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5. Drive Panel interface
5.1 Drive Panel
The drive panel of the HDX110 EQ-G is shown at right (
Figure
17).
5.2 Panel interface components
POWER: This is a threaded 12V DC power input jack that pro-
vides a secure connection to the power source. Align the index
on both the connector of the cable and the input jack on the
drive panel, then insert the connector into the jack and thread
it on
(Figure 18). The “cigarette lighter” plug on the other end
of the cable connects to your 12V DC field battery or AC-to-DC
adapter.
AUTO GUIDE: A 6-pin RJ-12 jack is for connecting an autogu-
ider. It is compatible with any autoguider with an ST-4 type
interface.
HAND CONTROLLER: This RJ-45 8-pin jack is for connecting
the coil cable of the SynScan hand controller.
SNAP: This stereo jack allows connection to a camera’s shut-
ter control port. The SynScan hand controller can control a
camera to take pictures automatically via this interface. The
camera control cable included with the HDX110 mount is com-
patible with select Canon EOS series DSLR cameras. It has
a right angle 2.5mm stereo plug on one end for connection to
the drive panel and a straight 2.5mm plug on the other end for
connection to the camera. Cables for other cameras can be
sourced optionally or custom made.
ON/OFF Switch: Turns on and off the power to the mount and
hand controller. The power LED serves as a power-on indica-
tor and provides other status information:
1. Steady on: Power voltage is normal.
2. Slow flashing: Power voltage is low; continuing to operate
the mount may damage the battery (if a 12V lead-acid
battery is in use).
3. Fast flashing: Power voltage is extremely low; continuing
to operate the mount may damage the battery and the
motor controller in the mount.
4. Intermittent single flash: The PPEC training routine has
been triggered, but the controller board in the mount has
not received the worm index signal and the PE correction
recording has not started yet.
5. Intermittent double flash: The PPEC training routine has
been started and the controller board in the mount has
received the worm index signal and started to record the
PE correction. When the intermittent double flash stops,
it means the PPEC training has finished.
6. Intermittent triple flash: Sidereal tracking with PEC is now
enabled.
5.3 Pinout of the interfaces
(Figure 19)
Note:
• The SNAP port provides two trigger signals to the stereo
plug. The signal to the head of the plug is issued slightly
later than the signal to the ring of the plug.
• For a camera that needs only a shutter-release signal,
either trigger signal will work. For a camera that requires
a “Focus” signal ahead of the shutter-release signal, both
signals will be utilized.
5.4 connecting the synscan GoTo Hand
controller
The coil cable for the SynScan hand controller has RJ-45
connectors on each end. Plug one connector into the Hand
Control port of the drive panel and the other connector into the
RJ-45 port on the bottom of the SynScan controller. Push the
connector into the port until it clicks into place.
The smaller modular port next to the RJ-45 port on the hand
controller enables serial communication between the HDX110
mount and a computer running astronomy software such as
Starry Night Pro. For that you will need the RS-232 computer
interface cable that was included with the mount. If your com-
puter does not have an RS-232 port, you will also need a
Figure 17.
The drive panel of the HDX110.
Figure 18.
The right angle connector of the included 12V
DC power cable threads onto the power connector on the
mount.
On/Off
switch
Power
cable
connector
Autoguide
port
Hand
controller
port
SNAP
port
