57 replies to this topic

[MarkGman]

Turning off the Wi-Fi seemed to solve the problem of the hand controller disconnecting from its alignment. And the other problem of the Wi-Fi sky portal connection turning off and powering off the alignment; this again seems to be an early evening problem in my suburban neighborhood. I suspect the problem is neighboring Wi-Fi is being used which interfere with the Wi-Fi sky portal connection. Are there ways to shelter segregate the Wi-Fi sky portal connection on the telescope from local Wi-Fi interference?

WiFi interference was my first thought.  I was out Saturday night and my SkyPortal app could not find my telescope sitting right next to me even though my laptop could communicate using CPWI.  Even though I was out in the country there were other WiFi signals broadcasting.  I retried it at home, and it is fine.  The Evolution WiFi is only good for distances measured in a few feet.  I assume interference was the likely culprit.  I am not sure why the laptop could identify the signal but the iPhone could not.  I assume the laptop just has better WiFi hardware.  I did not try resetting anything since I could communicate via laptop.  The lesson: don't count on any single technology unless frustration is your thing.  Even though I have StarSense I still have my alignment scope attached.  I've had computers, electronics, and software misbehave too many times.

[Otto Piechowski]

This evening, when , Using Wi-Fi and sky portal, I instructed the evolution mount to go to a specific star and pressed go to; there was an instantaneous hard jerk in the mount and the power went dead. There was no light at all anywhere on the Mount. I juggled the power switch on and off and the power did not come on. This situation has continued today. Toggling the switch on and off does not turn the power on. The mount is dead.

Edited by Otto Piechowski, 11 June 2024 - 03:17 PM.

[mlord]

Okay, something on the main circuit board has died.  Most likely the L293DD chip short-circuited internally (they do that sometimes), killing itself and possibly also damaging one of the on-board voltage regulators.  This happened to the main board in my own Evolution mount, and I repaired it to get things working again.  https://www.cloudyni...0#entry12222013

 

Assuming that something similar is the case here, then this will require a new main circuit board from Celestron, or a repair of the existing circuit board by someone else (Celestron never repairs them, they only replace them).

 

You can send the mount to Celestron for "repair" (replacement of the circuit board), or you can order a replacement board ($350 ?) and install it yourself.  If the mount is older than the year 2020, it may be better to send it to Celestron, because at some point they also changed the battery connector from 4-pins to 2-pins, and the battery connector will have to match the newer replacement circuit board. 

 

If you do get a new circuit board from Celestron, I would like to acquire your dead board afterwards if possible.  I use them for parts when sometimes fixing other Evolution mounts.

 

EDIT:  Is the mount 100% dead (no LEDs) with AC-Power connected?

Edited by mlord, 11 June 2024 - 04:39 PM.

[Otto Piechowski]

Thank you for all of that information. It is completely dead. No lights no LEDs. Because I have had continuing problems with the hand controller I already knew that they would take that back for a repair; and I am hoping expecting that they will take this back for a repair as well since the previous attempt to repair the hand controller they replace the motherboard or whatever it’s called.

[Otto Piechowski]

Mike , if and when Celestron gets back to me with a shipping label and offering to repair the problems; I will try to remember to request that if they put a new circuit board in if they allow me to keep the older defective one and if they do I will get in contact with you to get it to you.

[Otto Piechowski]

Mike, would what Celestron’s service repair people call the Motor Control Board (what they replaced at the last repair to my mount) be the same thing as what you called the Main Circuit Board?

[mlord]

I don't know what they call it.  It will be either "Motor control board", or "Main circuit board", or something similar.  Here's the part:

https://agenaastro.c...er-f00-004.html

[Otto Piechowski]

Success! My Nexstar Evolution Mount/Arm now works without flaw.

 

Six months ago (January) I sent my Nexstar Evolution Mount/Arm to Celestron customer service to correct a problem with the hand controller operation.  In under three weeks, I had the mount/arm back with the information that (1) the motor control board had been replaced, (2) the hand controller had been replaced, (3) goto was tested, (4) mechanical functions were tested, (5) all function were tested.

 

Within a few months I noticed (a) problems again with the hand controller cutting out of alignment and tracking, especially when it was cold outside, (b) possible problem with the wifi holding alignment/tracking (but possibly not), and © a loose housing bolt within the mechanicals and electronics moving around in the base assembly.

 

Even though my mount/arm/ota/etc. was then, well pass the two year warranty period, Celestron's customer service again, without charge provided me the means to ship the mount/arm and hand controller back to them for repairs.  Again, within three weeks, I had the mount/arm returned to me.  The following had been done, (1) replaced motor control board, (2) replaced battery pack, (3) replaced a/the thermal resistor, (4) completed endurance testing, (5) completed goto testing, (6) completed mechanical testing, (7) tested all functions.  Also, I noticed that the phone jack (male) on the hand controller seemed to fit more snugly into all four AUX port. All of the repairs and replacements were without charge. I believe the hand controller was replaced again and possibly the AUX ports were replaced.

 

On four occasions I used the hand controller, each time using a different AUX port.  Each time the hand control functions, alignment, tracking worked for one to three hours without flaw.  Also, it seemed that on each occasion, the WIFI/SkyPortal worked without flaw.

 

The only thing I see which still requires testing and confirmation by my efforts is when the weather gets cold, to see if the hand controller still functions as it should.

 

I am appreciative to Celestron for its professional and courteous service.

 

With gratitude,

 

Otto

Edited by Otto Piechowski, 14 July 2024 - 10:55 AM.