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Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all) cruzr944 member Reged: 07/28/12 Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope       #5344749 - 07/31/12 07:19 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello I am a totaly new to telescope owning and I have only been to club open nights.I live in Australia Sydney. Miranda Can someone tell me if its me or the scope, I have fistly a nexstar cassegrain 8 se new. I set in time near exact to second, time zone 10 and gps co ordinates Lat 151deg 13min 12 sec E , Long 33deg 52min 48sec.S Im pretty sure that is all good, I then align three stars in a large triangle in the sky. Enter and align them all. I get the star in top left of scope and centre it using the down and right buttons press align. After that the scope hand piece tells me all good. and to turn of laser pointer scope led. I depress solar system button and scroll to Saturn hit enter and it zooms around and pans in to Saturn. Here is where it goes wrong , I enter Mars and scope pans around 180 deg to upside down with focus now now on top of the scope. and than continues to do this with other go to points. Is this easily fixed or is it actually have a problem, Thanks in advance and I have read the manual . I have also entered Sydney as the location and it still roll around , I have seen Saturn and showed my kids, it doesnt look real, wow, and I managed to get mars , that has been by manual driving the scope. The scope is sitting as per diagram which looks correct. Please help Glen . Post Extras:       RTLR 12 Post Laureate Reged: 12/04/08 Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: cruzr944]       #5344786 - 07/31/12 08:05 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Glen, This could be a low power problem. How are you powering the mount? The AA batteries will not power the mount properly in most cases and rechargeable batteries are even worst. If using AA batteries try a brand new set or try a automotive jump pack or AC adapter. Stan Post Extras:       Bob Griffiths Getting Grouchy Reged: 10/10/05 Loc: Frederick Maryland Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: RTLR 12]       #5345002 - 07/31/12 10:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Down under your goto approach should be set NEGATIVE in Azimuth since you are in the Southern Hemisphere...and POSITIVE in Altitude...so If I were to center my stars I would be using the LEFT and down buttons anyhow >>>> PLEASE do yourself a Major favor and scroll down to the Telescope Specific forums way down the list of forms and find the NEXSTAR FORUMS.. These are where the guys/gals who own and use your scope hang out and I bet you get answers (CORRECT and very quickly) to every question you have... Bob G. Edited by Bob Griffiths (07/31/12 10:37 AM) Post Extras:       Bob Griffiths Getting Grouchy Reged: 10/10/05 Loc: Frederick Maryland Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Bob Griffiths]       #5345284 - 07/31/12 01:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I see a Moderator has already moved this thread to where the OP will get the answers.. Bob G. Post Extras:       orion61 Vendor(Clear Edge Optical) Reged: 10/20/07 Loc: NW Iowa BURRRR Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Bob Griffiths]       #5345459 - 07/31/12 02:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Is the scope set to Northern or Southern operation? Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: orion61]       #5345524 - 07/31/12 03:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Glen & Welcome to the forum! The first thing to check with unusual behavior like this is the power supply. If you're using internal batteries, those will only last for 2-3 hours of use before the scope starts losing its mind. -Dan Post Extras:       cruzr944 member Reged: 07/28/12 Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5346526 - 08/01/12 07:37 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi and thanks for the help so far, my power is supplied by a car battery and a lead to the telescope. The battery reads 12.42 volts from my multimeter. I have set the scope to Australia and Sydney , time scale 10 I have not discovered how to set in Northeren Or Southern operation. My goto aproach was set to pos in azimuth and pos in altitude.I Have now changed setting to neg in Azimuth. Tonight before changing settings it did the same problem after its alignment, I went to look at mars and it went to drive the non viewing end of the scope nearly to hit the mounting base, towards the ground. I know some one here will have an answer, Thanks for the support , Saturn looks like there is a black and white video playing in my eyepiece, looks so surreal. Hoping we can get scope sorted so I can see some more good sights. My kids are enjoying the view, Thanks again, Post Extras:       Bob Griffiths Getting Grouchy Reged: 10/10/05 Loc: Frederick Maryland Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: cruzr944]       #5346559 - 08/01/12 08:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   could you post a picture of the scope as it sits on the Mount...??? I'm curious if you have it mounted correctly ... Bob G. Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Bob Griffiths]       #5346766 - 08/01/12 11:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Good point Bob! Glen, as you stand behind the scope, looking through it, the fork arm should be on your left. Is that they way your scope is setup? -Dan Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5347392 - 08/01/12 05:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Glen, Welcome to CN and to this Nexstar forum, (albeit it could be under better circumstances) ! May I ask some additional questions to those already posed ? In referring to your initial post above, can you confirm my assumptions that: 1) You were using "Skyalign" to align your 'scope and, from what you say, the alignment was successful as indicated on your hand controller screen ? 2) Thereafter, you made a single GoTo slew to Saturn, which the 'scope completed successfully and which you actually viewed in your eyepiece ? 3) It was only in trying to make the second GoTo slew; this time to Mars; that the tube flipped over and the motion became erratic ? Your confirmation of these events may well come in handy in solving this hiccough ! Best regards, Tel Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Tel]       #5347406 - 08/01/12 05:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Glen, I've just noticed. Unless you've made a "typo" In your first post, your latitude and longitude are the wrong way round ! Your Longitude should be 151 degs. 13min. 12 secs. E Your Latitude should be 33 degs. 52 mins 48 secs. S If you have confused these co-ordinates, (?) ..... (although on now inspecting my hand controller, I can't see how you can enter them incorrectly). What do you think ? Best regards, Tel Edited by Tel (08/01/12 06:11 PM) Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Tel]       #5348114 - 08/02/12 03:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A further thought along these lines in the cold light of day, Glen. Try perhaps aborting your Lat./Long. co-ordinates in favour of a listed "Nearest City". I see that Sydney Australia appears among those listed. If this were to work, then we'd know that the original co-ordinates were adrift somewhere and must therefore be corrected. (You wouldn't need to stick with "Nearest City"; such would only be introduced for the purpose of cross-checking). As said, just an after thought but perhaps worth a try ? Best regards, Tel Post Extras:       cruzr944 member Reged: 07/28/12 Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Tel]       #5348219 - 08/02/12 06:27 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello , an update yes I wrote my long and lat wrong way around in post but they were entered corectly a typo . I have used Sydney to the same result, scope inverts. It is very cloudy here tonight but I managed to align 3 stars, using sky align. Tonights 3 objects were alpha centauri . altair and the moon, it said alignment success. Asked it to go to Saturn scope drove corectly towards Saturn than continued to pan upward toward sky and than upside down. Mount rotated 180 degrees and than pretty nuch aligned on Saturn albeit upside down. Scope position at start of night before alignment as in picures has controller on left as I look through eye piece. The focus knob is at the bottom. Lenz entry above that. and tightening lock screw holding in scope is at the bottom. I am sure it is in the corect position. I had even put the scope in the oposite way and it still spins around upside down. In reply to Tel, yes all what I wrote is correct .and Tonight after alignment the scope drove to Saturn and was upside down when there. I than picked the moon and the scope just spun 180 degrees and ligned it up the correct way up . So it has a mind of its own as I am loosing mine.Dan the scope is correct I am sure in position and mountings . Voltage reads 12.43 on battery and drops .01of a volt when driving alt az motors. Back to you guys ????? Post Extras:       cruzr944 member Reged: 07/28/12 Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: cruzr944]       #5348221 - 08/02/12 06:28 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The motion has never been eratic always smooth, Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: cruzr944]       #5348258 - 08/02/12 07:26 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Glen: Power could still be an issue. There are several connectors that look nearly identical and will work with the mount, but only one will work reliably. If the 12v adapter you're using has the wrong connector, it could be losing connection intermittently for a very brief moment, which can send the scope into never-never land. So the next thing I'd try is putting some BRAND NEW fresh AA Alkaline batteries into the base. Continue to use