PlaneWave Instruments EFA User manual

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ElectronicFocuserAccessoryHandControllerInstructions
EFA,firmwareversion1.02
rev111209

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Introduction
ThePlaneWaveEFAAccessoryusesthestandardCelestronNexStarhandcontrolforitscontroldevice.
ThereasonisthattheCelestronhandcontrolismadeinlargequantitiesandthereforeiswellpricedand
theCelestronhandcontrolisfairlypowerful.Wethenwriteourownfirmware(softwareforthehand
control)anduploadittocontroltheEFAAccessory.Thehandcontrolcomespreloadedwiththe
PlaneWavefirmware.
Anotheradvantageisthataswewriteupdatestothefirmware,youcanupdateyourhandcontrolatno
chargeviatheinternetusingthesoftwarePlaneWaveHandControlUpdatethatwasprovidedonthe
CDROMthatcamewiththeEFAKit.
SincetheHandControlhasmanymorebuttonsthanarereallynecessary,abriefdescriptionofhowthe
buttonsareusedisshownbelow.BelowcircledinredaretheactivebuttonsthattheEFAuses.
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Up/downarrowsontherighthandsideofthe
displayindicatethatthereareothermenusto
scrolltousingthescrollupanddownbuttons(6
and9)
Scrollupanddownbuttons(6and9):Pressthese
toscrollupordownthemenuswhenthe
Up/Downarrowsarevisibleontherightsideof
thedisplay.
ENTER:Pressthistoenterintothedisplayed
menuitem.
UNDO:Pressundotoexitoutofamenuitemand
getbacktothemainmenu
RATE:Pressthisbuttontoadjustthefocuserrate.
PressRATEandthenpressanumber1thru9to
selecttherate.9isthefastest.
MOVEFOCUSMOTOR:Theuparrowmovesthe
focuseroutandthedownbuttonmovesthe
focuserin.
MENU:Onlyusedasaspecialfunctiontobe
describedlater.

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3
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AttachingtheHandControlandPoweringuptheEFAKit
•PlugtheHandControlintotheEFAElectronicsPanelintheportlabeled,H/C.FortheCDK20this
isonthetelescopefaceandfortheCDK12.5thisisontheseparateEFAElectronicsBox.
•PluginthepowersupplyprovidedwiththeEFAkitintothejacklabeled12VDContheEFA
electronicspanel.
•TurntheswitchlabeledPOWERtotheONposition.
•AtthispointyoucanturnthefantotheOnpositionIFyouwantthefansrun,leaveitintheOff
positionIFyoudon’twantthefanstorun,orputthefanintheAutopositionwhichletsyou
controlthefansfromthehandcontrolorfromacomputerusingtheprovidedPWIFocus
software.
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MountingtheHandControlBracket
Thehandcontrolmountingbracketallowsthehandcontroltobemountedtothetelescopebackplate.
Belowisapictureofthemountingbracketkit.Thekitcomeswiththefollowing.
•2x10‐32x¼”ButtonHeadCapScrews.
(McMasterCarr#92949A261)
•1x¼‐20MountingStud(partnumber
125386)
•1xHandControlBracket(partnumber
125385)
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Toinstallthekit,firstplacethehandcontrolbracketonthebackofthehandcontrol.

