9 replies to this topic

[psandelle]

In the way of observatory equipment! Boy, get your minds out of the gutter!

Okay, I'm giving in and moving one of my rigs to a remote site (DSP Remote), and I want to know who leaves what on when night ends, and what do you turn off. Of course, I can turn everything on and off from afar; no, this is about what makes things easier, and/or less problematic.

I figure the computer stays on. Check. I'm thinking of leaving the mount on as well, but some people I talk to don't. Camera and other stuff turns off. Am I missing anything? What do y'all do?

Thanks,

Paul

[kathyastro]

The computer stays on.  And the two Arduinos that control power and the dome are always powered, even if the computer is off, from the USB hub.

 

I turn on power to the dome motors and to the pier equipment (mount, camera, etc.) manually at the start of a session.  I could automate the power-up sequence, but the EFW2 filter wheel is flaky about starting up, and needs an occasional "kick".  I can usually do the "kick" remotely, but it sometimes needs hands-on.

 

I have an automatic shut-down sequence programmed into NINA.  Once the dome is closed, either at the normal end of a session or after an emergency rain or power fail closure, and the camera is back to room temperature, pier devices are powered down, and dome motor power is turned off.  There are exceptions: if the dome-close function reports failure to complete, the power controller will leave motor power enabled in hopes that the close may eventually complete.

[starhunter50]

Collimating 10 time and still the stars are goofy. 8 inch F3.75 Astrograph. eerggg

that bugs me a lot. 

[PirateMike]

Collimating 10 time and still the stars are goofy. 8 inch F3.75 Astrograph. eerggg

that bugs me a lot. 

You should keep your auto-collimator on at all times.  

[starhunter50]

lol, did not realize it was literaly a hydro post . lol

[EFT]

Computer on always.  Cameras off when not in use.  Mount is a person preference, but I have no problem with leaving it on.

[DS INC]

I leave everything on, zero issue for years, but this assumes it does not get hot hot hot in your observatory in the summer, heat can hurt electronics.

[Inkie]

Read in for curiosity (not into AP yet, and my observatory is hand-turned in my back yard).  My other hobby is toy trains and I've built a layout with hills, tunnels, water courses, bridges....you get the idea.  Power is off in the train room when I'm not there.  Rocker switch off on the power bar, which is plugged into a hefty surge protector.  I don't want fried decoders. When I get my dome powered, it will have a kill switch that will prevent any surges from getting to the mount.  At 72, I don't need the stress and aggravation of sending off equipment for repairs (I'm not trained to do it myself), or wish to spend what it would take to replace it.  Bending at the waist and throwing a switch is simple, if one remembers to actually do it, and then I have peace of mind. 

 

I can appreciate that those of you with remote operations need to have at least one type of permanent power available for computers and actuators. 

[psandelle]

Okay, cool. Doesn't sound like I'm missing anything. I'm just trying to dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" LONG before I get set up. "Measure twice, cut once, bring lots of extra cables" is my motto. Thanks all!

Paul

[dghent]

I leave everything on 24/7 except for the camera, which I turn off if there is no imaging to be done for the night. All the gear is behind an online UPS. "Online" in UPS parlance means that the UPS is double conversion. The AC input is converted to DC, and the DC is converted back to AC on the output side. An "offline" UPS, sometimes referred to as a "standby UPS" has the AC input wired directly to the output, and the battery is used only if the AC input is interrupted. The benefit of an online UPS is that the AC power output is very clean as the internal DC circuit is always in operation, isolating the AC output from the possibly dirty AC input.