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Mach2 connection

prestoncheatham
 

Is there any harm in leaving my Mach2 connected all the time in my observatory?  Never turning it off?

 

Preston 

 
Brian Valente
 

Hi Preston

I can't speak to the Mach 2 specifically, but our AP1600 and various other mounts are powered on pretty much 24/7 and we haven't had any issues

Brian


On Sun, Jul 31, 2022 at 8:17 PM prestoncheatham <holmescheatham@...> wrote:

Is there any harm in leaving my Mach2 connected all the time in my observatory?  Never turning it off?

 

Preston 

 



--

Allen Ruckle
 

Several months ago there was a thread about the damage dune to the topic starters mount and other equipment being damaged and needing replacement due to a nearby lightning strike outside his observatory.  A couple of responses from others responded with their experiences.   

A lightning strike that damages your Mach 2 is a low probability and it will only cost you a $ 1,000 dollars for a replacement CP5.   plus whatever other equipment may get damaged as well.  

The vulnerability is not only thru the power source to the scope but also Data wiring cables. 

The safest thing you can do is disconnect Power and com lines.  And depending on your location maybe even a properly installed Lightning rod ⚡️⚡️.   Do you also leave your Computer connected?

aruckle

 
Roland Christen
 

I don't believe there would be a problem as long as it was parked. I have left mine on for days at a time in a parked position.

Roland

-----Original Message-----
From: prestoncheatham <holmescheatham@...>
To: mainap-gtogroupsio <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Sent: Sun, Jul 31, 2022 10:17 pm
Subject: [ap-gto] Mach2 connection

Is there any harm in leaving my Mach2 connected all the time in my observatory?  Never turning it off?
 
Preston 
 

--
Roland Christen
Astro-Physics
fernandorivera3
 

Wait until a nearby "too close for comfort" lightning strike fries the electronics of your expen$ive mount...

Fernando

Roland Christen
 

Direct lightning strike of course will vaporize everything, and will probably melt the metal parts of the mount. At that point you collect the insurance and get on with life.

When it comes to nearby lightning strikes, all input ports of the CP controllers for long cables (USB, Ethernet, RS232 etc) have lightning protection.

In order to pass the FCC and CE requirements, one of the tests that the CP4/5 had to withstand was repeated 10 kilovolt discharges on all the input ports. The lightning protection on the inputs does work in the field to protect against induced voltages from nearby lightning. According to Mike, we have had several instances where a nearby lightning strike has damaged devices (computers, laptops, cameras, etc) that were connected to the AP mount controller, but in each case the CP controllers were not damaged. Customers will send them in to have them inspected for damage after such scenarios, but the controllers work just fine. The laptops on the other hand were toast.

Rolando

-----Original Message-----
From: fernandorivera3 via groups.io <fernandorivera3@...>
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Sent: Mon, Aug 1, 2022 9:45 am
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 connection

Wait until a nearby "too close for comfort" lightning strike fries the electronics of your expen$ive mount...

Fernando


--
Roland Christen
Astro-Physics
Chris White
 

On Mon, Aug 1, 2022 at 12:13 PM, Roland Christen wrote:
Direct lightning strike of course will vaporize everything, and will probably melt the metal parts of the mount. At that point you collect the insurance and get on with life.
 
When it comes to nearby lightning strikes, all input ports of the CP controllers for long cables (USB, Ethernet, RS232 etc) have lightning protection.
 
In order to pass the FCC and CE requirements, one of the tests that the CP4/5 had to withstand was repeated 10 kilovolt discharges on all the input ports. The lightning protection on the inputs does work in the field to protect against induced voltages from nearby lightning. According to Mike, we have had several instances where a nearby lightning strike has damaged devices (computers, laptops, cameras, etc) that were connected to the AP mount controller, but in each case the CP controllers were not damaged. Customers will send them in to have them inspected for damage after such scenarios, but the controllers work just fine. The laptops on the other hand were toast.
 
Rolando
Really interesting and informative post Roland.  Thank you.
Roland Christen
 

I just checked with Dave back in the mount department. We received the customer's CP4 that was in a nearby lightning strike scenario. Dave has checked it out and it has no damage at all - works perfectly.

Roland

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris White <chris.white@...>
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Sent: Mon, Aug 1, 2022 11:18 am
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 connection

On Mon, Aug 1, 2022 at 12:13 PM, Roland Christen wrote:
Direct lightning strike of course will vaporize everything, and will probably melt the metal parts of the mount. At that point you collect the insurance and get on with life.
 
When it comes to nearby lightning strikes, all input ports of the CP controllers for long cables (USB, Ethernet, RS232 etc) have lightning protection.
 
In order to pass the FCC and CE requirements, one of the tests that the CP4/5 had to withstand was repeated 10 kilovolt discharges on all the input ports. The lightning protection on the inputs does work in the field to protect against induced voltages from nearby lightning. According to Mike, we have had several instances where a nearby lightning strike has damaged devices (computers, laptops, cameras, etc) that were connected to the AP mount controller, but in each case the CP controllers were not damaged. Customers will send them in to have them inspected for damage after such scenarios, but the controllers work just fine. The laptops on the other hand were toast.
 
Rolando
Really interesting and informative post Roland.  Thank you.

--
Roland Christen
Astro-Physics
Bill Long
 

Very interesting info! Thanks for the explanation. 


From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Chris White <chris.white@...>
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2022 9:18 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 connection
 
On Mon, Aug 1, 2022 at 12:13 PM, Roland Christen wrote:
Direct lightning strike of course will vaporize everything, and will probably melt the metal parts of the mount. At that point you collect the insurance and get on with life.
 
When it comes to nearby lightning strikes, all input ports of the CP controllers for long cables (USB, Ethernet, RS232 etc) have lightning protection.
 
In order to pass the FCC and CE requirements, one of the tests that the CP4/5 had to withstand was repeated 10 kilovolt discharges on all the input ports. The lightning protection on the inputs does work in the field to protect against induced voltages from nearby lightning. According to Mike, we have had several instances where a nearby lightning strike has damaged devices (computers, laptops, cameras, etc) that were connected to the AP mount controller, but in each case the CP controllers were not damaged. Customers will send them in to have them inspected for damage after such scenarios, but the controllers work just fine. The laptops on the other hand were toast.
 
Rolando
Really interesting and informative post Roland.  Thank you.

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