Re: worm turn with MUCH difficulty

#67623

Hi Tom,

If the worms don’t turn freely, you may need to clean and regrease the mount. Not just the worm and the worm wheel, but possibly also the needle bearings inside the axis.?

Are the worms rotating with difficulty even with the clutches loosened?

Regards,

? ? -Paul

Re: First clear night to try out my new G11T, I hope!

#67622

开云体育

Thanks, Michael. I have already experienced the collapsing leg thing. So far, the one thing I prefer about my CGX-L mount is the tripod legs can be locked with minimal effort. Last week when I mounted my C14 on my Losmandy mount for the first time, I kept wondering why the mount kept getting out of level. The legs were slipping and pushing into the grass. I have a 3/4 inch plywood square at the base of each leg in the photo. I am also cranking down those knobs tighter and almost sitting on the tripod to see if they are tight enough.

I have had my C14 edge for about a year and I have been using it more than?all my other scopes combined. It is big and awkward to move around but worth the effort, I think. I have been able?

to get some decent images of various things. When auto guiding was working well, and seeing was good, my C14 pulled out details and color that surprised me. It, kind of, hooked me on imaging

with the beast. The down side, is how much harder it is to make everything work well. Imaging with my little 80mm refractor seems effortless by comparison.

I am located in Salt Lake?City, Utah. My neighborhood is heavily light polluted, but an hour drive east or west gets me to, pretty decent, dark sites.?

I have been working on the back focus spacing. I need to find some way to vary the distance from my scope. I have been using Sony mirrorless full frame cameras, and they tend to expose any back focus errors, more than I would like.?

I always have fun, especially if I am away from my neighborhood in the desert to the west or mountains to the east. Getting out of town to do a great hobby can be a wonderful thing, especially

lately.?

If Losmandy was still making the Titan, I think I would have spent the extra cash just for extra stability while using my C14.?

Have a great evening, Michael, and thanks?for all the great information and help!

Jeff

Show quoted text

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Michael Herman <mherman346@...>
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 8:08 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] First clear night to try out my new G11T, I hope!

?

Wow.? Great setup.? I'm not used to seeing a Titan RA axis.??

A few things to?consider:

Be sure your knobs holding the tripod sections in place are quite tight.? My C14's weight was slowly collapsing one leg, though I was sure it was tight... and if I had not caught it...yikes.??

You are in a grassy area.? Be sure your tipod feet are on solid?ground, like large flagstones.??

If using an EdgeHD be aware the back focus is ideally 5.75 inches past the rear lens.? There is not much room for a filter wheel or ADC optic.? If you try to extend your camera focal plane out past that, you can end up with a coma problem.? The normal SCTs don't have this particular focal plane issue.? But (Newtonians with) a Baader MPC also have the similar back focus constraint (that one is 55mm).? ?The penalties of "coma free" can come at a price.??

(Where are you located? You hinted at Utah, but....)

Have fun!

Michael

On Wed, Aug 26, 2020, 6:09 PM jeff marston <jeffmarston@...> wrote:

I am all set up and ready to go. For the last week, fires in California and Utah have made seeing anything an exercise in futility.?
Today, the skies have been blue, instead of brown, and the clouds are supposed to be few and far between. If seeing is decent
I hope to get some videos of Jupiter and Saturn. I made two attempts last week and weekend, but even stars directly overhead
were dim. Jupiter looked more like a giant Mars, with huge dust storms. I am hoping tonight will be great viewing and videoing.

Re: First clear night to try out my new G11T, I hope!

#67621

开云体育

Thanks, Brian. I think I have the worm gears set at a nice compromise, not too loose, not too noisy. My goal was to get a mount that was sturdier than my Celestron mount so I could do some autoguiding and imaging with my SCT's. I think I have the sturdier part taken care of. The C14/G11T combination is steadier than my CGX-L for visual. So far, so good!

Jeff

Show quoted text

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Brian Valente <bvalente@...>
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 7:09 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] First clear night to try out my new G11T, I hope!

?