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Positionthehandcontrolbracketoverthetwoholesonthebackofthehandcontrolandthetabofthe
bracketintotheopeningonthebackofthehandcontrolasshowninthepicturebelow.
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Usethetwo10‐32screwssuppliedtomountthebrackettothebackofthehandcontrolasshown.
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Attachthemountingstud(#125386)tothetelescopebackplate.Thetelescopehaseight¼‐20threaded
holesonthebackplateformountingaccessories.Theholesarepositionedat2,4,8and10o’clockon
thebackplateingroupsoftwo.Threadinthemountingstudintooneofthebackplateholes.The
studcanalsobethreadedinplaceofoneofthemountingscrewsthatmountthefinderscopebracket
ortheEFAElectronicsbox(usedonCDK12.5only)shownbelow.
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Mountthehandcontrolviathehandcontrolmountingbracketontothemountingstud.
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ScrollingThroughtheMenusItems
WhenyouturnonthepowerfortheEFAkit,thedisplaywillbrieflydisplaytheversionofthesoftware.
Afterafewsecondsitwilldisplayasshownbelow.
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Pressthescrolldownbutton(buttonlabeled“DOWN”&“9”)anddisplaywillchangetothenextitemon
themenu,Position.
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Pressthescrolldownbuttonagaintogotothenextiteminthemenu,Fans.
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Pressthescrolldownbuttonagaintogotothenextandlastiteminthemenu,Setup.
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Ifyoupressthescrolldownbuttonagainyouwillgobacktothemenuitem,Temperature.Youcanalso
pressthescrollupbuttontoscrollthroughallthemenuitems.
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UsingtheFeatures
TemperatureMenu
Thefirstitemonthemainmenuistemperature.
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PresstheENTERbuttononthehandcontrolandyouwillenterthetemperaturemenu.Inthismenu,
thelowerlineinthedisplaywillreadoutthecurrenttemperatureoftheprimarymirror.Theprimary
mirrorisdesignatedwiththeabbreviation,“Pri.:”.ThetemperaturereadsoutineitherCelsiusor
FahrenheitdependingonwhatyouhaveselectedintheSetupMenuthatwillbecoveredlater.Yousee
thatthearrowsaredisplayedonthelowerrightsideofthedisplay.Thissignifiesthatthereis
somethingelsetodisplay.
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Pressthescrolldownorupbuttontodisplaythenextiteminthemenu.Nowthesecondlineinthe
displayshowstheambienttemperatureabbreviatedby“Amb.:”.Thereisanothertemperaturesensor
mountedinbetweentheprimaryandthebackplateofthetelescopethatreadstheambient
temperatureoftheair.
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PresstheUNDObuttontogetbacktothemainmenu.Pressthescrolldownbuttontogettothe
Positionmenuitem.
PositionMenu
TheseconditemonthemainmenuisPosition.
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PresstheENTERbuttononthehandcontroltoenterthepositionmenu.Theunitsbydefaultarein
millimeters.Youcanchangetheunitsbychangingthecountratiounderthesetupmenu.
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PresstheUNDObuttontogetbacktothemainmenuandpressthescrolldownbuttontogettothe
Fansmenu.Fromthepositionmenu,thepositionthatisbeingdisplayedcanbesavedorapreviously
savedpositioncanberecalledtodrivethefocusertothatposition.
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Fromthepositionmenu,presstheMENUbuttonandaGwilldisplayintheupperrightcornerofthe
screen.TheGstandsforGOTO.
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IfyouhitMENUagaintheGwillchangetoanS.SstandsforSTORE.IfyouhittheMENUagain,itwill
cleartheupperrighthandcorner.
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PressMENUagainuntiltheGappearsintheupperrightcorner.UsethistoGOTOapreviouslysaved
position.ToGOTOapreviouslysavedposition,presstheENTERbuttonwhentheGisdisplayedandthe
screenwillchangeto
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Youcanstoreuptoninedifferentpositions.Thenumeral“1”attheleftpartofthescreensignifiesthat
thisisthefirstoftheninepositions.YoucanscrollthroughthedifferentstoredpositionsusingtheUP
orDOWNbuttons(the“6”andthe“9”)onthehandcontrol.Ifthereisnopositionstoredinthe
memoryslot,thenthedisplaywillreadEMPTY.Ifthereisapositionstoredthenthepositionwillbe
displayed.
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IfyouwanttomovefromtheGOTOselectiontotheSTOREselectionhitMENUagainandanSwillbe
displayedintheupperrightcorner.TheSstandsforSTORE.UsethistoSTOREafocusposition.
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Oncethefocuserisatapositionyouwanttosave,presstheMENUkeyfromthePOSITIONmenuand
gettheStoappearintheupperrightcorner.Thereareninememorylocationstostorepositions.If
thereisnothingstored,thenthedisplaywillread,EMPTY.
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9
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Ifthereisapositionstoredinthelocation,thenthedisplaywillreadthefocuslocation.Youcanscrollto
theothermemorylocationsusingtheUPandDOWNbuttons(the6andthe9)onthehandcontrol.
ChosewhatlocationyouwouldliketostorethecurrentfocuserpositioninandpressENTER.The
positionisnowstored.
FansMenu
ThethirditemonthemainmenuisFans.
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PresstheENTERbuttononthehandcontroltoenterthefansmenu.Thisputsyouinthelastselection
youmadeforthefansmenu.TherearethreedifferentchoicesfortheFansmenu;Auto,Off,andOn.
Togettoeachchoice,usethescrollupordownbutton.Tochoiceaparticularsettingforthefans,
scrolltothesettingyouwant,sayFansOn.ThenhittheENTERbuttonandthefanswillturnon.You
canthenhitUNDOtogobacktothemainmenu.
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Auto:TheAutosettingallowsthePCsoftwarePWIFocustocontrolthefans.NotethattheFANswitch
ontheEFAkitelectronicspanelneedstosettoAUTOtoo.
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Off:Theoffsettingturnsthefansoff.
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On:Theonsettingturnsthefanson.NotethattheFANswitchontheEFAkitelectronicspanelneedsto
settoAUTOtoo.
SetupMenu
ThefourthandfinalitemonthemainmenuisSetup.
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10
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TempUnits
PressENTERandthefirstitemisTempUnits.Inthismenuyoucanselectwhetheryouwant
temperaturetoreadoutinCelsiusorFahrenheit.BydefaulttheEFAreadsoutinCelsius.
 
