PANIC CHAOS POSSIBLE DISASTER

[fil6914]

hi guys

just started getting the kit together ready for this weekends Kielder star camp and found a huge problem of my own making.

the mount and 2x scopes have been out on the pier since March, i checked on the kit a number of times during the months in between and found them to be fine. A couple of weeks ago i fired up the mount handset etc to make sure it was still polar aligned, everything was fine apart from the usual clouds that quickly moved in to obscure Polaris.

anyhoo i've just been out to power up the mount to check on everything before packing it away and found when i switched on the power to the mount the red led light did not come on, the handset did not light up and through the light on my head lamp i saw smoke comming out of the mount.

obvious question is the mount goosed ??

i've since brought it in and opened the control board panel, theres no water or sign of water on or in the board area, i'll leave it open for tonight and plug it in tomorrow in the faint hope it will be ok.

this feels like its going to ruing Kielder and be VERY expensive

Phil

EDIT forgot to add the kit was covered over all the time

[Mikea]

Smoke is a bad sign. What is your source of power - you certain polarity was correct?

[fil6914]

thanks for your reply, yes mate everything has worked fine before, power source has been fine before tonight. im hoping it was maybe steam rather than smoke i obviously didnt leave it plugged in long enough to find out

Phil

[brantuk]

If it was condensation and it didn't short anything, then you'll be the luckiest astronomer alive - hope it works ok for you

[Mikea]

I hope you're right about the steam, but I wonder what would be getting hot enough to generate such heat?

[fil6914]

just tried powering up the mount with my portable maplins car starter thingy and it works ok ?

do i dare plug it back into the mains ?

Phil

[Mikea]

You mean a mains-powered 12V DC supply - can you check the voltage first?

[steppenwolf]

do i dare plug it back into the mains ?

Not until you have checked that the mains PSU is working correctly first! The mains PSU could have developed a fault - I hope you got away with it!

[fil6914]

yes and no but i've had no problems before. i can take mains power supply into work tomorrow to get it checked out though ?

phil

[Mikea]

I'd certainly get it checked if I were you. It's not worth the risk of frying your mount electronics.

[fil6914]

cheers guys thanks for the help i'll let you know

phil

[fil6914]

it was the polarity !! last time i used it i remember the little plug comming off the 12v DC adaptor, me being me just popped it back on not knowing there was a right and wrong way

anyhoo everything is all back up and running again panic over

thanks for your expertise guys as usual

Phil

[Astro_Baby]

Yoour one lucky dude - reverse polarity on the HEQ5 and EQ6 is usually enough to fry them.

Nexstars have a protection circuit for that supposedly - I hsve never felt like putting it to the test.

[Astro_Baby]

ps - get a proper lead WITHOUT the polarity plug - its not worth the risk.

[sbooder]

My mains 6V for my scope came with a selection of polarity plugs, I use my meter to check the polarity because I am paranoid about reversing it and frying my Dual Axis drive Handset

[brantuk]

Whew - lucky break or what? Get an AVO on that power supply or better still -bin it and get a new proper one to be absolutely sure.

[sbooder]

Whew - lucky break or what? Get an AVO on that power supply or better still -bin it and get a new proper one to be absolutely sure.

Good point, power supplies are cheap compared to mounts.

[fil6914]

has anyone got any links to proper psu for the EQ6 ?

thanks

Phil

[brantuk]

I got this one :

12V 5A Cigarette Socket Power Supply : Cigarette Socket Power Supplies : Maplin

Works fine on my scopes but there is a proper SkyWatcher one :

Skywatcher Telescope Mounts and Mounting Accessories

(4th item up from bottom of the page - it's a long way down)

[Earl]

My mains 6V for my scope came with a selection of polarity plugs, I use my meter to check the polarity because I am paranoid about reversing it and frying my Dual Axis drive Handset

[Mikea]

Glad you sorted it! The smoke you saw was possibly a protection diode doing it's job - but it wouldn't have lasted forever....!!