1767 replies to this topic

[tolgagumus]

Today I received a cooled mono 1600 camera from ZWO for testing on DSO targets. 

 

I coupled it with a Orion Nautilus filter wheel. Filter wheel has T threads and so does the camera. This setup puts the filters 15 MMs in front of the sensor. The test rig includes a Vixen VSD (380MM F/3.8), Telescope service OAG, Orion SSAG, Celestron AVX, Custom Scientific LRGB 1.25" mounted filters. 

 

My initial impressions are as follows:

 

Camera is extremely light weight compared to CCDs, but it's well constructed. 

It cools to - 20°C at 50% power indoors and keeps it there. 

ASCOM driver seems to be stable with Maxim. 

Download time is ridiculously fast compared to what I'm used to with CCD and DSLR cameras. 

 

Right now I'm taking 400 bias and 100 300" darks. 

 

I took some flats with Lum filter and I see no significant vignetting. 

 

Please let me know if anyone has any specific tests you want me to run. I'll try my best to run them. 

 

 

 

 

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Edited by tolgagumus, 28 April 2016 - 06:49 PM.

[tolgagumus]

Imaging train and flat

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Edited by tolgagumus, 28 April 2016 - 07:01 PM.

[syscore]

"It cools to - 20°C at 50% power indoors and keeps it there."

 

How far is that below ambient? 

[tolgagumus]

"It cools to - 20°C at 50% power indoors and keeps it there."

 

How far is that below ambient? 

Regular room temperature 20°C. I know it doesn't sound believable. That means - 40 below ambient with 50% power. 

[FirstC8]

"It cools to - 20°C at 50% power indoors and keeps it there."

How far is that below ambient?

Regular room temperature 20°C. I know it doesn't sound believable. That means - 40 below ambient with 50% power.

If you can read stablized temp at the chip before start TEC, that I think is the right way to calculate the delta.

The chip temp (when running without cooling) should be higher than room temp.

Edited by FirstC8, 28 April 2016 - 07:09 PM.

[tolgagumus]

 

 

"It cools to - 20°C at 50% power indoors and keeps it there."

How far is that below ambient?

Regular room temperature 20°C. I know it doesn't sound believable. That means - 40 below ambient with 50% power.

If you can read stablized temp at the chip before start TEC, that I think is the right way to calculate the delta.

The chip temp (when running without cooling) should be higher than room temp.

 

Right now the camera is taking darks. I'll report back when done. 

[syscore]

Thanks. 

[bigeastro]

Dog! - American slang term of endearment.

 

How do you know Sam!  What is the word on the other cameras?

[tolgagumus]

300 second darks +20 and -20

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[bigeastro]

Oh my Tolga,  Getting serious here... This is great.  Another sample point.

[tolgagumus]

Dog! - American slang term of endearment.

 

How do you know Sam!  What is the word on the other cameras?

I met him at NEAIC. I don't know the shipping dates. I do know he has many on order. 

[FirstC8]

Thanks for the info!

Guess the top was at -20c and bottom sub at +20c?

Wonder what would they look like when stretched.

[tolgagumus]

Thanks for the info!

Guess the top was at -20c and bottom sub at +20c?

Wonder what would they look like when stretched.

These ARE stretched. 

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[syscore]

That worries me about the cooling. But maybe the power % is just wrong. If it is 68 deg inside, it must be really cold outside, or you have a big cooling bill. When you get a chance I would like to see what you get when you set the cooling to max.

Edited by syscore, 28 April 2016 - 08:05 PM.

[FirstC8]

Looks good.

[bigeastro]

Thanks for the info!

Guess the top was at -20c and bottom sub at +20c?

Wonder what would they look like when stretched

 

Correction the top appears to be 20.2C and the bottom -19.8C.  This is what it says in the header.

 

Yes, it does look good.

[syscore]

It looks like the cooling is maxed out I guess, because the temp is rising. And is it adding 2 to each sequence number, or are you showing us every other frame?

[tolgagumus]

Here are some raw files if anyone wants to take a look. I'll be adding more into this folder as I get more. 

 

https://www.dropbox....fvJXfOk7sa?dl=0

[bigeastro]

Tolga,

 

Are you sure on the 17mm from CMOS face to Filter Face?  That is pretty close and is similar to the QSI with the internal filter wheel.  If this is producting no noticable vignetting, then that is consistent with prior estimates from two sources.  You are the third.  I wonder what 20 or 22 mm would do?  That is what it turns out to be with the AXGYL filter wheel with stock adapters if I recall correctly.  The 1mm Precision Parts adapter places it at about 17mm.

[tolgagumus]

It looks like the cooling is maxed out I guess, because the temp is rising. And is it adding 2 to each sequence number, or are you showing us every other frame?

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[syscore]

Why does the frame say -19.5 then?

[bigeastro]

I can't believe my eyes!.  That cooling is sick.  Is the camera broken?

[syscore]

I think the 178 has the same cooler, and I just hooked it up to maxim and and set it to -30 and the ambient temp is 22 and it got to -20.7 at 100%. It got to -15 at 50%. The way it reports power is strange. It seems that if it goes past 50%, then you should probably back off.

[syscore]

And now it has settled at -19 deg, which is 41 to 42 deg of cooling. And then when I started taking darks, it rose a bit further to -17.5 and now has settled at -17.3, which is -39.3 delta. When I stop, the temp starts heading back to -19, but when I start again, it starts heading back to -17. A delta of 35 would be safe.

[syscore]

Are you saving these darks somewhere accessible?

 

Sorry, I see the post.

Edited by syscore, 28 April 2016 - 08:54 PM.