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[mramirez]

Dear Tom.
I have bought one of your AstroEQ devices a few days ago.
I have already soldered an connected everything, but I’m having problems connecting the USB.
When I connect the USB to the computer, the LED starts blinking for a few seconds, and the new USB device appears detected in the Windows 10 Device Manager, BUT.
After a few seconds, de LED remains ON (not blinking), and the new USB device, disappears from the Device Manager, making impossible to go on.
Please, I need some help
Kind regards.
Mateo

[TCWORLD]

Sounds like you may have the crystals swapped. Make sure that the crystal next to the 20-pin device is indeed the 12MHz one. Also double check there are no dry solder joints.

Kind Regards,
Tom.

[mramirez]

Hi Tom thanks for your answered.
I have been checking the soldering and the passive components. I have even changed the 7805 (just in case). The Crystals are in the right places.
 Things have changed slightly but not enough.
When I connect the USB, the LED start blinking for more than one minute (LED should blinks forever?) and then remains on and the USB disappears from the Device Manager.
During this minute I open the AstroEQ firmware utility, and click on Configure. The utility tries to read the EEPROM for a while and then fails. While it tries to read the EEPROM, several codes (:021) appears at the bottom of the utility windows.
I have tried to use an Arduino nano behaving as your PIC. I have removed the PIC, and connected TX and RX lines to RX and TX lines of Arduino. And I have connected reset pin to GND on Arduino (this way Arduino should behave as your PIC, I gess).
When I click on Configure, EEPROM can not be read and  I have the same failure.

Best regards
Mateo

[TCWORLD]

Could you upload pictures of front and back of the board?

Also, were you connecting the 12V supply before the USB cable (you need to).

I'd also check that the 12V supply is working correctly and giving a stable voltage.

[mramirez]

Hi Tom.
12 volts are ok, and yes i conected before,
Here I am sending the pictures.

Best regards.

Mateo

[mramirez]

Hi Tom.
On july the 27th I sent you the pictures of the board. Any coment?
Thanks a lot
Mateo

[TCWORLD]

Hi Mateo,

Apologies, I've been away on holiday with very intermittent internet access.

I've had a quick look and the soldering on the boards looks fine, so I'm not quite sure what is going on.

When testing with the arduino as a USB to serial, did you make sure to upload a program onto the arduino that sets the TX/RX pins of the Nano to be inputs?

TX of the arduino (pin 1 of the nano) should be connected to pin 12 of the PIC socket, and RX of the arduino (pin 2 of the nano) connects to pin 10 of the PIC socket. Pin 9 of the PIC socket should connect to the reset pin of the arduino (pin 3 of the nano). With those connections, do you have any success talking to the ATMega?
If not, have you clicked on the "Update Firmware" in the config utility yet? You'll need to update the firmware before you can use the Configure button. The ATMega comes preprogrammed only with a bootloader, which is sufficient to allow the firmware to be updated without a programmer.

If you can get the ATMega talking correctly, that will help narrow down the potential problems.

Kind Regards,
Tom.

[mramirez]

Hi Tom.
I am sorry, I have been traveling and I have not the chance to do anything with the AstroEQ until now.
The problem with the com port seams to be solved. I really don’t know how.
I tried to run the configure task again, and this time the board kept the connection for about 3 minutes, then the com port were lost.
Then I realized that I had to run first the “Update Firmware” before running the “configure”.
After running the  “Update Firmware”, the com port remains on. Then I ran the “configure”, charging the “EQ5-Custom-Pulley.conf” config file. Is this the right one?
Now, when I opened the “Cartes du Ciel”, I can connect with the Telescope (via your AstroEQ), and I can move the Telescope and do some kind of Goto.
Now I am having the problem that I miss some steps in RA, so that, the goto is not precise enough.
I have the EQ5 Skywhatcher mount, and I have bought the NEMA 14 stepper motors, and pulleys and belts you mentioned in this web side.
The torque in AR motor seams that it is not enough. According with your experience, which is the current that should be applied to the motors? I have tried with 1.5A in RA.
On the other hand, do I have to upload the config file every time I turn on the board?
Thanks Tom
Kind regards
Mateo

[TCWORLD]

Hi Mateo,

Glad the comms problem is sorted.

If the current is too low, or if it is too high, it can cause a loss of steps.
I would drop the current limit down to ~1.2A, which should allow the driver to operate more efficiently.

I would also make sure your mount is well balanced - if the weights aren't balanced the motors can struggle to turn the mount.

If that doesn't help, try lowering the goto speed to see if you can find a point where it doesn't skip steps.

Kind Regards,
Tom.

[mramirez]

Hi Tom.
Again, it took me too much time to test your advices. I have been out of home for a while.
I ordered a new set of ICs, and the communication problems are solved, but unfortunately, I can not solve the problems with skipping steps in AR motor.
My system is an EQ5 (brand new) and a Reflector 130/900 with only a 5 kg counterweight. Once everything is balanced, and as the current goes up, the problem gets better, but not enough.
I have also tried decreasing the goto speed. Again, the problem gets better but it does not disappear.  In fat even at tracking speed the AR motor skips steps, mainly when the counterweight rod is close to the horizontal position.
I have thought in opening a new thread regarding the “Skipping steps problem”, and see what others people experiences.  And also in changing the AR motor by a NEMA17.
Kind regards.
Mateo