PrimaLuce Lab Alto and Giotto Flat Panel
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
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One idea is you could use a powered/switched USB hub like a Pegasus astro and power on the flat panels one at a time so only one flat panel was on at a time… would make your sequence complicated as hell but I have a feeling running trip rasa’ means you are probably already pretty good at that… agree with another commenter about have 6 rasa eliminates the need for filter changer… you could mount in a hex pattern and call it HexRASAdon 😂
OMG I’m pinning this comment, that made me laugh out loud literally… HexRASAdon… love it!
Have you tried installing the drivers it three times in different directories? Ie directory 1, directory 2, directory 3? Each will install their own com ports. I also have 3 setups, all independent, though, on my Edge HD's 8, 9.25, and 11 with their own eagles. The new long dove tails work fantastic and make it easier to use Celestron's dew shields. I love that I can take flats, darks, open, and close the caps. All I do is uncover the scopes, start the sequences I prepared for each, and cover them back up in the morning.
Hmmm……you could have a crossbar that holds all three flat panels but that is controlled by one Alto (probably on the middle RASA. Depends if there’s enough torque in the motor to move the three panels plus the mounting bar.
That is certainly an idea, I would have to rig up all the lights so they all run off the one too somehow if I am to go down that path.
Good stuff mate! I recently installed the Giotto 430 and Alto 3 motor on my RASA 36. So far, all working well re connectivity and operation
Oh just to add; I've noticed that the driver is only single instance use between software applications, i.e. I use Voyager and if in use, the Prima driver won't allow Voyager and another program to use it at the same time.
Bit of a pain and hopefully Prima will update in the future
Jealous of your RASA 36. It’s a great little system the Alto and Giotto, I hope in the future it can accommodate two or even three being used at the same time, driver wise that is.
Did you try disabling the PLL Alto & Giotto before selecting the new COM port? If that doesn't work, check under Task Manager that the ASCOM driver is present. If it is, use the End Task to cancel it. I have a PLL rotator and find that the ASCOM driver is often left running after the focuser is disconnected, which creates connection problems for other software. Other than that, and a nice neat software solution, as has been mentioned, a Pegasus USB/Power switch to sequence the units could work.
That’s some great advice however I have done all that. The Pegasus does sound like an alternative however I don’t think it would work as the driver keeps the selected com port for the device. So I would have to change the com port for each Rasa individually. I am working on something at the moment and currently in talks with PrimaLuce Lab. More to come here.
How about some kind of (automated) usb switch? You turn on each giotto one-at-a-time, doing your flats for each? Not sure if such a thing exists, but might be a direction… I also use a giotto, and while I love it, it’s clearly a version 1 (3d-printed etc). Not sure how much urgency PLL will have to resolve something like this…
That would be a cool idea, I think ultimately it will be more manual that automated until either PLL create a driver for more than one being used at anytime or I come up with a work around. Love the idea you came up with.
Hi Steven, a filter changer could be done but it would be VERY exotic. Possibly a stacked motorized changer with a slide rail to remove and insert the filter tray. Like I said... VERY exotic. 🤣🙃🙃
Yeah I’ve thought about a slider but how much do I want to obstruct the primary mirror and what difference could that make on the system.
That seems like a major oversight of Primalucelab to only make the driver so that only one can be used at a time. Is there anyway you can assign a com port to each individual Giotto through the Play software so that when you then run NINA, it will identify them separately?
I haven’t tried that yet, according to the PLAY software you can run two at a time but I haven’t tried that yet.
Hey Steven, you always have "odd" problems now especially now that you have 3 RASAs LOL. I have an idea. If each Giotto can daisy chain though an Alto, attach each Alto to their own usb ports on the Eagle. Then use NINA run through a sequence on one Alto/Giotto set at a time. For example, RASA 1, with all 3 usb ports already off, turn one on and control that set to run the flat/dark sequence. Then when done, power off port 1 then power on port 2 and run the sequence on RASA 2, and so on. Worth a shot and may look cooler going in sequence 🙂 Now you just need to build a proper observatory 😁Clear Skies!
PS: do you plan on lining your dew shields with felt to absorb moisture and maybe stray reflections?
I wonder if Ascom Alpaca could handle the 3 devices? Maybe worth digging into a bit more... Also, nice to see someone else trying to figure out a filter solution for the Rasa!
Hey mate you have the knowledge to program etc. want to borrow my triplets for a while and work it out lol.
Have you came up with any ideas for a filter system yet?