Good luck Jeff!

that is a monster scope, hope it goes well

On Wed, Aug 26, 2020 at 6:09 PM jeff marston <jeffmarston@...> wrote:

I am all set up and ready to go. For the last week, fires in California and Utah have made seeing anything an exercise in futility.?
Today, the skies have been blue, instead of brown, and the clouds are supposed to be few and far between. If seeing is decent
I hope to get some videos of Jupiter and Saturn. I made two attempts last week and weekend, but even stars directly overhead
were dim. Jupiter looked more like a giant Mars, with huge dust storms. I am hoping tonight will be great viewing and videoing.

--

Brian?

Brian Valente

portfolio

Re: First clear night to try out my new G11T, I hope!

#67620

Wow.? Great setup.? I'm not used to seeing a Titan RA axis.??

A few things to?consider:

Be sure your knobs holding the tripod sections in place are quite tight.? My C14's weight was slowly collapsing one leg, though I was sure it was tight... and if I had not caught it...yikes.??

You are in a grassy area.? Be sure your tipod feet are on solid?ground, like large flagstones.??

If using an EdgeHD be aware the back focus is ideally 5.75 inches past the rear lens.? There is not much room for a filter wheel or ADC optic.? If you try to extend your camera focal plane out past that, you can end up with a coma problem.? The normal SCTs don't have this particular focal plane issue.? But (Newtonians with) a Baader MPC also have the similar back focus constraint (that one is 55mm).? ?The penalties of "coma free" can come at a price.??

(Where are you located? You hinted at Utah, but....)

Have fun!

Michael

Show quoted text

On Wed, Aug 26, 2020, 6:09 PM jeff marston <jeffmarston@...> wrote:

I am all set up and ready to go. For the last week, fires in California and Utah have made seeing anything an exercise in futility.?
Today, the skies have been blue, instead of brown, and the clouds are supposed to be few and far between. If seeing is decent
I hope to get some videos of Jupiter and Saturn. I made two attempts last week and weekend, but even stars directly overhead
were dim. Jupiter looked more like a giant Mars, with huge dust storms. I am hoping tonight will be great viewing and videoing.

Re: First clear night to try out my new G11T, I hope!

#67619

Good luck Jeff!

that is a monster scope, hope it goes well

Show quoted text

On Wed, Aug 26, 2020 at 6:09 PM jeff marston <jeffmarston@...> wrote:

I am all set up and ready to go. For the last week, fires in California and Utah have made seeing anything an exercise in futility.?
Today, the skies have been blue, instead of brown, and the clouds are supposed to be few and far between. If seeing is decent
I hope to get some videos of Jupiter and Saturn. I made two attempts last week and weekend, but even stars directly overhead
were dim. Jupiter looked more like a giant Mars, with huge dust storms. I am hoping tonight will be great viewing and videoing.

--

Brian?

Brian Valente

portfolio

First clear night to try out my new G11T, I hope!

#67618

I am all set up and ready to go. For the last week, fires in California and Utah have made seeing anything an exercise in futility.?
Today, the skies have been blue, instead of brown, and the clouds are supposed to be few and far between. If seeing is decent
I hope to get some videos of Jupiter and Saturn. I made two attempts last week and weekend, but even stars directly overhead
were dim. Jupiter looked more like a giant Mars, with huge dust storms. I am hoping tonight will be great viewing and videoing.

worm turn with MUCH difficulty

#67617

I recently took my G11 out of storage after a few years of moving around. I found that the connector at the RA stepping motor was broken and decided to upgrade to a Gemini 2 goto servo system. After removing the motors, I am finding both worms do not turn freely but with very much difficulty. Before installing new servos, should some maintenance be preformed. My thoughts are it has sat too long without use. I was considering the service from Losmandy but it may take a while with the amount of back orders.
Any suggestions would be welcomed.
Thanks,
Tom

Re: cable din 4 pin

#67616

Thanks Paul. Clarified the question.

Luis

Re: cable din 4 pin

#67615

Hi Luis,

You can't use Gemini power for your ST-8XE. The camera requires a number of voltages that are not available at the Gemini power connector, such as +12v and -12v, as well as +5v and a ground. Gemini only supplies +12 and ground.

