Mount Parameters.

Cheers

Yes I wanted to write the same.

There is a Titan and a Titan 50. This means on the first Titan you have no additional 2:1 reduction gear as it is the case on the Titan 50.

Lester · #14 06-08-2009, 07:19 AM

Hi, thanks for your replies. The mount is new, still getting my head around all the stuff in the hand control menu. Titan is set in the setup and that is what I got.

I am beginning to think it's a setup I have over looked in the hand control menu. The manual is 132 pages, and I have just skim read it, and could have missed something.

I will check the northern hemisphere setting also.

All the best.

JohnG (John) · #15 06-08-2009, 08:10 AM

There is no switch on the Gemini for Northern or Southern Hemisphere, it is set by inputting your Lat and Long, so long as you input in the correct format it will track in the right direction.

Cheers

Octane (Humayun) · #16 06-08-2009, 09:01 AM

The first time I used my G-11, I forgot to set my lattitude and longitude (it was using whatever was in the controller which had northern hemisphere settings) and I also wondered why it wasn't tracking. A quick change of the coordinates and all was well again. Give it a go, Lester.

Regards,
Humayun

rsbfoto · #17 06-08-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lester

... Titan is set in the setup and that is what I got.

Hi,

OK, you write you have set Titan. What Titan mount did you get ?

Titan 25 or Titan 50 ? That is the main question right now

You have to be aware that on a Titan 25 the motor runs half the speed (revolutions per minute) as on a Titan 50.

You wrote

Quote:

Its as if the RA speed is too slow.

So check your mount setup and choose Titan 50 in the Gemini setup. Maybe that helps

Lester · #18 06-08-2009, 09:49 AM

Hi John and Humayun, I have just done a default set to restore anything I may have altered with my fiddling with the new toy, and then put in my time zone and longitude and latitude and it seems to be working. Its blowing a gale outside, so got the observatory closed. Put 2 pieces of tape on the RA, to monimtor any movement, and it is moving and in the correct direction.

The real test will be on the next clear night to confirm tracking.

Thanks everyone, and all the best.

Lester · #19 06-08-2009, 09:52 AM

Hi Rainer, thanks for your help. As far as I know my mount is just the Titan. Next clear night will confirm accurate tracking.

All the best.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #20 06-08-2009, 10:04 AM

Good move Lester. When in doubt reset.

The only downside is you still don't know what was causing the problem in the first place.