Date
1 - 20 of 21
GTO3600 runaway behavior
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Steve Smith
GTO3600 GTOCP4 SkyX AP V2 driver, latest version After running our mount for an hour or so, it will suddenly "take off" when given a slew or jog command. Repeated commands via software to stop or abort don't work. Pressing STOP on the keypad pauses the motion for a half-second or so, but the mount then continues. The only way we've been able to stop it is to cut mount power. After start up, the mount is completely lost and tracks at a non-sidereal (and significantly faster) rate. This has happened for three nights in a row: the mount works fine for an hour or so and then goes rogue. Any help, ideas, test, etc., would be greatly appreciated! Steve S. RFO |
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Steve, with some older mounts this problem was invariably related to the split pin in the power cord connection to the controller. If you pull the plug and gently spread the two haves with a flat bladed screwdriver, see if this helps. Worked for my AP900GTO CP2 long ago. Stuart On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 1:04 PM, ssrfo59@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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Stuart Heggie |
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Yves Laroche
The CP4 does not have this kind of connector. Yves Le 2018-04-15 1:19 PM, "Stuart Heggie stuart.j.heggie@... [ap-gto]" <ap-gto@...> a écrit :
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Joe Zeglinski
Stuart,
FYI – the CP4 has “dual pins” in its connector, rather
than the old CP3 “split pin” for power – so unlikely power flicker.
My less than year old CP4 unexpectedly went permanently
“rogue” last summer. To confirm it wasn’t software or PC comms, I did several
slews offline, using just the control pad and discovered it took off suddenly
and accelerated to maximum slew speed, even right in the middle of a slow manual
button slew – not even a GOTO. Luckily I yanked the power cord, during each such
test, so no damages occurred.
Returned it for professional investigation and
repair.
Sometimes weird stuff just happens with new technology.
Joe
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Roland Christen
This is a CP4, so no split pin.
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Rolando -----Original Message-----
From: Stuart Heggie stuart.j.heggie@... [ap-gto] To: ap-gto Sent: Sun, Apr 15, 2018 12:26 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior Steve, with some older mounts this problem was invariably related to the split pin in the power cord connection to the controller. If you pull the plug and gently spread the two haves with a flat bladed screwdriver, see if this helps. Worked for my AP900GTO CP2 long ago.
Stuart
On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 1:04 PM, ssrfo59@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
Stuart Heggie
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Joe, Yves and Rolando - thanks for clarifying. Stuart On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 2:08 PM, chris1011@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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Stuart Heggie |
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Steven
Steve
Sounds something like a meridian flip.
S From: ap-gto@... on behalf of ssrfo59@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...>
Sent: Sunday, 15 April 2018 1:04 p.m. To: ap-gto@... Subject: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior GTO3600 GTOCP4 SkyX AP V2 driver, latest version
After running our mount for an hour or so, it will suddenly "take off" when given a slew or jog command. Repeated commands via software to stop or abort don't work. Pressing STOP on the keypad pauses the motion for a half-second or so, but the mount then continues. The only way we've been able to stop it is to cut mount power. After start up, the mount is completely lost and tracks at a non-sidereal (and significantly faster) rate.
This has happened for three nights in a row: the mount works fine for an hour or so and then goes rogue.
Any help, ideas, test, etc., would be greatly appreciated!
Steve S. RFO
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Check power supply. Make sure you aren't running on batteries that are getting old and losing capacity prematurely. What are you using for power anyway? Try a different battery or AC adapter. Everybody should have spares of things like power supplies, chargers, etc. ready to go. Do you have a periodic maintenance checklist and log sheets to review? How old are your batteries? Any corroded or loose connections? When was the last time you checked all the connections and such of your mount power supply system? Do you have other stuff running off of the mount's power supply? Try disconnecting the hand controller altogether to see if the problem isn't a flaky slew button. If that isn't the problem then try tunning the scope for an "engineering night" with the PC disconnected. If you have a spare motor Y cable (everybody should!) Then try that next. You will lose any PEM programming (but you have probably already lost that) but if you have a CP3 sitting around (most of us do) then try that to see if the problem is in the CP4 or the motors/cables. Any issues of extreme humidity or temperature? These tests should help you greatly narrow down the problem.
