AC2020 camera is reporting -50 degrees when set to -10. It seems likely to be a hardware issue. What do we do?
I posted on this over the weekend but have heard nothing back. The camera is reporting -50 degrees to the software as the operating temperature. That has to be a hardware issue. See the prior post for an attachment. Please advise.
This could be software, firmware, drivers, or hardware. So let's start with a few questions: Version of MaxIm? e.g. 6.30 DL Imaging driver version - you can get this from DL Config Utility. e.g. 2.4.0.0 Camera firmware version - again, from DL Config Utility. e.g. Firmware Rev 3 Was this under ACP control, or manual operation with MaxIm? If with ACP or other third party software, what product and version? Do you have the MaxIm logs (and ACP logs) from the time period in question? If so, please attach. (In MaxIm, View... Log Window. Right Click. Open Log Folder). Has it occurred more than once? A particular batch of images? After a number of images, or first one? If you power cycle the camera, does it happen again, or does that clear it up? Can you upload that particular FITS image from your screen shot - that way we can check for data corruption or other issues.
I can't recall even a single example of a thermistor circuit failure in the field. That's despite the fact that we use the exact same hardware on all current generation cameras - Aluma CCD, Aluma AC, and STC series. That said, the Aluma AC firmware implementation would report -50.1C if the thermistor were open circuit, and that's what your camera is reporting. The most likely cause would be a bad solder joint. What is your camera serial number? I agree with Colin that you should check your software and firmware first - if the problem persists then please let us know and we'll start the RMA process.
Here are the version #s - MaxIm 6.3.7.0, camera AC2020 SC-3 AO-X, driver 2.4.0.0, ACP version 9 build 4, I passed Colin’s request on to the person working with the system. Here is what he reports: 1. Sometime in mid Feb., I noticed the camera temperature at -50C when I connected the camera to ACP to make flats. I was utilizing Mamim DL directly when this happened. After a few minutes, the temperature changed to -10C and it functioned normally. 2. It was weeks later when I was making flats, I realized that the camera temperature was staying on -50C. I verified that the set point is -10C. At this point I raise the issue with other club members. 3. Log, screen shots, and images are provided.t 4. The ACP shutdown logs record the temperature. 1. Feb 13 and before is -10C except as noted) 2. Feb 14 is -50C 3. Feb 17 is -10C 4. Feb 18 and after is -50C 5. Check the Jan 19th logs: -10C and two failures to read the temperature. 6. Check the Jan 1st log: One really strange reading 5. MAXIM Logs are included for the same time range. 6. I included 4 fits images. They look fine to me, but may not pass your tests. I have hundreds before Feb 12 that are fine and hundreds after Feb 18 that are all -50C. 1. I do not have exposures on Feb14 or on Feb 17. 7. The screenshots pin down versions and so on. The is no firmware revision number – see screenshots. 8. Cycling power, rebooting computer, restarting ACP, ect, doesn’t make the problem go away. Having trouble uploading files. Will try new post with attachments.
Thanks, we'll review. To get the camera firmware version: 1. Exit all programs. 2. Power up the camera and wait 30 seconds. 3. From the Windows Start Menu, DL Config Utility. 4. Click the camera in the left-hand list. See the green arrows in this example screen shot: You'll see I've selected an STC-7 camera and it has Firmware Rev 9.
Regarding the two Color Study images - Do you have the original unprocessed "raw" FITS images? The ones you've supplied have been dark subtracted, Flat fielded, plate solved, etc. I see the -50 in there, and nothing looks abnormal beyond that. The Landolt and autoflat look normal.
Still need the camera serial number. You can get that by looking at the side of the camera, or by using DL Config.
Here is another observation: Guys, I when I saw the driver was setup, I started the camera and the temperature was +15 C or something. It cooled to below 0C. I left the page for a minute to check email. When I came back it was back to -50C. I’m wondering if this is a moisture problem? When cooled down to freezing it failed. Is there a connection?
Any moisture in the chamber tends to settle on the coldest element, which is the cold finger. In my experience moisture only gets onto the electrical connections if it's pretty soaking wet. Have you observed any moisture or frost in your images. A more likely explanation is a bad solder joint on the thermistor. It is attached to the cold finger, so the slight thermal expansion/contraction could move the bad joint slightly. Sounds like the camera needs service. I'll ask @Tim to set you up with an RMA.
