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AP1100 CP4 pier crash

Ray Gralak #69979 Eric, What is your use case where you would potentially leave the mount tracking? -Ray Gralak Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver toggle quoted message Show quoted text -----Original Message----- From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Eric M Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 12:07 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Thanks for the info Ray, having a PC connected initially wouldn't be a problem and I very rarely unlock the clutches. If it needs to be reprogrammed after every sync that sounds like it could be a pain, that is something I frequently do. Bryan the safe zones on page 41 are what I was hoping would be available, but it looks like this only protects against a slew command putting it in an unwanted spot. It sounds like it does not offer protection for standard tracking and doesn't accept values past the meridian.
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Eric M #69976 Thanks for the info Ray, having a PC connected initially wouldn't be a problem and I very rarely unlock the clutches. If it needs to be reprogrammed after every sync that sounds like it could be a pain, that is something I frequently do. Bryan the safe zones on page 41 are what I was hoping would be available, but it looks like this only protects against a slew command putting it in an unwanted spot. It sounds like it does not offer protection for standard tracking and doesn't accept values past the meridian.
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Worsel #69975 Eric See page 41 in https://astro-physics.info/tech_support/mounts/keypad/keypad-manual.pdf Does this meet your needs? Bryan
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Ray Gralak #69972 Eric, I typically don't use a laptop when I image so APCC won't be of any help. Is what Christopher said true? Can this really be done on the CP4? It requires some sort of computer to setup the CP4 and monitor the mount position as you would have to send commands to the CP4. If the CP4 does not receive any commands for a certain period of time the mount can stop tracking and park itself in place. There are soft limits that can be setup but there's a lot of complexity in getting the commands right. If you sync/recal/unlock clutches+move scope then the limits need to be reprogrammed. -Ray Gralak Author of APCC (Astro-Physics Command Center): https://www.astro-physics.com/apcc-pro Author of PEMPro V3: https://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: https://www.siriusimaging.com/apdriver -----Original Message----- From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Eric M Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 8:04 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash I typically don't use a laptop when I image so APCC won't be of any help. Is what Christopher said true? Can this really be done on the CP4? If not, is it possible this could be added? Some simple safety limits (at the CP4 level) past the meridian sure would give some piece of mind that our investments are protected and I'm sure would prevent many of the crashes we hear about, something as simple as "if the mount reaches X minutes past meridian, stop tracking". Eric
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Eric M #69971 I typically don't use a laptop when I image so APCC won't be of any help. Is what Christopher said true? Can this really be done on the CP4? If not, is it possible this could be added? Some simple safety limits (at the CP4 level) past the meridian sure would give some piece of mind that our investments are protected and I'm sure would prevent many of the crashes we hear about, something as simple as "if the mount reaches X minutes past meridian, stop tracking". Eric
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Roland Christen #69969 Sure would be nice if a meridian flip fails for some reason, power is left on and forgotten about, or if connected to a laptop and the laptop crashes and the mount has nothing to tell it to stop tracking or park at the end of the night. All that is already in APCC. The mount can be programmed to do all of the above. Rolando -----Original Message----- From: Eric M <eric.marlatt@...> To: main <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Sat, Apr 25, 2020 9:09 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Could limits be programmed into the control box to stop this from being a danger? Sure would be nice if a meridian flip fails for some reason, power is left on and forgotten about, or if connected to a laptop and the laptop crashes and the mount has nothing to tell it to stop tracking or park at the end of the night. I know APCC addresses some of these situations, but requiring a computer to be connected at all times is not always ideal. Seems like it would be a huge bonus to safety, we have some pretty expensive equipment riding on these mounts. Eric
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Joel Short #69958 "The CP4 has those features now." Christopher, are you saying the CP4 has those safety stops without the use of APCC? Last year I had my one and only pier crash and unfortunately it burned out or somehow damaged the DEC motor. At the time I was slightly annoyed that safety limits were not built into the CP4 but instead I would need to purchase APCC to get those safety limits. I wasn't willing to do that so I use other methods. So I"m confused by your comment that "the CP4 has those features now." joel
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Christopher Erickson #69954 The CP4 has those features now. -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Waikoloa, HI 96738 www.summitkinetics.com toggle quoted message Show quoted text On Sat, Apr 25, 2020, 4:09 PM Eric M <eric.marlatt@...> wrote: Could limits be programmed into the control box to stop this from being a danger? Sure would be nice if a meridian flip fails for some reason, power is left on and forgotten about, or if connected to a laptop and the laptop crashes and the mount has nothing to tell it to stop tracking or park at the end of the night. I know APCC addresses some of these situations, but requiring a computer to be connected at all times is not always ideal. Seems like it would be a huge bonus to safety, we have some pretty expensive equipment riding on these mounts. Eric
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Eric M #69953 Could limits be programmed into the control box to stop this from being a danger? Sure would be nice if a meridian flip fails for some reason, power is left on and forgotten about, or if connected to a laptop and the laptop crashes and the mount has nothing to tell it to stop tracking or park at the end of the night. I know APCC addresses some of these situations, but requiring a computer to be connected at all times is not always ideal. Seems like it would be a huge bonus to safety, we have some pretty expensive equipment riding on these mounts. Eric
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Rick Darden #69952 I meant I do NOT get a face on view of the control box. If I am seeing the yellow light on the ethernet port and I am mistaking it for the amber light on the CP4, I, sorry for the mix up.