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Roland Christen
The daughter board inside the CP4 might not be making good contact. It may have loosened if the CP4 was ever dropped or handled roughly.
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Try this: 1. remove the top cover of the CP4 (power disconnected) 2. push on the daughter board on its sides so that all the connectors are fully seated. There are standoffs that should pop into place when the board is fully attached. Rolando -----Original Message-----
From: ssrfo59@... [ap-gto] To: ap-gto <ap-gto@...> Sent: Sun, Apr 15, 2018 12:04 pm Subject: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior GTO3600
GTOCP4
SkyX
AP V2 driver, latest version
After running our mount for an hour or so, it will suddenly "take off" when given a slew or jog command. Repeated commands via software to stop or abort don't work. Pressing STOP on the keypad pauses the motion for a half-second or so, but the mount then continues. The only way we've been able to stop it is to cut mount power. After start up, the mount is completely lost and tracks at a non-sidereal (and significantly faster) rate.
This has happened for three nights in a row: the mount works fine for an hour or so and then goes rogue.
Any help, ideas, test, etc., would be greatly appreciated!
Steve S.
RFO
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Alex Colburn
Hi Steve,
If it takes off in only one axis, RA or DEC, then is sounds like an encoder fault in that axis. Alex |
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Roland Christen
I have forwarded your message to Howard@.... He can contact you today and help you with this problem. It might be a simple software bug that he can fix over the net.
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Roland Christen Astro-Physics Inc. -----Original Message-----
From: ssrfo59@... [ap-gto] To: ap-gto Sent: Sun, Apr 15, 2018 12:04 pm Subject: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior GTO3600
GTOCP4
SkyX
AP V2 driver, latest version
After running our mount for an hour or so, it will suddenly "take off" when given a slew or jog command. Repeated commands via software to stop or abort don't work. Pressing STOP on the keypad pauses the motion for a half-second or so, but the mount then continues. The only way we've been able to stop it is to cut mount power. After start up, the mount is completely lost and tracks at a non-sidereal (and significantly faster) rate.
This has happened for three nights in a row: the mount works fine for an hour or so and then goes rogue.
Any help, ideas, test, etc., would be greatly appreciated!
Steve S.
RFO
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Thanks Rolando, As suggested by Peter (pnagy), I just checked the Keypad start up setting which is set to "YES", so should I change that to "EXT"? I use the mount both via the Keypad for visual observing and via the laptop for imaging. I don't know if the Longitude has always been wrong or if it changed sometime (it is only a few miles out), as I only noticed yesterday which was the first time I used the rig since we entered Daylight Savings and I had some issues (user error probably) getting my mount time correct, so I was checking everything. Regards,
Geof From: ap-gto@... on behalf of chris1011@... [ap-gto]
Sent: 16 April 2018 17:17 To: ap-gto@...; howard@... Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior I have forwarded your message to Howard@.... He can contact you today and help you with this problem. It might be a simple software bug that he can fix over the net. -----Original Message-----
From: ssrfo59@... [ap-gto] To: ap-gto Sent: Sun, Apr 15, 2018 12:04 pm Subject: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior GTO3600
GTOCP4
SkyX
AP V2 driver, latest version
After running our mount for an hour or so, it will suddenly "take off" when given a slew or jog command. Repeated commands via software to stop or abort don't work. Pressing STOP on the keypad pauses the motion for a half-second or so, but the
mount then continues. The only way we've been able to stop it is to cut mount power. After start up, the mount is completely lost and tracks at a non-sidereal (and significantly faster) rate.
This has happened for three nights in a row: the mount works fine for an hour or so and then goes rogue.
Any help, ideas, test, etc., would be greatly appreciated!
Steve S.
