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Author Topic: Arduino RA motor moves about two steps and then stops  (Read 3175 times)

arunasmazeika

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Arduino RA motor moves about two steps and then stops
« on: January 16, 2017, 16:42:47 »
Hi guys,

I've recently built an Arduino AstroEQ using the etched board from GiGi (https://sites.google.com/site/gigimysite/home/astro/astroeq).

Photos here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B76jtIoq_J10LTYwRVM5MHczdGM?usp=sharing

The DEC motor works perfectly fine. However the RA motor will just move about two steps just after starting EQmod and clicking on the arrows and then won't move at all anymore. To reproduce the experience I need to disconnect EQmod, the 12V input and USB cable and start all over again. The RA motor will then move about 2 steps again before stopping for good.

I've checked every connection (the melted driver socket isn't damaged :) !), swapped cables and drivers and I cannot find what's wrong here. Everything looks good. Talked to GiGi over mail (he's been very helpful, thank you GiGi!) but so far we haven't been able to determine the cause. I've also tried another Arduino and I have the very same behavior. For now I'm only using the USB port for connecting the AstroEQ.

Any idea of what might be wrong with the board? It's funny that it tries to move and then stops right?

Thank you guys!
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TCWORLD

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Re: Arduino RA motor moves about two steps and then stops
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2017, 18:20:52 »
Are you "clicking" on the arrow keys, or holding them down?
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Tom Carpenter (AstroEQ)

arunasmazeika

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Re: Arduino RA motor moves about two steps and then stops
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2017, 19:44:59 »
Hello Tom,

I'm holding the mouse button on the virtual pad. All works for DEC.

Arunas
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TCWORLD

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Re: Arduino RA motor moves about two steps and then stops
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2017, 08:56:00 »
It's worth double checking that the motor is wired up correctly (if you cross the coils over the motor doesn't run), and also that there aren't any loose connections to the RJ11 connectors.

What speed were you trying to slew at? it is possible that the motor is stalling if you are slewing very fast, but I presume you have tried at low speed (e.g. 8x) and are having the same issue.
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Tom Carpenter (AstroEQ)

arunasmazeika

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Re: Arduino RA motor moves about two steps and then stops
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2017, 09:28:01 »
Hi Tom,

Wiring is good, if I switch the motor cables then the RA motor works through the AstroEQ DEC output. The cables aren't the issue either as changing them from RA to DEC leads to the same result, only DEC controller works.

I've tried different slew speeds and the result is the same. This is all very strange as I cannot see anything wrong with the board.
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