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ROR Half Closed!

Equipment Sequencing Troubleshooting
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Mossyback avatar
Mossyback avatar
Two weird things from last nights' advanced sequencer run.

1. The image progress report indicated 10/10 images for LRGB filters and yet in the "Instruction" section the LRGB Smart Exposures indicated 0/10.

2. Although the Park Scope and Close Shutter were both check marked, the roof was only half closed. Not something that inspires confidence when one wakes up in the morning!

As for #1, all the images were taken. I'm just curious as to why the Smart Exposures weren't checked.

#2 above is more disconcerting. I was able to close the roof with the "key fob" with no trouble. I need to solve this problem so that I can sleep at night.

Suggestions as to where to look?

Hank
Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
Are there any safeties on the roof operation such as scope position via an optical device or limit switch? Does the motor have an obstacle detection safety (although those usually result in the roof going back to the open position if based on a gate opener). Some more info about the system might be helpful in troubleshooting. Could be something as simple as a power issue.
Helpful
Mossyback avatar
Mossyback avatar
I have the usual ones set up in N.I.N.A. The roof can't close unless the scope is parked. I'm using a Cloudwatcher which has a rain gauge and both it and the safety monitor from the add-ons are used. (Start when safe and when unsafe, go to closing sequence.) I don't have an optical device installed in the observatory.

I did wonder about a brief power outage but that would have shut down the computers both in the observatory and the house and that didn't happen. I agree with you re: obstacle detection. When I was first setting up the roof control in N.I.N.A. if it couldn't close, it would return to the open position. 

It would be nice to figure out a reason for this. I going to set up some test runs during the day and see if I can duplicate the "non" closure.
Brian Puhl avatar
Brian Puhl avatar
Two weird things from last nights' advanced sequencer run.

1. The image progress report indicated 10/10 images for LRGB filters and yet in the "Instruction" section the LRGB Smart Exposures indicated 0/10.

2. Although the Park Scope and Close Shutter were both check marked, the roof was only half closed. Not something that inspires confidence when one wakes up in the morning!

As for #1, all the images were taken. I'm just curious as to why the Smart Exposures weren't checked.

#2 above is more disconcerting. I was able to close the roof with the "key fob" with no trouble. I need to solve this problem so that I can sleep at night.

Suggestions as to where to look?

Hank



#1 is probably because you have a looping sequence in Nina, it finished the loop, started over, then was triggered to end. 

#2 is a little beyond me, but I'd think a limit switch would be to blame, or a power situation.
Jeffery Richards avatar
Jeffery Richards avatar
I have the usual ones set up in N.I.N.A. The roof can't close unless the scope is parked. I'm using a Cloudwatcher which has a rain gauge and both it and the safety monitor from the add-ons are used. (Start when safe and when unsafe, go to closing sequence.) I don't have an optical device installed in the observatory.

I did wonder about a brief power outage but that would have shut down the computers both in the observatory and the house and that didn't happen. I agree with you re: obstacle detection. When I was first setting up the roof control in N.I.N.A. if it couldn't close, it would return to the open position. 

It would be nice to figure out a reason for this. I going to set up some test runs during the day and see if I can duplicate the "non" closure.

Does your roof clear the scope regardless of position or are you just relying on a software report that the scope is parked?
Well Written Engaging
Mossyback avatar
Mossyback avatar
Brian - yes there was looping situation.

Jeff - no, the scope has to be parked otherwise the roof would hit it.

 I manually opened and closed the roof just now and one section of the track was causing a lot of noise against the drive gear. I wonder if it could have stalled the motor. I’m now making adjustments to the track to loosen up the contact with the gear.