RFO
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Roland Christen
If you want to control the mount with just the keypad, set it to YES. If you want the mount to start up with your computer driver, set the keypad to EXT.
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Rolando -----Original Message----- From: Geof Lewis geoflewis@... [ap-gto] To: howard ; ap-gto Sent: Mon, Apr 16, 2018 11:37 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior Thanks Rolando,
As suggested by Peter (pnagy), I just checked the Keypad start up setting which is set to "YES", so should I change that to "EXT"? I use the mount both via the Keypad for visual observing and via the laptop for imaging.
I don't know if the Longitude has always been wrong or if it changed sometime (it is only a few miles out), as I only noticed yesterday which was the first time I used the rig since we entered Daylight Savings and I had some issues (user error probably) getting
my mount time correct, so I was checking everything.
Regards,
Geof
From: ap-gto@... gto@...> on behalf of chris1011@... [ap-gto] gto@...>
Sent: 16 April 2018 17:17 To: ap-gto@...; howard@... Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior I have forwarded your message to Howard@.... He can contact you today and help you with this problem. It might be a simple software bug that he can fix over the net.
Roland Christen Astro-Physics Inc. -----Original Message-----
From: ssrfo59@... [ap-gto] gto@...> To: ap-gto gto@...> Sent: Sun, Apr 15, 2018 12:04 pm Subject: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior GTO3600
GTOCP4
SkyX
AP V2 driver, latest version
After running our mount for an hour or so, it will suddenly "take off" when given a slew or jog command. Repeated commands via software to stop or abort don't work. Pressing STOP on the keypad pauses the motion for a half-second or so, but the
mount then continues. The only way we've been able to stop it is to cut mount power. After start up, the mount is completely lost and tracks at a non-sidereal (and significantly faster) rate.
This has happened for three nights in a row: the mount works fine for an hour or so and then goes rogue.
Any help, ideas, test, etc., would be greatly appreciated!
Steve S.
RFO
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Thanks Rolando, OK so I'll change it to EXT. Will I still be able to use the HC for visual without connecting the laptop?
BTW I wish all AP team and users a great time at
NEAIC and NEAF - it's a bit too far for me to travel
😊. Best regards,
Geof From: ap-gto@... <ap-gto@...> on behalf of chris1011@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...>
Sent: 16 April 2018 17:40 To: ap-gto@... Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior If you want to control the mount with just the keypad, set it to YES. If you want the mount to start up with your computer driver, set the keypad to EXT.
-----Original Message-----
From: Geof Lewis geoflewis@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> To: howard <howard@...>; ap-gto <ap-gto@...> Sent: Mon, Apr 16, 2018 11:37 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior Thanks Rolando,
As suggested by Peter (pnagy), I just checked the Keypad start up setting which is set to "YES", so should I change that to "EXT"? I use the mount both via the Keypad for visual observing and via the laptop for imaging.
I don't know if the Longitude has always been wrong or if it changed sometime (it is only a few miles out), as I only noticed yesterday which was the first time I used the rig since we entered Daylight Savings and I had some issues (user error probably) getting
my mount time correct, so I was checking everything.
Regards,
Geof
From: ap-gto@... <ap-gto@...>
on behalf of
chris1011@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...>
Sent: 16 April 2018 17:17 To: ap-gto@...; howard@... Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior I have forwarded your message to Howard@.... He can contact you today and help you with this problem. It might be a simple software bug that he can fix over the net.
Roland Christen Astro-Physics Inc. -----Original Message-----
From: ssrfo59@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> To: ap-gto <ap-gto@...> Sent: Sun, Apr 15, 2018 12:04 pm Subject: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior GTO3600
GTOCP4
SkyX
AP V2 driver, latest version
After running our mount for an hour or so, it will suddenly "take off" when given a slew or jog command. Repeated commands via software to stop or abort don't work. Pressing STOP on the keypad pauses the motion for a half-second or so, but the
mount then continues. The only way we've been able to stop it is to cut mount power. After start up, the mount is completely lost and tracks at a non-sidereal (and significantly faster) rate.