I thought I succeeded in a design, then I woke up and realised it was a dream haha
Interesting to see that Giotto and Alto at work close by. I was wondering Steven if there is so much play on the motor, is the panel than completely closed for dark flats ?
So I would be careful when using the cover motors and panel for darks. It doesn’t fully seal due to the design. The motor is fine and when you calibrate it, it will close to where you set it at. It’s just there may be some light leakage which would interfere with dark flats unless you can do it in the dark and no excess light getting into the system then it should be ok.
@@StevenMorrisPhotography Hmm, than it's not really handy if you can't make the flat darks at the same time, is it ?
I’ve been able to make dark flats at the same time, so it hasn’t been too bad.
@@StevenMorrisPhotography Thanks Steven, so it's worth purchasing then
I feel it’s worth it, but that’s just my views.
Interesting problem I'm guessing you use 3 instances of NINA when imaging? If that's the case how about installing the flat panel drivers in 3 different folders & directing each instance of NINA to the corresponding one? That's if the drivers will allow you to install it in different folders of course as I'm not that tech savvy when it comes to computers.
It’s a great idea but unfortunately it can’t work that way. Don’t worry I’m not that tech savvy myself but we try.
Hey Steven, you could get another Rasa Triplet so you can have R-G-B and S-H-O at once. No need for changing filters anymore😅
Hahaha wouldn’t that be something
Interesting! I wonder if the motor on that unit had enough torque to open/close a rig that had all three flat panels connected together (mechanically & electrically). You could place that Alto/Giotto in front of the centre RASA, and connect an additional light panel on either side. Another company that makes those automatic panel systems is "Deep Sky Dad", and I think he makes one for the RASA 8. He also makes focus motors, focuser holders, kits for autofocusing the RedCat 51 & RedCat 71, etc. (..I have the autofocus kit for the RedCat 71, and it is well-designed & well-constructed..) I have found him to respond quickly to inquiries & to be very helpful. Perhaps you could get in touch with him to discuss the challenge you have?
That’s a really interesting point you bring up, I’m not sure it could handle the torque of all three, maybe one of the larger Altos could. Something I could look into.
Thanks for the feedback:)
Great video Steven, agreed it would be tops to have 3 of those Alto/Giotto combos running on the RASA setup. Quick question; did you find the ASCOM driver install with NINA fairly straightforward? I'm having no luck with my Alto/Giotto to connect in NINA - I receive an ASCOM driver error each time I make an attempt. Did you have to do anything special to get them up and running in NINA?
First up I did and I know of the error you speak of.
To get my head around things I started off with one connection at a time working out what usb com port is for each device. Then in the config settings I could definitively connect each device to the corresponding com port. It started to work then.
One thing I had noticed is that if you log in with wifi to control the devices that did stuff up my Nina connection.
My phone even automatically connected to the devices without me knowing and I received that error. I then disconnected the wifi connection and restarted Nina and it worked again.
If I come up with any more errors or can start to replicate them I will let you all know my findings.
Thank you for the info, I really appreciate it. I will make another attempt with the system today, I’ll report back with the results.
I’m still not having any wins with the Alto/Giotto.
NINA 2.1, ASCOM Platform 6.6SP1, PPL ASCOM CoverCalibrator v1.1, reboot Windows, connect Alto (Wifi disabled) with USB and 12v power, Device Manager tells me we are connected to COM8, start NINA and select Flat Panel, then PPL ASCOM CoverCalibrator from the drop-down, then Settings icon and boom --> throws a ASCOM Driver Error every time. Same thing if I select the Connect icon as well.
Interestingly both the Alto and the Giotto connect and function in the PLAY software just fine - I’ve currently run out of ideas with this one.
I’ll have a look and see what I can replicate or do and post my findings. It sounds like your doing everything the same way I have. Is there any updates via the PLAY software for the devices?
In the PrimaLuce PLAY software there was a firmware update for both the Alto and Giotto. Not sure if that could be the issue? Giotto Firmware (1.3.1), Alto Firmware (1.03.02)
silly question - did you find a difference in flex from the celestron dovetail going to a D style losmandy dovetail?
No, the Celestron one is rather solid. I switched to save some weight.
@@StevenMorrisPhotography Cheers - appreciate the insight
How does the Alto attach to the OTA?
I’ve designed a 3D printer dew shield with a plate that slides into the dew shield that holds the alto.
I’ll be making a video on this shortly for those interested:)
@Steven Morris awesome. I had thought the Alto needed to be mounted to a dovetail.
It does, I was able to 3D print my own plate that it bolts up too.