NEXDOME OBSERVATORIES NEXDOME.COM
Page 4
To use the motor with dome rotation software, we need to install the magnetic switch. Attach
the switches to the brackets as shown in Fig 14. Locate an angled roller bolt near the control
box. The “V” shaped bracket mounts on the wall and is for the switch, the “L” shaped bracket
mounts on the dome for the magnet. The brackets can then be mounted to the corresponding
bolts as in the figure. The dome mount does not have to line up with the magnetic switch at
this time. It is important that the magnet and switch be perpendicular to the wall and with a
12
” between them. The switch jack then plugs into the motor controller. The wire for the switch
can be run under the wall lip and be held in place with tape.
You can test the placement of the magnet and switch with a voltmeter. Place the leads of the
voltmeter on the jack terminals. Rotate the dome. The switch will close when the magnet gets
close. If the switch doesn’t close, the gap is too large and it will be necessary to put a spacer
under the switch to move it up. A small piece of wood or plastic will work for this.
Figure 4: placement of the magnetic switch and magnet.
TIP
•
It doesn’t make any difference where the magnetic switch is located on the dome, but it
is recommended to place the dome magnet on the south side of the dome when it is in
parked position for domes installed in northern hemisphere, and placed on north side
on domes in southern hemisphere.
