SUPASLIM FILTER WHEEL
Trouble-Shooting Guide
1. Wheel Fails to Initialise
Upon powering the wheel, it will turn in the forward direction until the HOME position is found. This can take anything from 1 to 6 seconds depending on where the disk is at the time power is applied.
On finding HOME, the motor continues to turn in the same direction, while the micro counts the steps until the next pinhole is located. The number of steps determines the wheeltype (5,6,7 or 8-way disk), and once this is known the motor then reverses direction back to the HOME (filter number 1) position, where it stops.
Note that the IR beams are only switched on when the motor is running, so if you are taking a dark frame do not change filter position (unlikely but not unknown !) as the IR beams will switch on and most likely ruin the dark frame
If the wheel fails to initialise it is usually because there is a problem with one or both of the IR beams. However, in a small number of cases this could be due to a mechanical problem. There is an easy way of finding out as follows:
Remove the internal disk without power being applied
Plug in power and note what happens
The motor should run for about 1 second then stop. If this is OK then the problem is mechanical.
If the motor runs for ten or more seconds then stops, the problem is electronic, and one or both of the IR
beams are not being detected. For those of you who dabble in electronics you can try an easy remedy
The above picture of the electronics card shows the position of the two IR sensors. These sensors protrude through the PCB into holes in the base of the plastic enclosure, opposite holes in the sideplates, to receive the transmitted IR beams from the two transmitters mounted on the other side of the housing(note that is is relatively rare that the transmitters fail, though not impossible). A problem that can occur, is that, if the fixing screws are done up too tight, the legs of the sensors (Q2 and Q3 in the above image) can be lifted off the solder pads on the PCB. Sometimes simply by slackening the fixing screws the wheel will operate, either perfectly or intermittently.
**THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY FIXED FROM SERIAL NUMBER 528 ONWARDS, BY LIFTING THE SENSORS ON PRODUCTION **
If you have a fine tip soldering iron and are reasonably competent, then, with NO POWER applied to the wheel, you can gently re-solder the legs of both of the sensors. 9 times out of 10 this proves to be the problem with wheels that do not initialise.
If you are not able to carry out this work, then the repair can be effected by exchanging the complete wired electronic assembly (electronics in box, motor and IR panel).
2. Communication Problem - unable to control from PC
The connections are as shown above. Note that RD in is TD out from the PC, and TD out is RD in at the PC
If there is a problem with comms, this is normally due to one of the following:
A. The RJ 6/4 cable. The cable is wired so that pin 1 at both ends is the same colour wire. Normally this would be termed a crossover cable, as the connector at one end is upside down with respect to the cable at the other end.B. There is a problem with the RJ-9D adapter. These adapters are received by us, or anyone else, with six 'flying leads', and we then push in the required leads to conform to our own requirements. You will note from the above diagram that pins 1 and 6 are not used. we cut the corresponding wires in the RJ-9D adapter, and also the wire with +5 volts output. This voltage is used to power a field hand unit, when such is used in lieu of a PC.
Normal wiring of the RJ-9D adapter is as follows:
9D Pin Number Wire Colour (current) (old - pre 2004)
2 Black Yellow
3 Red Green
5 Yellow Black
There is no manufacturing standard for these adapters, so if we change supplier the colours are likely to change, but you can see by examining the adapter, which wire goes to which pin at the RJ end.
C. The PC interface. This may be due to problems with a RS232 to USB converter, where the PC has no serial interface. Most converters do not 'play up' but occasionally they may. There are so many variants on the market that it is impossible to catalog any particular problem. If you are using our own software to control the filter wheel, note that this only operates on COM1 to COM8, and is not 'plug and play'. COMS 1 & 2 are for serial, and COM3 to COM8 are USB, but the port number must be assigned. Note the procedure (see readme.txt file on the CD or zip download) for installing on Windows Vista.
If you are controlling the wheel from MaxIm, AstroArt or CCDSoft, then they are "plug and play" so no COM port assignment is necessary.
3. Exchange Electronic Assembly
The above shows two views of fully wired and tested electronic assemblies.
If you have an electronic problem that cannot be solved, then provided that you are certain that there is no mechanical problem with the wheel, the best way to effect a repair is by replacement (exchange basis) of the full assembly, as shown above. This makes international support a lot easier as the assembly can be sent in a lightweight jiffy bag at low cost. If the SupaSlim is still under warranty then there will be no charge for the replacement except sharing of postage costs (there is no charge for mailing a replacement assembly, but the user will have to pay the postage to return the defective assembly).
The assemblies are very easy to install (6 screws only), and the only adjustment required is that of the mesh between the motor pinion and the nylon gear on the internal disk (very easy to do !)
For items outside warranty the exchange cost is £ 30 + £ 2 postage UK (Europe postage + £ 3.50). For other areas please ask for quote (see e-mail link below)
If you have any problem not detailed above, please e-mail : [email protected]
You can also phone [44]-(0)1189-700-777 if preferred
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