Regards,

? ? -Paul

Show quoted text

On Wed, Aug 26, 2020 at 06:52 PM, Luis Barneo wrote:

No. My question is not about autoguider connections, is about the electrical power supply. The box has two power connections. One "in", for electrical power supply of 12 V to the box. Next to it there is the "out" connection to supply power to devices. ST-8XE connect through a cable din 5 pins. The true question is if a male cable din 4 pin can fit in a female din? of 5 pins.

Luis

Re: cable din 4 pin

#67614

No. My question is not about autoguider connections, is about the electrical power supply. The box has two power connections. One "in", for electrical power supply of 12 V to the box. Next to it there is the "out" connection to supply power to devices. ST-8XE connect through a cable din 5 pins. The true question is if a male cable din 4 pin can fit in a female din? of 5 pins.

Luis

Re: Gear lash adjustments on my G11t

#67613

I have certainly had mounts with far more play than what I have now on my C11T. I have only recently gotten into autoguiding. Since I have been using my SCT’s with long focal length, even with a reducer, any
kind of wind, vibration, or mount instability, has a big impact of guiding. I even try to keep positive thoughts in my head just in case that could mess with my round stars. I appreciate your feedback, Henk. I really?
know how well my mount performs, for photography, until the moon goes away, the fires in the western United States die down, and I get a chance to go to my favorite dark site. Have a great week, Henk.

Jeff

Re: cable din 4 pin

#67612

开云体育

The guider port has six pins, Pin 1 isn’t connected, Pin 2 is common.

?

I assume you want to connect the camera as a guide camera?? In which case the guider port is the one you want to use.

?

Be aware of the warnings in the manual (section 8.6) about the voltage level differences between the early G1 (with RJ45 motor ports) and the later ones with DIN motor ports.

?

David

Show quoted text

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Luis Barneo
Sent: 26 August 2020 20:59
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io] cable din 4 pin

?

Is it possible to connect SBIG ST-8XE? directly to outside port of the box? Gemini 1 throuht a cable din 4 pin or 5 pin? The inside power of the camera has 5 pins, the outside port of the Gemini has 4 pins.
Luis

cable din 4 pin

#67611

Is it possible to connect SBIG ST-8XE? directly to outside port of the box? Gemini 1 throuht a cable din 4 pin or 5 pin? The inside power of the camera has 5 pins, the outside port of the Gemini has 4 pins.
Luis

Re: simple servo motor control

#67610

JoAnn,

Hi. There is a nice video on using Arduino to control a dc motor+encoder. Since you don't need acceleration and position control all you need is to control speed that makes it pretty simple to do.

To use your existing you'd need to couple the Arduino with a motor driver board as shown in the video, which is pretty cheap on Ebay. Add software and a case.

There are Arduino libraries for speed/position control and multiple project pages such as:

I've worked with encoders but purely to build a tester for them using the (leading or trailing edge) Capture function of raw PICs (I don't Arduino myself being old fashioned). A lot of my friends with other brand mounts have had motor/encoder problems I got tired ad hoc testing of them. So I built a test rig. Gave me an excuse to work with encoders.

I suspect the Arduino community is probably a better place to ask than this gang, by the way. Google is your friend. That is how I found these two links.

I do have a couple of the older Hurst unipolar (not what I think you want) steppers used in the old 492 Digital Drive (non-goto). But then you'd have to rip out your existing motor and gearbox. You're idea of using the Arduino (with a motor driver circuit? - cheap on Ebay, see the video and project pages), keeping your existing motor and gearbox, is the smart way to go if you can deal with the code.

Regards,
Mark Christensen

Re: simple servo motor control

#67609

update: I have found an original stepper motor from a group member. Thanks!?

Re: Restarting Gemini2

#67607

Hi Ron.??

I think you have the concepts.??

Another useful thing is: you can work on testing this in the daytime.??

Keep your scope and finder scopes optics fronts covered up so the sunlight won't overheat anything and you won't by accident get blinded.? Then just do your GoTos pointing at the sun, as if you were doing solar imaging.

Then you can practice Park and Unpark to your heart's content, while you are not operating in the dark!

Once you confirm you can Park at horizontal, and successfully unpark and repoint at the sun, you should be?good to go for nighttime operation.? ?

