I just assembled my brackets and such using a 3/16" thick aluminum plate and the ZWO EAF bracket for the C11.
I have the older Nexstar C11 GPS telescope, now removed from the fork.
FYI...The ZWO EAF coupler does not fit this older scope. But, I went to the shop and cut a piece of 7/8" OD aluminum tubing 1/2" long. It would then fit the telescope shaft. Drilled out the ZWO coupler's set screw holes so I could run the set screws right down to the C11 focuser shaft. All that worked great! The hardware ZWO included was metric, and the scope uses SAE. Got some #6 screws 1/4" longer and the bracket then fit.
Told Ekos to steo 1000 steps. It said it did, but when I returned to the scope, there was no movement.
Went back to the computer and told it to go 10000 steps so I would have enough time to watch it finish.
It had moved a tiny amount when I got back, so I nudged the coupler just a little, and it began to turn.
Now, the missing piece of information is that I am trying to use USB power to run the motor. I suspect you all will tell me that is not enough voltage. I had tried 12V on some experiments earlier, but the motor was almost too hot to touch!
USB power worked just fine on the Orion focuser.
So, what do you think, 8V? Compromise between 12v and 5v?
Thanks!
Glen
Moultrie, GA
pic attached
Hi
That little 5v motor is not really that powerful. There are better ways to get more torque, which is your problem,
Using just USB power is problematic at the best, because of the current limitation imposed by USB. Whilst USB-C can provide more current, there are few if any devices that utilise it, as most devices still run USB2 to focusers etc.
More Torque is gained by =
- more current,
- higher voltage, but this will increase heat
- use gears and drive belt,
- larger stepper motor will have much more windings and stronger magnets
Ok, your next step should be
Buy the 12V motor version of that motor, they come in 5V and 12V.
When I was providing focusers before, this was always the case for ULN2003 driver boards.
These have more torque.
Always run the stepper motor in Full Steps - these small motors can be half stepped but then lose a lot of their torque.
From memory, I ran the 12V motors on around 9V.
I just assembled my brackets and such using a 3/16" thick aluminum plate and the ZWO EAF bracket for the C11.
I have the older Nexstar C11 GPS telescope, now removed from the fork.
FYI...The ZWO EAF coupler does not fit this older scope. But, I went to the shop and cut a piece of 7/8" OD aluminum tubing 1/2" long. It would then fit the telescope shaft. Drilled out the ZWO coupler's set screw holes so I could run the set screws right down to the C11 focuser shaft. All that worked great! The hardware ZWO included was metric, and the scope uses SAE. Got some #6 screws 1/4" longer and the bracket then fit.
Told Ekos to steo 1000 steps. It said it did, but when I returned to the scope, there was no movement.
Went back to the computer and told it to go 10000 steps so I would have enough time to watch it finish.
It had moved a tiny amount when I got back, so I nudged the coupler just a little, and it began to turn.
Now, the missing piece of information is that I am trying to use USB power to run the motor. I suspect you all will tell me that is not enough voltage. I had tried 12V on some experiments earlier, but the motor was almost too hot to touch!
USB power worked just fine on the Orion focuser.
So, what do you think, 8V? Compromise between 12v and 5v?
Thanks!
Glen
Moultrie, GA
pic attached
Hi
That little 5v motor is not really that powerful. There are better ways to get more torque, which is your problem,
Using just USB power is problematic at the best, because of the current limitation imposed by USB. Whilst USB-C can provide more current, there are few if any devices that utilise it, as most devices still run USB2 to focusers etc.
More Torque is gained by =
- more current,
- higher voltage, but this will increase heat
- use gears and drive belt,
- larger stepper motor will have much more windings and stronger magnets
Ok, your next step should be
Buy the 12V motor version of that motor, they come in 5V and 12V.
When I was providing focusers before, this was always the case for ULN2003 driver boards.
These have more torque.
Always run the stepper motor in Full Steps - these small motors can be half stepped but then lose a lot of their torque.
From memory, I ran the 12V motors on around 9V.
Regards
Robert
https://www.ebay.com/itm/191905706805?
Thanks Robert! I had no idea there were 12v versions of the motor