This has happened for three nights in a row: the mount works fine for an hour or so and then goes rogue.
Any help, ideas, test, etc., would be greatly appreciated!
Steve S.
RFO
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Roland Christen
There are three startup modes in the keypad: Autoconnect NO, Autoconnect YES and EXT. When you are in EXT mode, it is assumed that you want to control the mount via your computer. So the mount will wait for your computer to initialize. Your keypad meanwhile will wait for the computer to initialize. That is the normal way of operation. However, you can bypass the EXT mode by pressing MENU and the keypad will then ask you for a manual startup - same as if you were in the NO mode. All this is fully explained in the manual.
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Rolando -----Original Message----- From: Geof Lewis geoflewis@... [ap-gto] To: ap-gto Sent: Mon, Apr 16, 2018 11:55 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior Thanks Rolando,
OK so I'll change it to EXT. Will I still be able to use the HC for visual without connecting the laptop?
BTW I wish all AP team and users a great time at
NEAIC and NEAF - it's a bit too far for me to travel
😊.
Best regards,
Geof
From: ap-gto@... gto@...> on behalf of chris1011@... [ap-gto] gto@...>
Sent: 16 April 2018 17:40 To: ap-gto@... Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior If you want to control the mount with just the keypad, set it to YES. If you want the mount to start up with your computer driver, set the keypad to EXT.
Rolando -----Original Message-----
From: Geof Lewis geoflewis@... [ap-gto] gto@...> To: howard ; ap-gto gto@...> Sent: Mon, Apr 16, 2018 11:37 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior Thanks Rolando,
As suggested by Peter (pnagy), I just checked the Keypad start up setting which is set to "YES", so should I change that to "EXT"? I use the mount both via the Keypad for visual observing and via the laptop for imaging.
I don't know if the Longitude has always been wrong or if it changed sometime (it is only a few miles out), as I only noticed yesterday which was the first time I used the rig since we entered Daylight Savings and I had some issues (user error probably) getting
my mount time correct, so I was checking everything.
Regards,
Geof
From: ap-gto@... gto@...>
on behalf of
chris1011@... [ap-gto] gto@...>
Sent: 16 April 2018 17:17 To: ap-gto@...; howard@... Subject: Re: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior I have forwarded your message to Howard@.... He can contact you today and help you with this problem. It might be a simple software bug that he can fix over the net.
Roland Christen Astro-Physics Inc. -----Original Message-----
From: ssrfo59@... [ap-gto] gto@...> To: ap-gto gto@...> Sent: Sun, Apr 15, 2018 12:04 pm Subject: [ap-gto] GTO3600 runaway behavior GTO3600
GTOCP4
SkyX
AP V2 driver, latest version
After running our mount for an hour or so, it will suddenly "take off" when given a slew or jog command. Repeated commands via software to stop or abort don't work. Pressing STOP on the keypad pauses the motion for a half-second or so, but the
mount then continues. The only way we've been able to stop it is to cut mount power. After start up, the mount is completely lost and tracks at a non-sidereal (and significantly faster) rate.
This has happened for three nights in a row: the mount works fine for an hour or so and then goes rogue.
Any help, ideas, test, etc., would be greatly appreciated!
Steve S.
RFO
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Steve Smith
Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions, and we'll go through a checklist based on the ideas.
We have a permanent installation so the mount is fixed in place. Power is supplied by a UPS system which is constantly being fed by building power. The mount power supply itself is beyond what AP recommends for this mount, and is not used for anything else. While we won't rule out a power issue as the cause of the problem, we think the cause lies elsewhere: keypad wonkiness, bad connection, CP4 problem, etc. Steve S. |
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Roland Christen
The keypad does not cause runaways.