I think you can set your preferred Park at Custom orientation, set that as horizontal, and using Gemini.net you can always just park there.? (I just have never tried this myself.)

Very best,

Michael

Show quoted text

On Tue, Aug 25, 2020, 8:10 PM Rappnron via <Rappnron=[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Michael
This is exactly the flow I thought that I needed to take
thanks so much for confirming:

Power up first then
power up Gemini2 in horizontal parked position , Unpark , goto, align (or synch ?)? on hand control, then repeat addition same obj goto align ( or synch ? ) on Gemini.net

but unfortunately this is the reason I posted the question because Its not yet worked out for me
but now I know that its gotta be operator error? ... working on it

Thanks again
Ron

Re: No meridian flip while tracking?

#67606

I am getting reliable meridian flips with my Titan and Gemini 2.? I use Maxim DL, but with ACP.? ACP is controlling the flip in my case.? I have never tried imaging with Maxim stand alone, so can't help you there.

Michel

Re: Restarting Gemini2

#67605

Hi Michael
This is exactly the flow I thought that I needed to take
thanks so much for confirming:

Power up gemini.net first then
power up Gemini2 in horizontal parked position , Unpark , goto, align (or synch ?)? on hand control, then repeat addition same obj goto align ( or synch ? ) on Gemini.net

but unfortunately this is the reason I posted the question because Its not yet worked out for me
but now I know that its gotta be operator error? ... working on it

Thanks again
Ron

Re: Restarting Gemini2

#67604

Hi Ron

For DSO targets like you showed (and wow, that is a demanding focal length) it would be easier than that:

- cold start from CWD each night

- press "start sequence" from SGP

- go to bed :)

i simplified that a bit, but basically that's what I do each night.

You just start and end each night from CWD position (SGP will park it in CWD position when it's done imaging)

you cold start because you do not need to build a model, plate solving handles everything for you

When I first heard about this, it sounded like magic, but it turns out it works, and it IS kinda magical :) there are many others here who work similarly with SGP, NINA, and other similar packages

Brian

Show quoted text

On Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 7:53 PM Rappnron via <Rappnron=[email protected]> wrote:

Ah yes
Now Im Starting to understand the utility of SGP and NINA which I have not seriously imaged with as ?SharpCap is so easy, hard to stop
Yes, my setup is fixed
?
So are you saying that from my horizontal Home Position, ?I could power on Gemini2, then using SGP can do a direct goto by plate solve?
?
Ron
From: Brian Valente
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 7:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Restarting Gemini2
?
Hi Ron
?
Yes, unless (or until?) you move to more sophisticated DSO type software (think sequence generator pro, NINA, etc.) plate solve probably won't help you with your gotos
?
Are you tearing down and setting up every night, or do you have a fixed setup you just start up each night?
?
?
?
On Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 7:14 PM Rappnron via <Rappnron=[email protected]> wrote:
HI Brian
?
That doesn’t sound very easy
?
Hutech IDAS LPF
Imaging live stacking via SharpCapPro
Ive not yet seen the utility of plate solving … Im waiting for such insight from my gurus
?
Prime focus 10 inch Orion RC 2000mm fl f/8? ASI 1600mm
Guide 80mm 400mm fl ?f/5? ASI 533mc
Only ?53 lb counterweight
?
PEMPRO, PHD2
?
heres a recent result , no flats, no darks, slight out of collimation but stars are roundish ?( just hate the bloat with sharpening)
100sec x 81 frames
?
?
Thanks again for your insight and suggestions
Ron
?
?
?
From: Brian Valente
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 6:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Restarting Gemini2
?
Hi Ron
?
Can you describe your imaging setup??
?
The easiest to do is cold start and plate solve every night. It depends on your setup.?
?
On Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 6:25 PM Rappnron via <Rappnron=[email protected]> wrote:
Wow guys thanks so much for your attention
?
?so again i’m using a Gemini 2 my goal is to keep the model And go directly to the target In Easiest Manner with as less start up procedures possible
?
?I was hoping to turn on from the parked horizontal position, do a go to from the park position , align, and go to Target In other words all beginning initially? from the park position - impossible?
?
Want to easily get back to re-imaging the same object the night before and since I moved to park would presume all I Gotta do is turn on and go back to the target
?
?
?
?so you’re telling me I have two options:
?
?
?
?1).? park @ CWD, Turn off Gemini,?? then move the scope manually to the horizontal position so I can close the roof Then to Awaken I would Firstmanually move to CWD and then turn on Gemini , warm restart,? go to and sink on first target
?
2 ). hand control command move the scope the Home position (which is horizontal )turn her off close the roof.? Then to awaken first? manually position to CWD then power up Gemini Warm restart go to sync
?
All of this seems so tedious - the model is there !?
?
I suppose even after parking Yet leaving power on then unpark I still have to do a CWD warm restart and then go to align?
?
What about the sleep mode?
?
?I can’t just turn her on and go directly to the target rather than beginning always at CWD?
?
Ron
?
?
?
?

