K3CCD stopped guiding, any ideas?

[Fay]

I had done 6x600 secs on M31 & started to do RGB when K3 stopped guiding. The graph in Drift Explorer just stopped. I had to close it down & restart 3 times before I got it working again. This happened 3 times, so I had to give up on the RGB.

I had a jumpstart battery box of which I had cut out the front & gaps in the side for cables, to put the laptop in when there is a lot of moisture, There is plenty of room & it does the job, but I had not cut out a hole for the vent underneath or the vent in the side. Do you think that perhaps there was not enough room for circulation even though I was outside & the laptop was not that tight a fit? The laptop was warm but not hot.


Fay

[Mike]

Did you completely power off or just do a restart? It is always best to completely power off, leave it a while then restart.

Have you tested all your cables?

I found with my own laptop that I can't power my SXV off the USB ports when on battery power. Acer said this was a "Power saving feature when running on battery". I told them it was moronic not to give the user a choice over that.

Anyway, this means I have to run my laptop off an invertor, which is no big deal as my battery is hefty enough to cope with it and run it for a whole weekend happily.

[Fay]

I do use an invertor. I was thinking the laptop may have overheated a bit. I only did a restart, not power up. I have never had this problem before.
My laptop does not go into power saving mode when connected to mains, invertor or external battery. Only if I am using the laptop battery.


Fay

[Ian]

usual questions...

Have you added any software or hardware since it worked last? You did have a thread recently on plugging USB stuff in. Have you accepted any updates to Windows from Microsoft?

[Fay]

No, no new software. The enquiry about the bus serial adaptor was in anticipation of getting a mouse for laptop. The guiding was ok for the 6 x 600secs.


Fay

[Mike]

I doubt overheating will be the issue. They usually turn themselves off or reboot if that is the problem. Though it might be worth a clean out of the fins around your fan and CPU if you have had it a while or have used it in dusty conditions.

I have had a similar problem ocne or twice and I have found a complete power down and back up of both the laptop and the mount usualy solves it.

[JohnP]

Fay - K3 is quite 'buggy' I often have problems with my guiding freezing...especially when I have two instances of K3 running (i.e one guiding & one imaging) - the only solution is to shut K3 down & pull out all my camera's & start again.... This is actually the problem I had on the Saturday night at Tuesnoad when I was getting wound up & all but kicked my scope over before I started doing my DSLR images of m31 & 45 etc... I rebooted my computer about 4 times & it was still freezing/ locking up so I gave up in the end.....!

John.

[Mike]

Fay use MaximDL it is FAR easier.

[JohnP]

Fay, Mike could be right... I'm hoping that when I use my new (2nd hand camera) I can use say AA or Maxim or the like for acquiring & then just use one instant of K3 for guiding - I'm hoping this will solve my lock up issues... we will see (when & if I ever finish the damn bedroom.......)

John

[Fay]

Yes,

I think that is my next thing, I will read up on Maxim for guiding etc etc.


Fay

[Mike]

.... can use say AA or Maxim or the like for acquiring & then just use one instant of K3 for guiding....

John - In MaximDL you can acquire and guide at the same time in the one application.

[Fay]

I hope I can understand the notes I took at your house Mike, as I will definitely use those 3x R + 1G & do combine.

It looks so easy watching you.

Guiding etc looks a must as well.

Fay

[Mike]

Fay if you come to the pub tonight i'll bring my laptop and show how to do it.

[Fay]

I was hoping you would say that!
I have been sitting here for an hour trying to fathom it out.


Fay