6 replies to this topic

[gitfiddle]

Just venting after all my issues with the asiair app updates screwing up a bunch of stuff. . .

 

When shooting my flats, I noticed some lines that looked like they could be mold or something. Nothing the flats wouldn't fix, but I decided that since i was going to be tweaking the tilt plate anyway to get it dialed in, I'd just go ahead and clean the IR cut window that comes on the 2600mc pro. Cleaning the outside really well didn't do anything at all about the larger marks (almost looked like hair), so I figured it was on the inside, so I went ahead and figured I'd check the desiccant tablets and take care of the inside, too. Well, the window came out easy enough, but the seal must've been stuck to the metal somehow and it tore.

 

Not a big deal, I just ordered a new one since I want it to be sealed properly. Whatever the lines were were on the inside of the glass . . . however, it would seem that I left a couple of darker strands!   Still not sure if what I was seeing was mold or not, but I'll be re-drying the tablets once the new window shows up. Wondering if something caused the red seal that sits under the window to be compromised . . . and caused it to stick to the red frame.

 

Since I'm here, any tips or ideas on what may have compromised that seal/gasket and how to prevent it?

[joshman]

I'm confused... what exactly did you remove to access the inside? It reads as though you physically just removed the glass, instead of just undoing the 6 screws and taking the front off the camera...

[gitfiddle]

I'm confused... what exactly did you remove to access the inside? It reads as though you physically just removed the glass, instead of just undoing the 6 screws and taking the front off the camera...

Oh, I started by just removing the tilt plate so I could get better access to the front of the window. When that didn't work, I removed the rectangle window to expose the heater coils so I could move those and get a little better angle on to the edges of the visible window (the rectangle). When that still didn't work, I tried to just tap lightly to get the glass to fall out into a microfiber cloth, but it needed to get a little extra help (this is when I decided to remove the 6 screws and go ahead and check the desiccant tablets and just poke the window out from the underside.

 

(ps, on my 2600, you have to remove the tilt plate to get to the 6 screws)
 

Edited by gitfiddle, 09 September 2024 - 09:44 PM.

[joshman]

Oh, I started by just removing the tilt plate so I could get better access to the front of the window. When that didn't work, I removed the rectangle window to expose the heater coils so I could move those and get a little better angle on to the edges of the visible window (the rectangle). When that still didn't work, I tried to just tap lightly to get the glass to fall out into a microfiber cloth, but it needed to get a little extra help (this is when I decided to remove the 6 screws and go ahead and check the desiccant tablets and just poke the window out from the underside.

 

(ps, on my 2600, you have to remove the tilt plate to get to the 6 screws)
 

I'm sorry...but i still don't get what possessed you to remove the window as a first option to trying to clean it.

 

So the lesson is. don't do it that way. just take the front cowling off the camera altogether. thats how its designed to be opened for cleaning. The only time you should be taking the window out is if you're replacing it.

 

TBH, i think the seal should stay on the camera, and only the glass should come off.

[gitfiddle]

I'm sorry...but i still don't get what possessed you to remove the window as a first option to trying to clean it.

 

So the lesson is. don't do it that way. just take the front cowling off the camera altogether. thats how its designed to be opened for cleaning. The only time you should be taking the window out is if you're replacing it.

 

TBH, i think the seal should stay on the camera, and only the glass should come off.

It was definitely not my first option. I first just tried cleaning the window with the tilt plate on, so removing nothing at all. Then I removed the tilt plate and tried cleaning that way. Then removing the rectangle opening plate. Only then did I remove the 6 screws. The red seal/gasket seems to clearly be glued to the window--it's not just stuck on there a little--I'd have to rip it clean off to get it off the glass--I tried checking all the way around the seal--it won't even budge (except where it tore bc it was stuck to the metal--at least this one window seal seems to be attached securely to the glass, not the metal.

 

You may be saying to get to the underside of the window, just remove the 6 screws and wipe it down with the window still in place--I was having trouble getting my hands at a good angle to clean it to the edges of the rectangle . . . it popped right out (minus the one part that stayed stuck to the metal), so I think that would've happened when I started cleaning the underside anyway.

 

Once I get the new one from ZWO, should it be glued to the metal? Or should it just fit snug enough that it stays put? I'm thinking the latter.

 

J
 

PS Fortunately, I enjoy pulling stuff apart to learn how it works anyway, so this will be a really good learning experience. I'm just glad it's not going to require buying a new camera. . . although . . .

Edited by gitfiddle, 09 September 2024 - 10:09 PM.

[joshman]

so, your mistake was removing the rectangle opening plate. I take it you r removed the 4x phillips-head screws and the black centre-portion of this?

I've not gone down this rabbit hole with my camera, but i would expect that the black center piece retains the glass to stop it falling out.

 

You don't need to scrub the window, infact you should avoid touching the glass surfaces as much as possible. to clean the outside of the window, you just need to turn the camera upside down and use a hand-blower to dislodge anything particulates that might be there. A soft cotton q-tip will get far enough into those corners if you do need to physically remove something.

Edited by joshman, 09 September 2024 - 10:29 PM.

[gitfiddle]

so, your mistake was removing the rectangle opening plate. I take it you r removed the 4x phillips-head screws and the black centre-portion of this?

Screenshot 2024-09-10 131841.jpg

I've not gone down this rabbit hole with my camera, but i would expect that the black center piece retains the glass to stop it falling out.

 

You don't need to scrub the window, infact you should avoid touching the glass surfaces as much as possible. to clean the outside of the window, you just need to turn the camera upside down and use a hand-blower to dislodge anything particulates that might be there. A soft cotton q-tip will get far enough into those corners if you do need to physically remove something.

Yes, I have a battery operated blower with variable speed (so I don't turn it into a sand blaster). I tried that, but nothing moved. And the lines were dark enough and not moving at all, so I tried actually using some ROR. That did nothing. I have some sensor cleaning paddles that I can drop some ror on if (as it looked) the particles were caught between the glass and the rectangle window held in place by the philips screws...those paddles can get in the little crevice better than my finger/cloth...still no luck. Whatever it was was definitely on the underside of the glass, which is not my first choice to go under. The black plate holds in the dew heater coils that sit on top of the glass, as well as holding the glass in place.

 

That center piece (with the rectangle window) didn't seem to be the only thing holding the glass in place, I think the seal also is tight enough that it helps, but I now know to put the black piece back on after getting the top side of the glass cleaned (I tried blowing it off, I tried wiping it with ROR with the plate on, but no luck...that's when I figured maybe something was pinned in place under that black plate). Had I put that black piece back on, I could've cleaned the back side without removing the glass.

 

Once on the underside I did clean it with ROR, but it was still there (I just put the glass back in with the torn seal just to check)...so whatever it was, was really caked on there.

 

This is part of the fun for sure!