your external supply as well. If the power is interrupted from the external supply, the AA's will keep the power at 12V. If that doesn't work, try resetting the handset to factory settings using the handset menus. It's in the Utilities menu. Let us know what happens. -Dan Post Extras:       Peter9 Post Laureate Reged: 10/30/08 Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: cruzr944]       #5348272 - 08/02/12 07:50 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I have not discovered how to set in Northeren Or Southern operation. Have you checked this out yet. I don't have my scope handy, but it will be in the menu's. Regards. Peter. Post Extras:       Tin_Can_Man journeyman Reged: 01/20/12 Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Peter9]       #5348329 - 08/02/12 08:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have a Nexstar 6se (same mount as the 8se) and don't recall ever having seen a North/South Hemisphere setting. So long as you put your lat/long in correctly as well as time zone you should be all good. Have you tried updating to the latest firmware on both your hand contoller and mount? I have found the latest hand controller firmware is quite stable and less prone to error than previous firmware versions. Another thing that no one seems to have mentioned.. in which direction is the tightening knob on the vixen bar holder pointing? Just curios to see if yours is pointing upwards (incorrect) instead of downwards (the correct way). Anyway, I'm sure this will get sorted soon. I had my own mount problems for a while but careful testing etc.. and you will be sure to find the answer! Post Extras:       Bob Griffiths Getting Grouchy Reged: 10/10/05 Loc: Frederick Maryland Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Tin_Can_Man]       #5348355 - 08/02/12 08:59 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Heck I'm still running version 4.13 in both my 8i and CPC1100 .. Stability sure has not ever been an issue .. I have not updated to any of the later versions because frankly they did not offer anything I felt I needed...or wanted for that matter I'm still curious if the scope is mounted correctly on the mount... Bob G. Post Extras:       Peter9 Post Laureate Reged: 10/30/08 Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Tin_Can_Man]       #5348633 - 08/02/12 12:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for putting me right on that Tin Can Man. Makes sense if you think about it, which I didn't. Regards. Peter. Edited by Peter9 (08/02/12 12:32 PM) Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: Nexstar Celestron spins upside is it me or scope [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5348794 - 08/02/12 02:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Hi Glen: Power could still be an issue. There are several connectors that look nearly identical and will work with the mount, but only one will work reliably. If the 12v adapter you're using has the wrong connector, it could be losing connection intermittently for a very brief moment, which can send the scope into never-never land. So the next thing I'd try is putting some BRAND NEW fresh AA Alkaline batteries into the base. Continue to use your external supply as well. If the power is interrupted from the external supply, the AA's will keep the power at 12V. If that doesn't work, try resetting the handset to factory settings using the handset menus. It's in the Utilities menu. Let us know what happens. -Dan Hi Dan, sound advice although I would be inclined to take the external power source completely out of the equation at this stage. If Glen's 'scope then works for say, even half an hour purely supplied by the 8 X AA batteries contained in the mount, we can be reasonably certain that the fault lies with the external source; either with the source itself, the supply cord or the connections. Additionally, Glen, if you know, only very roughly, where one bright star will be positioned at a certain time tonight, (e.g. Canopus, Formalhaut, Altair etc.), you can perform a simulated "Auto two Star Align" any time of the day. All you need to do is "kid" your 'scope into thinking it's an appropriate time in the evening when one of these stars can be seen, then aim the 'scope roughly to where you know it would be at the false time you have entered, and then align on it. You will then be offered a second star. It doesn't matter what this is at this stage, just accept it. The 'scope will now automatically slew to this second star. Accept the final position of the slew. You should have now achieved "Auto Two Star Align" success. Now try to visit a few objects, known equally to be in this "false" night sky you have created for your 'scope and see if the 'scope is either behaving as it should, or otherwise. Hoping this helps. If you need further clarification on the mock or false alignment procedure, please do ask. Best regards, Tel Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all)

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