Post by RobbW on Apr 27, 2010 7:54:32 GMT -6
Does anyone have experience with troubleshooting a Meade #494 AutoStar system? I think I may have killed mine. The last time I had my Meade DS-2130AT out was last Wednesday, April 21. At the end of my observing session, I used the controller to put my scope into park mode and turned it off. I brought my scope back inside and haven't tried turning it on again until last night.
My scope is powered by 8 AA batteries that are loaded into a pack and connect to the motor drive using a connector that you would find for a 9V battery. I don't like burning through batteries all the time. So I have been searching online for instructions on making a DIY power supply. I came across discussions on using a 12V jump-start battery as a portable power supply.
I bought a cigarette lighter adapter/cord and 9V battery connectors from Radio Shack last night. I rigged up the 9V connector to the end of the cord and proceeded to test out the PSU on my scope. I connected the cord to the scopes power connector and then plugged the power cord into the cigarette lighter outlet on the jump-start battery. I flipped the power switch on the scope to the "On" position and nothing happened. The red LED power light did not come on, the handbox controller did not light up, and the motor drive did not power up. I realized I must have the polarity of the 9V connector reversed on the fabricated power cord. I immediately turned off the power switch on the scope.
I disassembled the power cord and switched the wire connections on the 9V connector. However, this time I didn't fully reassemble the power cord electrical tape and the works. I only crimped the negative/black lead and left the positive/red lead unattached. I wanted to be able to very quickly test the power connection, but be able to immediately cut off power if need be. With only the negative lead crimped on, I reattached my power cord to the scopes power connector. I turned the scopes power switch to the "on" position. And very quickly, I touched the positive leads together and then separated them. The red LED power light had flashed on during this test. So I figured I had the polarities correct this time.
Anyway, I removed my power cord from the scope's power connector and proceeded to permanently assemble the power cord. After everything was taped up and ready to go, I reattached my power cord to the scope's power connector and turned on the scope. The power light came on and was steady, and the handbox controller turned on and the LCD screen displayed the AutoStar version info. Three seconds later, the handbox controller went black and the scope did not initialize.
I turned the power off and then back on again. The same thing happened. The controller lit up for three seconds and then went black again. I figured there must be something wrong with trying to use the jump-start battery as a power source. So I disconnected it and reinstalled the 8 x AA battery pack. I decided I would just use batteries until I came up with a usable solution to a portable PSU. With the battery pack reinstalled, I turned the scope's power on. The same thing happened as with the PSU. The handbox turned on and then went black three seconds later. This happened over and over with no resolution.
I have resigned myself to the fact that I must have fried my AutoStar controller when I had the polarity reversed the first time I tested the PSU. Drats!!! Anyway, I spent the remainder of the night searching for a replacement controller online. I have found a person on Craig’s List selling a brand new, in the box, never used #497 AutoStar controller. This is a better controller than the 494 I just destroyed.
I am currently making plans for a pickup of the new controller sometime within the next few days. However, in the meantime, I thought I would post my experience and see if anyone had any thoughts on whether my 494 controller truly is toast.
My scope is powered by 8 AA batteries that are loaded into a pack and connect to the motor drive using a connector that you would find for a 9V battery. I don't like burning through batteries all the time. So I have been searching online for instructions on making a DIY power supply. I came across discussions on using a 12V jump-start battery as a portable power supply.
I bought a cigarette lighter adapter/cord and 9V battery connectors from Radio Shack last night. I rigged up the 9V connector to the end of the cord and proceeded to test out the PSU on my scope. I connected the cord to the scopes power connector and then plugged the power cord into the cigarette lighter outlet on the jump-start battery. I flipped the power switch on the scope to the "On" position and nothing happened. The red LED power light did not come on, the handbox controller did not light up, and the motor drive did not power up. I realized I must have the polarity of the 9V connector reversed on the fabricated power cord. I immediately turned off the power switch on the scope.
I disassembled the power cord and switched the wire connections on the 9V connector. However, this time I didn't fully reassemble the power cord electrical tape and the works. I only crimped the negative/black lead and left the positive/red lead unattached. I wanted to be able to very quickly test the power connection, but be able to immediately cut off power if need be. With only the negative lead crimped on, I reattached my power cord to the scopes power connector. I turned the scopes power switch to the "on" position. And very quickly, I touched the positive leads together and then separated them. The red LED power light had flashed on during this test. So I figured I had the polarities correct this time.
Anyway, I removed my power cord from the scope's power connector and proceeded to permanently assemble the power cord. After everything was taped up and ready to go, I reattached my power cord to the scope's power connector and turned on the scope. The power light came on and was steady, and the handbox controller turned on and the LCD screen displayed the AutoStar version info. Three seconds later, the handbox controller went black and the scope did not initialize.
I turned the power off and then back on again. The same thing happened. The controller lit up for three seconds and then went black again. I figured there must be something wrong with trying to use the jump-start battery as a power source. So I disconnected it and reinstalled the 8 x AA battery pack. I decided I would just use batteries until I came up with a usable solution to a portable PSU. With the battery pack reinstalled, I turned the scope's power on. The same thing happened as with the PSU. The handbox turned on and then went black three seconds later. This happened over and over with no resolution.
I have resigned myself to the fact that I must have fried my AutoStar controller when I had the polarity reversed the first time I tested the PSU. Drats!!! Anyway, I spent the remainder of the night searching for a replacement controller online. I have found a person on Craig’s List selling a brand new, in the box, never used #497 AutoStar controller. This is a better controller than the 494 I just destroyed.
I am currently making plans for a pickup of the new controller sometime within the next few days. However, in the meantime, I thought I would post my experience and see if anyone had any thoughts on whether my 494 controller truly is toast.