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Trying to automate new OBS build.

Equipment Observatory Remote Astrophotography
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Mossyback avatar
Mossyback avatar
I’m currently replacing my crappy observatory with a new build. It will be a rolloff roof observatory about 20 m from the house. I can, by using Nina, control the mount, cameras, filters, and focusing from inside the house. With a new rolloff roof I’ll be able to control that through Nina also. The only problem that I have is the mini computer that I use in the observatory. It’s a MeLe and when power is supplied to it the red power switch lights up. To turn it on you have to press this button to activate it. Strangely, I can turn it off from the computer in the house.

I know it’s a small thing but if I can’t turn the MeLe on remotely, then there’s not much sense in automating the powering up of the other gear and roof. 

Any suggestions on how I can overcome this problem?

Hank
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Larry Wilson avatar
Larry Wilson avatar
I'm interested in answer too as I have the same problem with my MeLe computer.
Kevin Morefield avatar
Kevin Morefield avatar
Only rough suggestion here: My remote computers have been configured to boot up upon power on.  This was a BIOS setting that the guys at the observatory did.  Would that help?
NAG avatar
NAG avatar
Kevin Morefield:
Only rough suggestion here: My remote computers have been configured to boot up upon power on.  This was a BIOS setting that the guys at the observatory did.  Would that help?

Same here. Using a web relay i can turn on the computer remotely.
Mossyback avatar
Mossyback avatar
NAG, can you explain what a web relay is for this computer illiterate?
NAG avatar
NAG avatar
It's a relay that you can access to turn on and off via any browser at any place.

https://www.kmtronic.com/LAN-Relay-Controllers

https://sigma-shop.com/e_images/kmtronic_web_8relay_box_02.jpg

As Kevin said, you can configure your BIOS to boot up on power lost. That way, every time you turn on the relay the computer starts. 
To turn off, just shutdown the computer as usually and a few moments later turn of the relay.
Brian Puhl avatar
Brian Puhl avatar
Go into BIOS, look for power settings, power state S3 reboot after power loss, or boot on power… Enable it
Mossyback avatar
Mossyback avatar
No joy here. I’ve tried various methods to get into B.I.O.S. With no success. I tried using Terminal using the shutdown command (shutdown /r /o /f /t 00 ) with no results. This was supposed to take me to an options page but doesn’t. 

Could the fact that I’m accessing the computer via Remote Desktop be screwing things up?
Brian Puhl avatar
Brian Puhl avatar
You can't access BIOS remotely.   You need to be on site with a monitor and keyboard.
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Mossyback avatar
Mossyback avatar
Thanks Brian. I’ll bring it into the house.
Bill McLaughlin avatar
Bill McLaughlin avatar
For internet/ethernet/wifi controlled AC power switches, the most commonly used for remote setups is the digital loggers. They are well made and have ASCOM drivers for operation by NINA and such.

Digital Loggers

For DC, the most common is the Pegasus, but there are others.

You will also want a good surge system, preferably one that does not use MOVs..... Brickwall is one and there are a couple others. Spendy but do not become less effective with time like MOVs can.

Brickwall
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Mossyback avatar
Mossyback avatar
Bill, thanks for these links. Both are worth adding to the new build.
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Adam Drake avatar
Adam Drake avatar
Thanks Brian. I’ll bring it into the house.

I have a MeLe and it can indeed be set in the BIOS to boot on power.
Mike Hamende avatar
Mike Hamende avatar
Neither of my observatory PCs had the option to boot on power in bios.  However, both are powered through relays that I can control remotely.  I took cheap 9 gram servos and arduino minis and made a short program that makes the servo swipe back and forth only once when the arduino is powered.  I power the servo swiper from the same power that is applied to the pc through a regulator.  Every time the PC receives power the servo will wait 5 seconds then push the power button.   It's a ridiculous brute force solution but its been working fine for a couple years now.
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