Cable and Systems Management
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Wayne Hixson
With the rapid growth of computer-aided astronomy - multi-camera Imaging, USB hubs, mount controllers, guiding, focusing, anti-dew systems, modeling and pointing etc - the complexity of managing all the systems and connections to what is a moving system has also grown. The thru-the-mount design of the new AP mounts was a great improvement and its's really helped with my 1100. However it is still difficult to Quickly reconfigure your system and I have started to see clever folks address this by moving more of their electronics like signal and power hubs "above the mount" I'd call it. Along these lines, I was thinking of adding a plate on top of the telescope rings and mounting my Rigrunner, USB hub, and Dew controller on the plate. Then I would run only one power line and one USB cable thru the mount to the Rigrunner and USB hub respectively. From there I'd run short connections to the hardware. I'd like others thoughts on this, especially from those who have tried something like this, and how it's worked out? Pictures of your Systems would be welcome! Thanks! Wayne
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Craig Anderson
Wayne, I've done what you describe and it works really well. I have a second Losmandy dovetail plate installed on top of my scope rings. On that plate I've attached a USB hub, RigRunner, and Robofocus controller with heavy duty Velcro backed by zip ties. I run all the power and USB cables from there to my camera, guider, focuser, and FlipFlat. Works great and really cleans up the cable routing. My guiding also improved with just two cables hanging from the OTA down to the power supply and computer. -Craig
On Jan 18, 2017, at 10:47 PM, wayneh9026@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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Suresh Mohan
Craig pls send us a photo of your setup Suresh
On 19-Jan-2017, at 5:39 PM, Craig craig@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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Craig Anderson
Here's the setup. Much of the space on my upper plate holes a rail for my FlipFlat. But this should give you an idea of how it's put together. -Craig
On Jan 19, 2017, at 7:09 AM, Craig craig@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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Worsel
Craig
Yahoo strips images from postings. The image will need to go either in the Photos section or in a third party image site. Thanks for the info!! Bryan ---In ap-gto@..., <craig@...> wrote : Here's the setup. Much of the space on my upper plate holes a rail for my FlipFlat. But this should give you an idea of how it's put together. -Craig
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Steve Reilly
Not sure why you didn’t get it but it came through on my system just fine with Google Chrome.
Steve
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2017 9:41 AM To: ap-gto@... Subject: [ap-gto] Re: Cable and Systems Management
Craig
Yahoo strips images from postings. The image will need to go either in the Photos section or in a third party image site.
Thanks for the info!!
Bryan
Here's the setup. Much of the space on my upper plate holes a rail for my FlipFlat. But this should give you an idea of how it's put together.
-Craig
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Suresh Mohan
Craig , that looks beautiful Suresh
On 19-Jan-2017, at 8:15 PM, 'Steven Reilly' sreilly24590@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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Wayne Hixson
Craig, thanks a lot. Exactly the kind of arrangement I was thinking about. What is the bar you used to attach the Flip Flat with?
On Jan 19, 2017, at 6:59 AM, Suresh Mohan Neelmegh drsureshmohan@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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Craig Anderson
Sorry, I'll post a before and after tonight! -Craig
On Jan 19, 2017, at 9:45 AM, 'Steven Reilly' sreilly24590@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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Wayne Hixson
Thanks Craig, if you could please post a couple different views of your setup, that would be great!
On Jan 19, 2017, at 7:07 AM, Wayne wayneh9026@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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eja24601
Here's my setup: it's a piece of sheet metal that I bought from a hardware store and had a machinist drill holes in at regular intervals:
Yahoo! Groups
Hope the link works. No AP equipment in the mix (well, the pier in the corner is for an AP1200, and there was an AP1200 in that obs), but the plate and the DA's can transfer to one. ;) The plate has a power strip, USB hub, camera power brick and other doodads Velcro'd/zip-tied to it. The plate is mounted on the scope's Losmandy rail with a couple of DA clamps. HTH, Eric
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Joseph Bianco
Wayne,
I have added some pictures in the J Bianco folder in the Files section of my imaging setup. Telescope Setup 1, all the components (AP mount, Feather Touch Digital Focuser, SSAG, STF-8300M) go to a 4-port USB hub. All the power is supplied by a Rigrunner. Telescope Setup 4, shows the cable assembly which connects power to the Rigrunner, serial cable to the MACH1 GTO, USB connector to hub, RJ11 cable to SSAG. The other end of the cable assembly has the power input cable and the USB connector to the laptop. I have also included the last image taken with this setup. Joseph Bianco
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Barry Megdal
What you describe is a good solution, and exactly what I have done in my observatory. I would however suggest running a separate power cable for the dew controller, as they can introduce noise that you don’t want being seen by your camera(s).
