Dek Rowan Astro

I haven't managed to blow anything up by turning the slow motion controls with the mount unpowered and not aware of any mout failing because of this. BUT, I have no data on how many users operate the GOTO mount unpowered. I guess very few, but each mount produced is operated like this when in testing, so we would have seen a failure by now if it was an issue. It is possible to break just about anything if a sufficiently concerted effort is made, so best not try 😉 Back EMF is produced when turning the slow mo's, it is also possible to see the power LED flicker slightly, I might take a closer look at this to test what voltage levels are actually produced. ATB Derek

We loaded the AZ100 with 35kg on one side with no counterbalance as part of the motor kit testing, so technically 'overloaded', the mount worked OK but this wasn't an observation test, purely a functional test. The 20kg limit /guide is conservative and is more of a "it'll work nicely" with this load rather than it will stop working or break at 20.1Kg Length of telescope and mass distribution is as much as a factor as the weight as is also the users expectation, so the20kg limit is stated where the mount performance would be expected to start to tail off. At what point the weight to performance curve starts to significantly affect viewing depends on many factors. With a 25kg OTA I would recommend having a good proportion of that weight added to the opposite side in counterbalance weights. Stelarvue tested one of their SVX180 refractors mounted on a AZ100 (about 22kg in total) and were very pleased with the performance which is one of the bigger OTAs that we're aware of that has been mounted on a AZ100. As a result Stelarvue now stock the AZ100 as a recommended pairing for their bigger refractors :-) Jose, you're welcome to call into our works, we can set up a load test to simulate a 25kg short OTA in order to get a feel for how this would perform. ATB Derek.

"Could we have plate solving running on the control box is the question?" Most likely no. 'Could FinderPi send alt az position and GOTO command to the AZ100 controller?', yes. This is what the Nexus DSC does. I read on CN someone had connected ASAir to the AZ100 via wifi for plate solving using the LX200 protocol. We're looking at enabling the RS232 port to accept LX200 commands.

The control box is suitable for both AZ100 and AZ75. It is effectively the AZ100 controller but without the motor connectors. The latest version of the AZ100 GOTO firmware has a DSC option in the config, so you could actually use the AZ100 GOTO controller as a DSC on say a AZ75. We're just about to put the DSC version of the controller on the web site, should see it there next week. ATB Derek

Hi Steve, We have a new update out in 1-2 days with a couple of tweaks, iOS page format (so the apps bar doesn't cover the lower menu buttons), a fix to the game pad handling and replaced the misleading "re-booting" message after firmware update. ATB Derek.

The update is currently in testing with several AZ100 owners. Soon as we have feedback and all looks OK we'll put the version out for general release. ATB Derek.

We are very sad to hear this news, John was the first person to buy our AZ100, he put his trust in us, our thoughts are with him and his family. We hope he has a special resting place in the stars. Derek and Dave.

You can have multiple devices connected (up to 4). I run the Rowan Web page on my phone and Skysafiari on a tablet together. You might have to click the telescope icon and connect in skysafari if SF is not responding.

There is insufficient room in the enclosure for a connector like that, or another switch for that matter. We did consider fitting a auxiliary output but managing what users would connect to it is impossible, and I can guarantee someone will try to jump start their car and wonder why the controller started to smoke 😉 A 5v USB power bank may work, I'll check out the schematic and if the power side look plausible, give it a test. ATB Derek.

It would be easy to do, however, easy doesn't mean cheap. Simply, the expected sales wouldn't justify the separate development and more stringent certification costs of a battery powered unit. ATB Derek.

Hi Andy, I use a small 5" mak at about 150x for testing , I have the joystick speed set to 30. This gives a nice controllable speed. Try testing during the day at an object on the horizon to get the feel of the various speed settings. ATB Derek.

Hello FBXL5 The joystick is really only used for centering during alignment and fine positioning adjustment. It is not designed to drive the telescope across the sky. If you want to make a large slew, just push the mount to the area of sky to be observed (set the clutches so they slip without undue force) and / or initiate a GOTO or nudge onto target either visually or using Skysafari in any combination or order to accurately target an object. The system doesn't mind what order the goto or push to is made and can be done simultaneously which makes large angular slews very quick with the telescope finishing off the move and centring the object. When nudging there is a setting in the config called 'Push track window' If you nudge the position and the cross hair stays within this window, the telescope will revert back to its original tracking point or object. If nudged outside this window, then when the systems senses that you have stopped nudging, it will use this new position as the tracking point. We are working on an games pad or nunchuck style joystick that some might find easier to use than a our app or Skysafari buttons. To confirm earlier post, to use the slow motion, the motors must to be turned off from the app, however the slow mo controls become somewhat redundant when using the motors. The function of being able to use the slow-motions is more in case of an 'emergency situation' / flat battery rather than part of the normal operation when the mount has the motors fitted. ATB Derek.

Not at the moment, but we were discussing this feature recently and may add it to a future firmware release.

Hi Steve, DSC connection to AZ100 is via the RS232 ports as this then leaves the wifi available to connect to Sky Safari etc. ATB Derek

the way I would explain the dampers is:- Imagine the mount only had worm wheel slow motion, but no clutch so the mount could only be moved using the slow motion controls. As RIX said, the dampers apply some friction to the axis rotation which damps out the backlash, (also helps with stick slip). But the mount also has clutches to allow manual rotation of the axis by allowing 'disconnection' of the slow motion worm wheel. Now, there are two positions in the drive train where the dampers could go, a) on the main shaft side of the clutch or b) the worm wheel side of the clutch. AZ100 has the dampers on the worm wheel side of the clutch so when moving manually they have no effect on the axis 'tension' set by the clutch, therefor the dampers only affect the slow motion 'feel'. You can easily test this. With the both the dampers and the axis clutch loose, the axis rotates very freely. Now tighten the dampers, the axis still rotates freely. Now repeat, but this time rotating the slow motion controls. With the clutch and dampers loose, rotate the slow mo handle = free movement. With the dampers tight, the slow motion will have a slightly increased drag which damps backlash, vibration, stick slip etc from the motion of the worm wheel Clutches only control the 'freeness' of the manual push to. Dampers only affect the worm wheel / slow motion controls. ATB Derek