--
Brian?
?
?
?
Brian Valente
portfolio
?

?
--
Brian?
?
?
?
Brian Valente
portfolio
?

--

Brian?

Brian Valente

portfolio

Re: Restarting Gemini2

#67603

开云体育

Ah yes

Now Im Starting to understand the utility of SGP and NINA which I have not seriously imaged with as ?SharpCap is so easy, hard to stop

Yes, my setup is fixed

?

So are you saying that from my horizontal Home Position, ?I could power on Gemini2, then using SGP can do a direct goto by plate solve?

?

Ron

Show quoted text

From: Brian Valente
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 7:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Restarting Gemini2

?

Hi Ron

?

Yes, unless (or until?) you move to more sophisticated DSO type software (think sequence generator pro, NINA, etc.) plate solve probably won't help you with your gotos

?

Are you tearing down and setting up every night, or do you have a fixed setup you just start up each night?

?

On Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 7:14 PM Rappnron via <Rappnron=[email protected]> wrote:

HI Brian
?
That doesn’t sound very easy
?
Hutech IDAS LPF
Imaging live stacking via SharpCapPro
Ive not yet seen the utility of plate solving … Im waiting for such insight from my gurus
?
Prime focus 10 inch Orion RC 2000mm fl f/8? ASI 1600mm
Guide 80mm 400mm fl ?f/5? ASI 533mc
Only ?53 lb counterweight
?
PEMPRO, PHD2
?
heres a recent result , no flats, no darks, slight out of collimation but stars are roundish ?( just hate the bloat with sharpening)
100sec x 81 frames
?
?
Thanks again for your insight and suggestions
Ron
?
?
?
From: Brian Valente
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 6:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Restarting Gemini2
?
Hi Ron
?
Can you describe your imaging setup??
?
The easiest to do is cold start and plate solve every night. It depends on your setup.?
?
On Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 6:25 PM Rappnron via <Rappnron=[email protected]> wrote:
Wow guys thanks so much for your attention
?
?so again i’m using a Gemini 2 my goal is to keep the model And go directly to the target In Easiest Manner with as less start up procedures possible
?
?I was hoping to turn on from the parked horizontal position, do a go to from the park position , align, and go to Target In other words all beginning initially? from the park position - impossible?
?
Want to easily get back to re-imaging the same object the night before and since I moved to park would presume all I Gotta do is turn on and go back to the target
?
?
?
?so you’re telling me I have two options:
?
?
?
?1).? park @ CWD, Turn off Gemini,?? then move the scope manually to the horizontal position so I can close the roof Then to Awaken I would Firstmanually move to CWD and then turn on Gemini , warm restart,? go to and sink on first target
?
2 ). hand control command move the scope the Home position (which is horizontal )turn her off close the roof.? Then to awaken first? manually position to CWD then power up Gemini Warm restart go to sync
?
All of this seems so tedious - the model is there !?
?
I suppose even after parking Yet leaving power on then unpark I still have to do a CWD warm restart and then go to align?
?
What about the sleep mode?
?
?I can’t just turn her on and go directly to the target rather than beginning always at CWD?
?
Ron
?
?
?
?

--
Brian?
?
?
?
Brian Valente
portfolio
?

?

--

Brian?

?

Brian Valente

portfolio

?