tooth_dr

I'm on the groups IO board, asking same thing. Contacting Sitech is a good idea. I did not change any settings, just loaded what was sent to be originally by Lucas. Looking back through the thread, there is another screen shot that shows EQ also unchecked in this utility configuration. I have EQ mode set up in the other settings menu under the 'config' tab with in the Sitech mount 95N program. If anyone can screen shot there utility menu that would be appreciated.

Hi Tony I decided to do one last check with the dec motor removed. I did what you originally advised me to do, swapping over both power and encoder cables. So this time I just used the handbox to do the movements, did not connect to PC. With cabling swapped over I can now see that the issue does in fact change axis - the DEC motor behaves normally and the RA motor goes into fault. I swapped them back and the DEC motor goes into fault. So this is indicating the same fault that you had? Your symptoms were very similar. What do I do now?

Quite impressive 👍🏻

Thanks! I was dreading having to ship the mount too. Hopefully it all goes back together properly and tracks normally etc afterwards. Im now wondering about shipping. With the controller I’d need about £600 to cover loss of everything. FedEx are quoting £25 for delivery by Friday. But I’m now wondering about customs and the likes. It’s a repair and I’m in Northern Ireland but it’s a minefield.

Motor removed, ready to package and send to Lucas. I’ve always wanted to see inside the big metal casing so this satisfied that curiosity lol I’ve taped over the hole on the mount when the motor came out and said a temporary fair-well to the observatory for however long this takes.

I’ve used my Nikon D800E with my epsilon and the flats are similar. It’s because it’s full frame and the issue is light reflecting off the edge of the mirror (when it’s flipped up taking an exposure) creating flats that don’t match the lights. Careful processing might help mitigate it a little but only by physically removing the mirror box can you resolve it completely.

I've tried that with other things! Not feasible with the location lol I might try to pick up one of those white markers that mechanics use, but they tend to be thick tipped

Indeed Lucas says it's the plastic bit attached to the end of the silver barrel (the motor).

I've exhausted the testing options available to me, and so decided to contact Lucas. Lucas has been quick to reply to my email today and thinks that the encoder is most likely faulty. It needs to go back, so I have to remove the motor/encoder and send it over to him, something for me to do later! I've to mark out the position of everything as I remove it, so it can go back in the exact same orientation. I'm worried sharpie will rub off too easily, any suggestions for marking positions? @old_eyes I think you removed your motor (maybe not intentionally though!) - Lucas says the grub screw may be obscured under a metal ring. Did you find the grub screw ok? Could you perhaps help me in it's location?

I did a search and found your thread @Staring I have a feeling I have a similar issue here in that my DEC encoder has went faulty (or at least something is causing it to be faulty). Can you give me any more info on the encoder and the replacement? Thanks Adam.

I've removed all the wiring - actually not that much in there, thought it was worse. I've labelled it and and reconnected it and tested for continuity - all seems to be in continuity from Sitech unit up to the motors. I did that, and post the video below - when I moved the RA axis the values change up and down as expected, but when I do the same with the DEC axis it just goes to -1 and blinky mode. Stupid question - which bit is the encoder or is the motor and encoder all one?

Tried it without the handcontroller too and still not working. I have the online phono connectors, don’t like them at all.

Love it Paul. Class part of the sky beautifully captured.

I’ve attached some videos of my mount playing up. This is what is does when I unpark it and or start tracking: @AKB I swapped the RA and DEc power and encoder cables - the DEC axis continued to exhibit strange behaviour, the RA unaffected: I swapped them back again and the issues remain with the DEC axis. I tried manually moving the mount with the hand controller, and it’s behaving odd too. Holding down any DEC button causes the mount to move back and forth. RA not affected. Motors go into blinky mode as seen in the screen shot below. I’ve loaded the original cfg again that i got from Lucas in 2021 when I bought the mount, but no bueno. Sometimes it also slews both ways on initiating tracking / unpacking. Next step will be to contact Lucas unless anyone thinks it’s the controller? Anything else to check? Tony, what is the y shaped cable? And do you mean the connectors soldered to the board? I can definitely test all for continuity.

Hi Tony Many thanks for your reply. I suspected my problem was similar to yours. Can I check what you swapped? Do I swap the 2.1mm power jacks (bottom right of photo) and the cables going into the black connector blocks (lying inside the wedge)? What will I expect to see? It’s my Dec axis that is playing up, but if it changes to RA once I swap the wiring, then does that confirm that it is the Sitech controller? Cheers!

Nope, doing the same thing tonight. Eventually got it working then it stopped tracking 20 minutes later mid exposure. Something not right ☹️

So I have it sorted now. I reseated again all the connections and then before I started tracking I did a sync/init on polaris - approx when my scope was pointing. I started tracking and the behaviour is back to normal. Just slewed to the HH nebula and about to take first sub and the rain has come on heavy despite being a clear forecast. In a way I feel lucky now, because otherwise I'd have been setup and oblivious to this heavy downpour

This is what the manual says and is exactly whats happening: Motors Automatic or Motor(s) in Blinky: Lastly, there is a button that normally says "Motors Automatic", and is grayed out. If the motors go to what is fondly called the "BLINKY" mode, this will say "Motors in Blinky Mode" and if you click it, the controller will be sent a command to put the motors back in automatic. If it continually goes to blinky, then you have a problem with your motor, friction, imbalance, encoder wiring, configuration, or other issues.

Went out for my first session this evening since just before Xmas, and I am greeted with a malfunctioning mount e200 / mk2 I carry out the normal startup procedure for the mount and it starts tracking for about 5 seconds, then I hear the RA motor make a bit of a fuss, and it shoots off by itself, rotating about 30 degrees, then it stops abruptly and I get the message 'motors blinky'. Shutting everything down and going through the process causes the same issue to repeat. I've tried reseating the cables into the connecting blocks going to the motors, and even swapping them, but no changes. LED 1 flashes when motor goes in blinky. If I swap cables then LED 2 flashes. All was working fine last time I used it, and I've been running my dehumidifier regularly (as usual). Any suggestions?!

Printed out this for my VC200L

Are you sure Rodd?!? The brown dust looks phenomenal, I really like this region in particular.

Wonderful image and a nicely different FOV.

I think for a 6” scope, the 850nm will block out too much light and the 685nm will be a better choice.

This happened with my old 120MM as well. It eventually became too unreliable so I swapped it out for a 290MM. I'm using SGPro and it seems to have an issue if there is no guidestars detected - it stops the sequence and goes into recovery mode.