Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Username: Password:

Author Topic: Astroeq problem has stopped working  (Read 447 times)

CCphoto

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10
    • View Profile
Astroeq problem has stopped working
« on: April 15, 2024, 17:48:43 »

Hi I have 2 Astroeq controllers which were working fine but for some reason my dec axis is working fine but RA stepper motor will not move. I found out that the drv8825 must be pretty hot because the plastic near those looked to melt. The voltage were sent as .4 volts which is o.8amps to the motor. I have changed DR8825 chips replaced and set up and even changed a new stepper motor Nema14 1.8 degrees at 0.8 amp. Even changed the external cables to the motor. I am now pulling out my hair. The DEC axis is fine but RA just sits with no movement.
I have looked on the Astroeq forum and I noticed some problems with arduino controllers which I think was due to 64bit version of Astroeq configuration. My version of Astroeq is a 4.6 version built up and I have downloaded the 8.2 version of Astroeq with Firmware update version 3.9.3.
I have tried running the configuration to make sure everything is the right software but when I run the program Bitdefender disinfects EQMODLoad.vbs and have to redisinfect it by Bitdefender but I do not know if this EQMODLoad.vbs has operated or if it can work this way.
The only choice I can have using ASTROEQ.exe is to use it as Run administrator but Bitdefender disinfects it to take it out of the bin folder.

Any help would be great and where are EQMOD logfiles stored
« Last Edit: April 17, 2024, 13:31:05 by CCphoto »
Logged

CCphoto

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10
    • View Profile
Re: Astroeq problem has stopped working
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2024, 13:51:46 »

Hi, I have sorted out that i have managed to install the Astroeq firmware update managing to disinfect the problem with Bit defender. I have installed the Astroeq configuration program and have checked that the firmware is updated on one of my controllers. The firmware is installed in my download folder and is firmware update v3.9.3 with v8.20
EQMOD is v2.00w but this controller only operates in Dec axis. RA does not operate the motor
I am beginning to suspect that EQMOD v2.00w might be the problem

With the second controller which is the same DIY build when I try to update the firmware is starts out to overide the baud rate to an Arduino at 56700 baud and just fails

I think that all of my problems started of problems when updating the configuration utility and EQMODv2.00w

Have I missed something where the schematics diagram is needed

Anyone can give me some advice
Can I backtrack to any setups that are required for version 4.6 build
Logged

TCWORLD

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 809
    • View Profile
    • AstroEQ
Re: Astroeq problem has stopped working
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2024, 22:56:29 »

Looks like something must have shorted out the motor connector and killed the old driver board.
If you have a multimeter, probably worth doing a continuity check on each of the connector pins to make sure they are still connected.

Does the RA motor make any sound (humming/buzzing) or is it completely silent?
If you plug the RA motor into the DEC connector (and vice versa) is it still the RA connector that is non-functional?

Logged
Tom Carpenter (AstroEQ)

CCphoto

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10
    • View Profile
Re: Astroeq problem has stopped working
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2024, 13:23:45 »

Hi thanks for your prompt response
The RA motor is silent no hum, buzzing in RA motor, If I plug in RA into Dec it is still Non Functional
I have found out that the external RA cable to the motor does not show continuity on the rj11 plug on pins 2 and 3 which must be broken wires. I have replaced this but maybe the original RA cable may have broken the wires when the motor was powered. I have replaced a new motor but the controller might have shorted out. I will have to look to check out continuity on both my controllers. The one failing RA motor and the spare controller that will not check out to update the firmware

Regards Charles Clark
Logged