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Author Topic: Compatability with standard synscan stepper motors  (Read 4467 times)

Madharibo

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Compatability with standard synscan stepper motors
« on: July 28, 2015, 09:55:00 »

Hi

So basically I purchased a eq3 synscan with a 150p about a year ago 2nd hand, I tried to update the handset and the motor controller on my eq3, unfortunately I purchased the wrong kind of serial converter and couldn't get it to connect, so after getting the right converter I managed to update my handset to V3.7 think it was , after trying to update the controller it didn't work, couldn't connect to it, so after putting everything back together I found that the handset would not find the motor controller.


So I found a spare motor, paid, waited and waited for it to come, to then be told that it was notin stock and various other excuses, so in the end I cancelled, have not been able to use the synscan now for 9 months.

My question is

1. How compatible is the astro eq to the standard steppers you get with a eq3 synscan
2. If they are compatable then how do I convert the connectors on the steppers to st4 for the astro eq?


Thanks for your time

Mad
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TCWORLD

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Re: Compatability with standard synscan stepper motors
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2015, 13:47:03 »

Hi Mad,

I should think AstroEQ would work fine with the stepper motors. You won't be able to use the hand controller, but it should work fine controlling it from the PC.

Do you have a info on the motors? Any part numbers written on them?

Also if you post a picture of the connectors I'll have a look and see what the best way of converting them is.

Regards,
Tom.
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Tom Carpenter (AstroEQ)

Madharibo

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Re: Compatability with standard synscan stepper motors
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2015, 19:05:53 »

Hi tom

Thanks for your reply, your getting me excited now and it maybe a chance that my mount may still live :)

here are a few photo's of the units them self, part numbers on them i think and the connectors for you.

the one with the plastic guard is the dec motor








Hope this helps as would sure love to have my scope back

atb Mad
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Madharibo

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Re: Compatability with standard synscan stepper motors
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2015, 13:15:25 »

Hi any word on the motors working and howto connect them? Kinda desperate now the dark nights are back to use my scope ,
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TCWORLD

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Re: Compatability with standard synscan stepper motors
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2015, 19:59:25 »

Hi,

Sorry for the long delay, I missed your post at the end of August when I was on holiday.

They should work ok. Don't know what the gear ratios are, easiest thing to do is count teeth.

In terms of connecting them, if you have a multimeter that can measure resistance, if you measure between pins on the cables you should find two pairs that have a low resistance (~4 to 50 Ohms) which are the two coils. These should be connected up to an RJ11 cable such that the coils A and B are wired to pins on the RJ11 connector as: 2=A 3=B 4=B 5=A. It doesn't matter which coil is A and which is B, nor does it matter the polarity of the coils.

I would probably suggest soldering on an RJ11 socket (6P4C) and in place of the existing connectors, that way you can use standard RJ11 cables for connecting the motors to AstroEQ.

Regards.
Tom.
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Tom Carpenter (AstroEQ)