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Rick Darden #69951 There are 6 of us in the building and I can see everyone's lights. Reds, blues, yellows. I think I am seeing in true color.
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Rick Darden #69950 You know I might be seeing the yellow light on the ethernet port. The cam angle is such where I do get a face on view of the control box. Is the yellow light on the ethernet port the normal on light and not the green?
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Christopher Erickson #69949 It is possible that the limited dynamic range of the webcam, in the dark observatory, is causing the sensor chip to be saturated by the comparatively-bright LED, making a red LED appear amber or white. -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Waikoloa, HI 96738 www.summitkinetics.com toggle quoted message Show quoted text On Sat, Apr 25, 2020, 6:37 AM uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> via groups.io <chris1011=aol.com@groups.io> wrote: I am able to initialize and it seems to be tracking fine so far. I have a webcam and can see that the CP4 LED is amber. Those two things can't possibly be true at the same time. Can you slew the scope? Rolando -----Original Message----- From: Rick Darden <rick@...> To: main <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Sat, Apr 25, 2020 11:34 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Hi All, I'm the guy with the pier crash at my remote observatory that started this topic. Thanks for all the replies. I am able to initialize and it seems to be tracking fine so far. I have a webcam and can see that the CP4 LED is amber. The CP4 manual says it could be an imbalance issue or an undervolt issue. The load has not shifted to cause an imbalance. The AP1100 has it's own dedicated Powerwerx power supply. Can't see how the voltage to the mount could have been affected. Or was it? Possible something going on inside the control box? Any thoughts? Much appreciated. Rick Darden
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Roland Christen #69943 If that's the case, your mount is working properly. Do you still have an amber light when it is tracking? Rolando toggle quoted message Show quoted text -----Original Message----- From: Rick Darden <rick@...> To: main <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Sat, Apr 25, 2020 12:30 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash I can slew and it hits its target. I can park as well. I did not have much time last night but I was able to initialized, track, slew and park like normal.
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Rick Darden #69938 I can slew and it hits its target. I can park as well. I did not have much time last night but I was able to initialized, track, slew and park like normal.
