The Huntsville Amateur Astronomy Society (HAAS) has an older non-GOTO NJP mount with the PD5XY hand controller. Is it possible to modify this controller and put in an autoguider port? I spoke to Art at TNR and he said to get the GOTO modification done which would add autoguiding capabilities. The club unfortunately doesn't have a spare couple grand lying around, so we were wondering if it is possible to add an autoguide port ourselves...something that could be used with say the GPUSB from Shoestring? Anyone tried anything like this before or have any plans that they could let HAAS have? Thanks.
Autoguider modification to old NJP possible?
Started by ALCHEMIST1, 01/01/2008 03:34PM
Posted 01/01/2008 03:34PM
Opening Post
Posted 01/02/2008 03:19AM
#1
Hi,
That's definitely possible. My PD5XY controller was modified to allow autoguiding. Unfortunately, a friend of mine did that for me. I don't know how to do this.
10 years ago, modifying the controllers for autoguiding was a very common practice for Japanese EQ mount users.
Good Luck.
Wei-Hao
That's definitely possible. My PD5XY controller was modified to allow autoguiding. Unfortunately, a friend of mine did that for me. I don't know how to do this.
10 years ago, modifying the controllers for autoguiding was a very common practice for Japanese EQ mount users.
Good Luck.
Wei-Hao
Wei-Hao Wang
http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~whwang
Posted 01/03/2008 03:33AM
#2
Hi Anjal
I have modified both the older Tak controller and the Vixen GP to work with the Sbig relay box
It is very simple. The schematic for the box is on the Sbig site. Anyone who has the knowledge to read the schematic and basic soldering skills can perform the modification.
In a nutshell you are just using the relay to close the switch on the hand controller
The hardest part for the Tak was fishing the additional wire into the hand paddle. I did not want to damage or alter the controller so I un-soldered the stock wire and then ran both the stock wire and the new wire back through the strain relief together, re-soldered both and was good to go. A little soap was needed to get them through.
I never experienced any problems with either set up but do recommend double checking everything do to the availability of replacement parts for older Taks.
I have modified both the older Tak controller and the Vixen GP to work with the Sbig relay box
It is very simple. The schematic for the box is on the Sbig site. Anyone who has the knowledge to read the schematic and basic soldering skills can perform the modification.
In a nutshell you are just using the relay to close the switch on the hand controller
The hardest part for the Tak was fishing the additional wire into the hand paddle. I did not want to damage or alter the controller so I un-soldered the stock wire and then ran both the stock wire and the new wire back through the strain relief together, re-soldered both and was good to go. A little soap was needed to get them through.
I never experienced any problems with either set up but do recommend double checking everything do to the availability of replacement parts for older Taks.
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