Can anybody help me with my Skywatcher EQ6 problem please?

[Doctor2]

Hi all,

I have a Skywatcher EQ6 that was set up on a permanent pier. Unfortunately, it slewed and hit the pier and carried on going... I think it's damaged it. Now, when I do an alignment (3 star) it says 'Alignment Successful', but misses the target when I'm using the go-to functions. I've used plate solving and find that it's regularly about 15 minutes out in terms of Right Ascension but this varies. It's also very slightly out terms of declination.

Can anybody tell me what the problem is likely to be and whether it would be easily fixed please? Would really appreciate any help - I'm fairly new at this and it's quite a disaster for me.

Many thanks

Ross

[mikeobrien]

I would start by resetting you home position using a level box or spirit level if you don't have one. I would also delete your skymodel if using eqmod.

[Earl]

ID reset all the settings, redo PA as it might of shifted then build a new alignment model. Once that is done if your still having problems, id investigate further.

[Doctor2]

I would start by resetting you home position using a level box or spirit level if you don't have one. I would also delete your skymodel if using eqmod.

Thanks - I have already tried resetting the home position, but that did not work.... but what do you mean "detele the sky model'? I am using EQMOD, and I have deleted the the sync point list and created a new alignment list.... that didn't work either. Is that what you meant? Cheers

[Earl]

thats the part before making a new one, did you redo your PA?

[Doctor2]

I would start by resetting you home position using a level box or spirit level if you don't have one. I would also delete your skymodel if using eqmod.

I would start by resetting you home position using a level box or spirit level if you don't have one. I would also delete your skymodel if using eqmod.

Thanks - I have tried making a new sync point list in EQMOD and also tried building a new model with the Synscan controller as well - the error remained with both.  I don't think the polar alignment has shifted as the pier is concreted in and it's very solid..... and seeing as the same error is observable with both the hand controller and EQMOD, I don't think it's a software issue.... any other thoughts of how I should investigate it next?

I appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks

Ross

[Doctor2]

Thanks - I have already tried resetting the home position, but that did not work.... but what do you mean "detele the sky model'? I am using EQMOD, and I have deleted the the sync point list and created a new alignment list.... that didn't work either. Is that what you meant? Cheers

Hi, yes, I had black marker points on my permanent set up to define polar alignment and they had not moved, so PA is certainly fine.

I think it's an internal issue in the EQ6?

[mikeobrien]

Yes I meant the sync point list!

If you start the mount from its home position and slew it say 12 hours RA does it look to have moved 180° and if you then instruct it to park is it returning to the home position correctly?

[Physopto]

Hi Doctor2,

If all else fails I always delete Eqmod and reinstall it. Sounds pointless but can sometimes work. For some reason Eqmod can retain faulty info some where. Don't know where or how, but it does. A friendssetup recently kept stopping on its way back to parking, 90degrees out of position, but then restated without intervention and returned to home position. Just re installing after every thing else failed sorted out the problem.

May be worth a try!

Best of luck.

Derek

[ollypenrice]

A mount collision is not normally a problem for an EQ6. I've dozed off and had mine click away for hours and lots of members have done likewise and found no adverse effects. I strongly suspect the problem will just be its relationship with EQ Mod. A full re-installation is certainly what I'd do.

Olly

[kirkster501]

If you collided your mount into the pier you need to check the PA irrespective of your marker positions - the thickness of a marker will easily hide a shift of PA of 15'.  The motors straining against the fixed pier could have been enough to disturb the AltAz adjustment.  The fact that it is a regular (or thereabouts) 15' out suggests the motors and encoders are fine and not burnt out.  

Astobaby or Gina may have some ideas about this.

[Doctor2]

Yes I meant the sync point list! If you start the mount from its home position and slew it say 12 hours RA does it look to have moved 180° and if you then instruct it to park is it returning to the home position correctly?

Hi, thanks for your reply to my post. I've tried doing the same thing with the synscan controller, and still have the same results, so I don't think it's EQMOD.... but have absolutely no idea what the problem is.... a week of trying to get this sorted, and no luck at all.... lol. 

Any other thoughts?