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You may have an outdated version of CP4 firmware. The symptoms are similar to a problem that was fixed in a newer version of CP4 firmware. Make sure you have the latest version of firmware installed. The folks at AP. -----Original Message-----
From: ssrfo59@... [ap-gto] To: ap-gto Sent: Tue, Apr 17, 2018 5:23 pm Subject: [ap-gto] Re: GTO3600 runaway behavior Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions, and we'll go through a checklist based on the ideas. We have a permanent installation so the mount is fixed in place. Power is supplied by a UPS system which is constantly being fed by building power. The mount power supply itself is beyond what AP recommends for this mount, and is not used for anything else. While we won't rule out a power issue as the cause of the problem, we think the cause lies elsewhere: keypad wonkiness, bad connection, CP4 problem, etc.
Steve S.
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Joe Zeglinski
Steve,
A UPS can also have odd quirks. Can you try bypassing
the UPS, to see if it is periodically “switching”, or I should say “twitching”,
due to some internal diagnostic.
How old is the UPS? Its batteries may not be providing
stable power. How far away is the UPS from the CP4 antenna, if you are using
wireless? Could the UPS switching cause sporadic WiFi signal interference?
That’s quite a long shot, I know, but I wouldn’t rule
out the UPS for causing the sudden CP4’s confusion.
Joe
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Any power supply can get flaky when it heats up.
Thinking more about the mount's 120VAC to 12VDC supply than the UPS. UPS's
usually are 100% good or 100% bad. Very little in between. Not so
for AC adapters.
FWIW the batteries in most residential/SOHO-class UPS's only
last about 2-4 years. However is is very, very unlikely the UPS
is the culprit in this runaway mount
problem.
And
yes, a hand controller CAN cause a problem like this. A crushed, damaged
or simply depressed slew button could be involved. But it also is unlikely
to be the problem.
Go
through the checklist I sent earlier. In the order shown. Swap out
the mount's power supply first before doing anything else.
-Christopher Erickson
Observatory engineer Summit Kinetics From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...] Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2018 8:11 PM To: ap-gto@... Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Re: GTO3600 runaway behavior Steve,
A UPS can also have odd quirks. Can you try bypassing
the UPS, to see if it is periodically “switching”, or I should say “twitching”,
due to some internal diagnostic.
How old is the UPS? Its batteries may not be providing
stable power. How far away is the UPS from the CP4 antenna, if you are using
wireless? Could the UPS switching cause sporadic WiFi signal interference?
That’s quite a long shot, I know, but I wouldn’t rule
out the UPS for causing the sudden CP4’s confusion.
Joe
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Woody Schlom <woody@...>
I'll second Chris' stuck HC button suggestion. My AP HC has never done
this, but I've had two other brands do it. Woody From: ap-gto@... <ap-gto@...> Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 12:34 AM To: ap-gto@... Subject: RE: [ap-gto] Re: GTO3600 runaway behavior Any power supply can get flaky when it heats up. Thinking more about the mount's 120VAC to 12VDC supply than the UPS. UPS's usually are 100% good or 100% bad. Very little in between. Not so for AC adapters. FWIW the batteries in most residential/SOHO-class UPS's only last about 2-4 years. However is is very, very unlikely the UPS is the culprit in this runaway mount problem. And yes, a hand controller CAN cause a problem like this. A crushed, damaged or simply depressed slew button could be involved. But it also is unlikely to be the problem. Go through the checklist I sent earlier. In the order shown. Swap out the mount's power supply first before doing anything else. -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Summit Kinetics Waikoloa, HI 96738 <http://www.summitkinetics.com/> www.summitkinetics.com _____ From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...] Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2018 8:11 PM To: ap-gto@... Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Re: GTO3600 runaway behavior Steve, A UPS can also have odd quirks. Can you try bypassing the UPS, to see if it is periodically "switching", or I should say "twitching", due to some internal diagnostic. How old is the UPS? Its batteries may not be providing stable power. How far away is the UPS from the CP4 antenna, if you are using wireless? Could the UPS switching cause sporadic WiFi signal interference? That's quite a long shot, I know, but I wouldn't rule out the UPS for causing the sudden CP4's confusion. Joe <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam paign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> Virus-free. <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam paign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> www.avg.com |
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