My review of the QHY CFW3 Filter Wheels

Björn Arnold:
Hi @Rouz,

Good review. I own the CFW3L (7x2"). I just want to add some technical info for those who use the filter wheel without a QHY camera:
Quite some people struggle getting the EFW running with ASCOM if they aren't using a QHY camera. Although there comes a cable which allows powering the filter wheel through 12V and control it via the USB, the ASCOM driver doesn't support that mode of operation.
So, if someone want's to run the filter wheel with ASCOM and a non-QHY camera, you need to have a USB 2.0 port which is capable of providing more than 500mA (in my case, the PegasusAstro-box does so).

Hope that's helpful for some.

Björn

THats good to know, thanks.

I too have the Pegasus and it worked with the USB option.

I suppose that motor does need some current to operate.


CS
Rouz

Rouzbeh,

So which firmware update revision did you have to load to force single-direction motion and where did you download it from? I have just gotten a 268M connected to the large wheel and it seems like based on your experience it makes sense to just apply that fix to start with, unless they have changed the firmware in newer wheels. Not sure if there is a way to verify the firmware version that is currently installed. I have the QHYCFW3L wheel.

Thanks bunches,

ML

I contacted QHY and they emailed it to me.
I have the same FWwww.qhyccd.com/file/repository/latestSoftAndDirver/other/arduloadeFW3.zip 

Got it from:
[email]cha@qhyccd.com[/email]


CS
Rouz

I've unfortunately found had the opposite experience with QHY wheels.  I have a 2" wheel and it had a bad faceplate where the threads on the OAG mounting had a problem and stripped instantly.  QHY replaced the faceplate with another wheel.  It had the same problem.  I reported this to Cha and 7 months later they identified and acknowledged a manufacturing problem and replaced the plate again.  This same wheel had the centering and bi-directional problem.  Sounds like you found a replacement firmware so hopefully that issue is taken care of. 

I also have a 36mm wheel that has a binding issue.  After two months and several emails to QHY they finally replied and offered to replace it.  By then I had fied it myself.  The spring is too tight and holds the motor up against the carousel too tightly.  The carousel is not perfectly round so when it rotates you can see it pushing the motor out.  To correct I physically stretched and slightly deformed the spring.  Hopefully its a permanent fix, but time will tell.

I have since replaced the 2in wheel with a pegasus wheel, which is compatible with the QHY bolt patter.  I definitely recommend it in case people are having trouble with the QHY.  Hopefully, Rouz's more recent experience with QHY wheels is a good sign that QHY has improved, but wanted to post my experience in case people are having similar issues and it could help them to resolve. 

Thanks for the review Rouz!