[Doctor2]

A mount collision is not normally a problem for an EQ6. I've dozed off and had mine click away for hours and lots of members have done likewise and found no adverse effects. I strongly suspect the problem will just be its relationship with EQ Mod. A full re-installation is certainly what I'd do.

Olly

Ok, thanks so much - I'll do a drift align in the next few days (when the cloud disapears) and will update this forum with the results.

Cheers - thanks for contributing.

Ross

[Doctor2]

Hi Doctor2,

If all else fails I always delete Eqmod and reinstall it. Sounds pointless but can sometimes work. For some reason Eqmod can retain faulty info some where. Don't know where or how, but it does. A friendssetup recently kept stopping on its way back to parking, 90degrees out of position, but then restated without intervention and returned to home position. Just re installing after every thing else failed sorted out the problem.

May be worth a try!

Best of luck.

Derek

Ok, thanks for that - will just try doing a new PA / drift alignment and if that doesn't work, will go from there.... and reinstall EQMOD.

Many thanks

R

[jambouk]

Have you checked to see if you now have significant cone error?

[Doctor2]

I would start by resetting you home position using a level box or spirit level if you don't have one. I would also delete your skymodel if using eqmod

Hi Mike, yes, I have tried resetting home.... and also deleted the sky model in EQMOD. Since then, I've tried doing a 3 star alignment using the synscan controller - but the same error remains... so I don't think it's EQMOD or the synscan.... 

If it was the polar alignment, then I'm guessing that when I plate solved, it would compensate for the error, which it is not doing... so I remain at a complete loss....

[Doctor2]

ID reset all the settings, redo PA as it might of shifted then build a new alignment model. Once that is done if your still having problems, id investigate further.

Hi Earl,

Thanks for your comment. I've reset it, and have now tried doing an 3 star alignment using the synscan controller.... same result as before.. .the goto is still out by about 15'. When I reconnect to EQMOD and use plate solving to apply the 15' correction, and slew to the object, it still keeps on missing the object.... 

Cheers

R

[Tinker1947]

I would redo the PA, just because that causes 99% of all tracking errors........

[jambouk]

As well as checking for cone error, is there any play in the set up, worsened backlash or something loose with the saddle, dovetail, rings etc...?

[jambouk]

I think it's worth redoing the PA for completeness sake, but i don't think that is it; this isn't a travking error, it is a GOTO error; in my extensive research into why I had a large GOTO error i explored:

- user error (common fault I've found)

- firmware / software

- encoders (AZEQ6)

- backlash

- cone error

- power issues

- mirror flop / shift

- corrector plate flop (that was an odd one)

- telescope flop

- rotating star diagonals midway through star alignment

- camera sag

And there are probably others. I can't remember what scope you are using so ignore anything related to Maksutovs and SCTs in my list which may not be applicable to your set up.

Annoying and i hope you get it sorted.

James

[jambouk]

Have you done a three star alignment using just the handset and not involving the PC control? How good was the GOTO then?

[Thalestris24]

Hi, thanks for your reply to my post. I've tried doing the same thing with the synscan controller, and still have the same results, so I don't think it's EQMOD.... but have absolutely no idea what the problem is.... a week of trying to get this sorted, and no luck at all.... lol. 

Any other thoughts?

Hi

Things like time/date, latitude/longitude data are always worth checking - and checking again!

Hope you can sort it

Louise

[mikeobrien]

Corruption in the hc longitude caused me pribs for a couple of nights.

[Astro_Baby]

It could b any of those things but of the problem is persistent I would check the mounts worms/ring gear etc.  Worm tuning should be simple enough and a simple 'wobble' test would tell if there was excessive play ( lock the clutches and gently push the scope to and fro and see if it shifts.  The DEC on most EQ6s often has a small shift but the RA is usually solid even on a badly tuned/set up mount.  It could have just strained something.

Worst case is it could have defomed or damaged the ring gear or its worm or caused the motor gear to slip.  Its hard to say.  I have sent the OP a hardware check list to have a read of and see what may turn up.

[NDD]

Hi Ross,

does the mount still track correctly? If yes, I would exclude mechanical issues (most likely the clutches prevented any damage by slipping). If the software did not change, I'd guess the problem is with the polar alignment, as many already suggested, or the relative position of your OTA with respect to the mount (cone error).

Nico