A photo of my setup is here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ei2t2b6hdshqaaz/Electronics.jpg?dl=0
The USB hub is a BB Electronics industrial hub that is rated for low temperature operation.
- Barry
Dr. Barry Megdal
President Shb Instruments, Inc. 19215 Parthenia St., Suite A Northridge, CA 91324 (818) 773-2000 (818) 773-2005 fax
Faculty Dept. of Electrical Engineering California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA bmegdal@... (use either email)
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John Thompson <jbtgolfer@...>
Barry.... Would you provide the manufacturer and model of your hub? I want to upgrade my Icron hub to an industrial hub. It would help to know what is already working.
On Jan 19, 2017, at 1:14 PM, 'Barry Megdal' bmegdal@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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David
Ive tried the same thing as well with a top plate, Powerpole box and USB hub from Startech. It seems to work well, but is a much larger setup than should be necessary. I’m still surprised, with tech advancing as fast as it has, that no one has come up with a great solution for a small, compact setup for power and data connections like the Blue Astro Hub that was in the works before Per passed away this past summer. That was the most compact setup I’ve seen yet for remotely controlled power and USB connections, but its currently unavailable. I am longing for a solution like this in one SMALL device or saddle. Rig runners work great but are three times larger than they need to be for astro work and power requirements. -sigh-
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David
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Joe Zeglinski
David,
Have a look at the KENDRICK all-in-one power boxes.
However, it doesn’t have “remote controlled” power option yet.
I think it is an interesting integration of PowerPole box and USB, and
cigarette lighter plugs. Even has an option for one of the sockets to be an AP
mount 15 vdc power. Don’t know if it is bulkier than the “Blue Astro Hub”
intended product – you decide.
HTH
Joe
From: David phrosty5@... [ap-gto]
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2017 11:59 PM
To: ap-gto@...
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Cable and Systems Management Ive tried the same thing as well with a top plate, Powerpole box and USB hub from Startech. It seems to work well, but is a much larger setup than should be necessary. I’m still surprised, with tech advancing as fast as it has, that no one has come up with a great solution for a small, compact setup for power and data connections like the Blue Astro Hub that was in the works before Per passed away this past summer. That was the most compact setup I’ve seen yet for remotely controlled power and USB connections, but its currently unavailable. I am longing for a solution like this in one SMALL device or saddle. Rig runners work great but are three times larger than they need to be for astro work and power requirements. -sigh- David
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Barry Megdal
It is the UHR207 from http://www.bb-elec.com/Products/USB-Connectivity/USB-2-0-Hubs/Industrial-Grade-USB-Hubs.aspx
It has very nice high retention-force USB connectors as well, making it less likely a cable will come out unexpectedly.
- Barry
Dr. Barry Megdal
President Shb Instruments, Inc. 19215 Parthenia St., Suite A Northridge, CA 91324 (818) 773-2000 (818) 773-2005 fax
Faculty Dept. of Electrical Engineering California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA bmegdal@... (use either email)
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Barry Does the UHR207 allow USB power from the computer to pass through to the devices? Don Anderson
From: "'Barry Megdal' bmegdal@... [ap-gto]" To: ap-gto@... Sent: Friday, January 20, 2017 10:54 AM Subject: [ap-gto] Re: Cable and Systems Management It is the UHR207 from http://www.bb-elec.com/Products/USB-Connectivity/USB-2-0-Hubs/Industrial-Grade-USB-Hubs.aspx It has very nice high retention-force USB connectors as well, making it less likely a cable will come out unexpectedly. - Barry Dr. Barry Megdal President Shb Instruments, Inc. 19215 Parthenia St., Suite A Northridge, CA 91324 (818) 773-2000 (818) 773-2005 fax Faculty Dept. of Electrical Engineering California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA bmegdal@... (use either email)
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Barry Megdal
It is a powered hub, so it provides its own power to the USB devices.
- Barry
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I understand that but does the B&B hub pass the PC power through to the devices even if the hub power is not connected? Don Anderson
From: "bmegdal@... [ap-gto]" To: ap-gto@... Sent: Friday, January 20, 2017 5:49 PM Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Re: Cable and Systems Management It is a powered hub, so it provides its own power to the USB devices. - Barry
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