In 2002 I purchased an SBIG ST 7 camera with a CFW 8 color wheel. I recently purchased a new CCD (QHY 22) but want to know if there is any way to either adapt the DB9 connector on the filter wheel or put another connector that will allow me to use the color wheel with MaximDL and the new ccd. I hope Im explaining it in a way that makes sense. Thanks for your help in advance. Looking at the price of new color wheels, I hate to have this one sitting unused, if some minor wiring adjustments will bring it back to the 21 century. If anyone has a need for the camera, It has never been used, I will be happy to send it to them free of charge, for their help. Gene
Hi Gene, The SBIG wheels are designed to be used only with SBIG controllers. It won't work over a standard serial or USB port.
There actually is a trick that allows you to use a CFW8 with any camera in MaxIm DL, but it requires a tiny bit of electronics. If it's wired wrong you could damage the wheel, so you have to be careful. The little circuit is described here: http://www.cyanogen.com/help/maximdl/Notes_On_Direct_Serial_Port_Connection.htm Then you can use the Homeyer filter wheel driver to run the wheel. See http://www.cyanogen.com/help/maximdl/Homeyer.htm
Doug I see the diagram, and consider myself pretty knowledgable in wiring, but I just dont see what exactly the diagram is saying to do. If you don't mind translating what they are doing I would appreciate it. Thanks
One diode prevents the signal from going negative, the other is a zener diode that keeps it from going too high. That converts the +/- RS-232 signal output into a 0-5V maximum TTL-level signal.
