One thing you can do, if using the keypad, is to post some screen shots of your location screen and your time and data screen. This will allow us to see if we can spot any obvious errors.

Rolando

-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas Giannaccini <tgiann3@...>
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Sent: Sat, Sep 11, 2021 2:52 pm
Subject: [ap-gto] #Keypad Motor Stall Error Message

I recently purchased a used AP 1100 GTO with Encoders
I've read the manuals and carefully set the time each session. The system is powered by a 50Ah deep cycle glass mat battery which the prior owner was using without any reported issues. The battery does look like it has some age on it but looks fine when tested with a battery tester. I have been having random issues with the mount slewing correctly. I understand this is a common issue with new users. I went back and re-read the manuals and I believe I was doing everything correctly in my most recent session. 

In my latest session here is a brief synopsis of what happened. 

Plugged in system to the battery which had been full charged a few days earlier and not used since.
Selected location
Set time carefully
Selected new setup from park location
selected park 1
physically moved and leveled scope and weight bar (was correctly balanced and all 6 clutches were about 1 turn loose from hand tight
tightened clutches on correct axis as instructed
slewed to park 2.....Mount slewed to completely wrong position
re-slewed to park 1 and re-leveled both axi
tried again to slew to park 2.....same issue
Slewed back to park 1---releveled
slewed to park 4...approximately correct position achieved
adjusted level via altitude adjuster as outlined in manual
slewed back to park 1....was roughly correct
tried slewing to Vega to see what would happen (polaris cloud covered)
approximately correct location achieved...used direction keys to fine tune Vega to center of reticle eyepiece in main scope; noticed that Vega was visibly moving (slowly) in the reticle
correctly re-aligned vega and re-synched (1 and only time)
tried slewing to Polaris to see if I could see it through the clouds...approximately correct location achieved

the remainder of the session is a bit murky in my memory but here is an approximation:
I tried to re-slew to the park positions to see what would happen (a test of both me and the mount). The scope kept ending up in random, incorrect locations
At some point I received a "motor stall" error message
I believe I was able to slew (incorrectly) to another park location once but after that, it would act like it was going to start slewing and then return right back to its same existing position

Without going on about it, that is what I am also experiencing today
I'm starting to think it may be the battery as the prior owner mentioned that the mount can be sensitive to low power
I'm working on getting a new battery now but wont have it until the end of the week at the earliest

Is there any other probable cause?




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CN: HasAnyoneSeenMyNeblua

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Roland Christen
Astro-Physics