help needed: vixen starbook S

tungkian · Post by **tungkian** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:04 pm

hihi! can i ask the experts out there if the vixen starbook S can be directly run off a 12 V gel cell?

thank you!

Meng Lee · Post by **Meng Lee** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:21 pm

Not a problem, but you must use at least 7AH gel cell and watch the polarity.

tungkian · Post by **tungkian** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:33 pm

okie.. just installed the starbook S and powered it up..seems to have problem..lemme describe..

when the starbook S is powered on, it's perfectly fine, all the settings are OK, the mount slews when the buttons are pressed..the problem comes when i switch to "SCOPE MODE", aka the screen which shows the starmap. at this screen, the motor will automatically start to track at sidereal rate.

the problem is, instead of tracking at sidereal rate, the RA gear just oscillates left and right in a very small amount, almost like its vibrating..as a result, the RA axis doesnt track..when i unplug the controller, the motors stop "vibrating", but when i plug it back, the RA gear (connected to the RA motor) starts to "vibrate".

anyone can help me solve this problem? else i'll have to return for replacement i guess...thanks!

Post by **weixing** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:06 pm

Hi,
Did your StarBook contain the latest Ver.1.2-Build35 firmware? If no, may be you can try updating to the latest firmware.

Also, may be you should check is the motor gear install properly and will the scope move according to the arrow key?? If yes, may be the PEC contain invalid data... you can try reset the PEC.

Have a nice day.

tungkian · Post by **tungkian** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:10 pm

yeap..it's the latest version..

everything is installed properly ( i shld think so). cause i can slew both the RA and DEC axis with no problems. the problem only comes when the mount tries to track at sidereal and the RA motor starts to vibrate instead of track..

i'm now trying to re-record a pec by just letting it run..hopefully it works! when in PEC recording mode, the sidereal tracks just fine! weird...

tungkian · Post by **tungkian** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:23 pm

HMMM!!! i re-recorded the PEC, resetted it..and seems like everything is fine when the sidereal rate tracks..but once i press to slew it, when the RA motor attempts to revert back to sidereal rate, it vibrates again!!! hmm..wat's the problem??

Post by **weixing** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:47 pm

Hi,
You mean the vibration start when you press the arrow key?? Which arrow key... DEC+, DEC-, RA+, RA- or all key will cause it to vibrate?? Does it stop when you release the arrow key??

Have a nice day.

tungkian · Post by **tungkian** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:56 pm

the vibration is not exactly a vibration..i'm describing it as a vibration because the ra gear (connected to the ra motor) oscillates left and right instead of tracking. only the RA has this problem. dec is fine.

when i release the button, the ra gear continues to oscillate..because the ra motor is oscillating...so by right it's supposed to track at sidereal rate but then it's just oscillating and not tracking..

Post by **weixing** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:07 pm

Hi,
I think it might be the PEC causing the problem. Did you delete the old PEC?? Or may be you should try record a dummy PEC without any correction.

Have a nice day.

tungkian · Post by **tungkian** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:52 am

hmm..there was no old PEC to start with leh...i'm recording a dummy PEC now..

sigh..wonder what's the weird ra gear oscillation about...maybe will have to get robin to send it back to japan for replacement liao..