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Roland Christen #69934 I am able to initialize and it seems to be tracking fine so far. I have a webcam and can see that the CP4 LED is amber. Those two things can't possibly be true at the same time. Can you slew the scope? Rolando -----Original Message----- From: Rick Darden <rick@...> To: main <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Sat, Apr 25, 2020 11:34 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Hi All, I'm the guy with the pier crash at my remote observatory that started this topic. Thanks for all the replies. I am able to initialize and it seems to be tracking fine so far. I have a webcam and can see that the CP4 LED is amber. The CP4 manual says it could be an imbalance issue or an undervolt issue. The load has not shifted to cause an imbalance. The AP1100 has it's own dedicated Powerwerx power supply. Can't see how the voltage to the mount could have been affected. Or was it? Possible something going on inside the control box? Any thoughts? Much appreciated. Rick Darden
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Rick Darden #69933 Hi All, I'm the guy with the pier crash at my remote observatory that started this topic. Thanks for all the replies. I am able to initialize and it seems to be tracking fine so far. I have a webcam and can see that the CP4 LED is amber. The CP4 manual says it could be an imbalance issue or an undervolt issue. The load has not shifted to cause an imbalance. The AP1100 has it's own dedicated Powerwerx power supply. Can't see how the voltage to the mount could have been affected. Or was it? Possible something going on inside the control box? Any thoughts? Much appreciated. Rick Darden
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Bill Long #69903 I know someone that had an 1100 crash into a step ladder during a slew. Motors are fine, step ladder is fine as well. toggle quoted message Show quoted text From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> via groups.io <chris1011@...> Sent: Friday, April 24, 2020 7:19 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Won't the motor trip a fault and stop if it hits with the clutch tight? Yes. Rolando -----Original Message----- From: Charles Thompson via groups.io <cthomp97@...> To: main <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Thu, Apr 23, 2020 8:43 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Won't the motor trip a fault and stop if it hits with the clutch tight? I think I remember that happening to me once when my meridian flip time was off a little bit. Thanks, Charles Sent from mobile device. -------- Original message -------- From: Rick Darden <rick@...> Date: 4/23/20 7:58 PM (GMT-06:00) To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Good to hear. But my clutches are snug tight with a key. I am getting in tonight to see what the fall out is if any. Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: "uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> via groups.io" <chris1011@...> Date: 4/23/20 8:49 PM (GMT-05:00) To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Did I do any damage? Probably not. Especially if your clutches were not super tight. I left my Mach2 running all night last night, forgot to turn off power. This morning the scope was up against the pier. Nothing damaged except my self esteem. ;^( Rolando -----Original Message----- From: Rick Darden <rick@...> To: main <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Thu, Apr 23, 2020 7:20 pm Subject: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Hi All, It happened while I was sleeping and it was tracking on its target. I think it crashed maybe 5-10 min before I intervened. Did I do any damage? It scope is at a remote observatory 2100 miles away and can't get there to investigate.
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Roland Christen #69902 Won't the motor trip a fault and stop if it hits with the clutch tight? Yes. Rolando -----Original Message----- From: Charles Thompson via groups.io <cthomp97@...> To: main <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Thu, Apr 23, 2020 8:43 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Won't the motor trip a fault and stop if it hits with the clutch tight? I think I remember that happening to me once when my meridian flip time was off a little bit. Thanks, Charles Sent from mobile device. -------- Original message -------- From: Rick Darden <rick@...> Date: 4/23/20 7:58 PM (GMT-06:00) To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Good to hear. But my clutches are snug tight with a key. I am getting in tonight to see what the fall out is if any. Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: "uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> via groups.io" <chris1011@...> Date: 4/23/20 8:49 PM (GMT-05:00) To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Did I do any damage? Probably not. Especially if your clutches were not super tight. I left my Mach2 running all night last night, forgot to turn off power. This morning the scope was up against the pier. Nothing damaged except my self esteem. ;^( Rolando -----Original Message----- From: Rick Darden <rick@...> To: main <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Thu, Apr 23, 2020 7:20 pm Subject: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Hi All, It happened while I was sleeping and it was tracking on its target. I think it crashed maybe 5-10 min before I intervened. Did I do any damage? It scope is at a remote observatory 2100 miles away and can't get there to investigate.
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Roland Christen #69901 In that case the motor probably stalled and the controller would then cut power. Rolando toggle quoted message Show quoted text -----Original Message----- From: Rick Darden <rick@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Thu, Apr 23, 2020 7:58 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Good to hear. But my clutches are snug tight with a key. I am getting in tonight to see what the fall out is if any. Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: "uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> via groups.io" <chris1011@...> Date: 4/23/20 8:49 PM (GMT-05:00) To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Did I do any damage? Probably not. Especially if your clutches were not super tight. I left my Mach2 running all night last night, forgot to turn off power. This morning the scope was up against the pier. Nothing damaged except my self esteem. ;^( Rolando -----Original Message----- From: Rick Darden <rick@...> To: main <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Sent: Thu, Apr 23, 2020 7:20 pm Subject: [ap-gto] AP1100 CP4 pier crash Hi All, It happened while I was sleeping and it was tracking on its target. I think it crashed maybe 5-10 min before I intervened. Did I do any damage? It scope is at a remote observatory 2100 miles away and can't get there to investigate.
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