Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Mon, 02/10/2020 - 18:38
Do anyone here uses the old SBIG parallel port cameras for photometry? The one I recently purchased (ST-7E NAGB) dies whenever the temperature control is set below 5°C. My question is do any of you have the same issue and is it a serious detriment to your measurements? Also, I've been running the program on CCDOps. Do you any of you recommend another program?
Cooling problem:
Is the cooling fan working? If not, is the fan option checked in the control software? If the fan motor has died, I think it is an easy replacement you can do yourself.
Do you have the right power supple? Is that working properly?
Software:
CCDSoft. This came on disk with the camera. This was a collaboration of SBIG and Bisque. Look in the Obsolete or Legacy support sections of the SBIG web site. Your can probably find a free download somewhere else if it is not there. The last major version was CCDSoft-5.
Phil
The fan works. It comes on everytime I plug up the camera. The CCDOps will not recognize the camera whenever I turn the cooling set temperature below a certain temperature and CCDOps won't recognize the camera until I unplug it and plug it back up again. That's why I was asking about other programs to operate my camera.
You'll probably want to post this on the Diffraction Limited (SBIG) forum. They'll probably tell you that if CCDOps can't keep a connection, there's something wrong. CCDOps is SBIG's own reference camera operation software.
Generally when a camera disconnects on start of cooling, it's because the suddenly high cooler amperage + high resistance somewhere in the power supply line has made the camera's power supply input voltage drop below what it can accept. Could be the power supply or camera, but usually it's a bad power supply connection somewhere.
It is possible the power supply has failed and when the cooler turns on (drawing a lot of power) it cannot power the rest of the camera. The ST7s use a multiple voltage supply (+5V and +/-12V).
I do have a second ST-7E ABG that I got when I bought a CFW-8 and AO-7, (I didn't know the seller was tossing in a whole camera along with it) and it has its own power supply. I'll switch power supplies and see if that would help.
I think I found the problem. I was using a DIN5 keyboard extension cable as an extension cord between the camera and AC/DC converter. So that was probably where the short in power was coming from. I was able to get my SBIG down to -6°C without it disconnecting. Thanks for the help in pointing out the problem.