Tochoiceoneortheother,usethescrollupordownbuttonstoselecttheunitsyouwant.Thenpress
ENTERtoselectthoseunits.ThedisplaywillstepbackautomaticallytotheSetupMenuafterthe
selectionismade.
PressthescrolldownbuttontogotothenextitemintheSetupMenu,CountRatio.
CountRatio

PressEnterandthedisplaywillreadthevalue115134.423withthecursoratthefirstdigit(orwhatever
valueyoupreviouslyset).

Thisdefaultratiosetsthedisplaysoitreadsinmillimeters.Ifyouwanttoedititvalueyoucanusethe
keypadtodoso.Enterthefirstdigitandthecursorwillmovetothenextdigit.Entereachdigitandif
youmakeamistakeyoucanhittheUNDObuttontoscrollbackwards.Whenyouhaveenteredthe
valueyouwant,youcanhittheENTERbuttontoactivateit.
IfyouwanttosetthereadouttothousandthsofaninchtheCountRatiois002924.414.
PresstheUNDObuttontogetbacktotheSetupMenuthenpressthescrolldownbuttontogotothe
nextmenuitem,StopDetect.
StopDetect

StopDetectisafunctioninthemotorcontrolfirmwarethatstopsapplyingpowertothemotoriftoo
muchresistanceisencountered,likehittingastop.Themotor/gearboxhasalotoftorqueandinorder
tokeepfromdamagingthegearswecanstopthepowertothemotorsusingthisfeature.



11


Thereasonyoumightwanttooverridethisfeatureisifconditionsaresuchthatthemotorkeeps
stoppingbecauseofsomeonunforeseenresistance.But,itisbesttoleavethisfeatureonformost
cases.
PresstheUNDObuttontogetbacktotheSetupMenuthenpressthescrolldownbuttontogotothe
nextmenuitem,RangeLimit.
RangeLimit
RangeLimitisafeaturethatwillstopthemotorsrightbeforereachingtheendofthefocusertravel.
Thisworksonlyafterthefocuserhasbeencalibrated.Thecalibrationfeatureisthenextsetupmenu
item.
 
PresstheUNDObuttontogetbacktotheSetupMenuthenpressthescrolldownbuttontogotothe
nextmenuitem,Calibration.
Calibration

Thecalibrationmenuallowsyoutosetthelimitsofthefocuser.Formostusesthelimitsarethefully
rackedinfocusertothefullyrackedoutfocuser.Butinsomecasesonemightneedsomecustomized
setpositions.TheCalibratemenuallowsthistoo.PressEntertoenterthecalibrationmenu.Thefirst
itemtocomeupisAuto.(Actuallythemenuitemthatcomesupisthelastoneviewed)

PressenterattheAutosettingandthefocuserwillautomaticallyslewtothefullyrackedinfocus
position,thenouttothefullyrackedoutpositionandthentothemiddleofthetravel.Itwillalsoset
thezeropositiontothefullyrackedinposition.Pressthescrolldownbuttontogotothenextmenu
item,Manual.



12


PressEnteratthemanualmenusettingtosetthefullyrackedinstoppositionmanually.Thisalsoset
thezeropositionforthereadout.Pressthescrolldownbuttontogotothenextmenuitem,Status.

Pressenterheretoseeifthefocuserhasbeencalibratedbeforeornot.
PresstheUNDObuttontogetbacktotheSetupMenuthenpressthescrolldownbuttontogotothe
nextmenuitem,FanControl.

FanControl
TheFanControlallowsacoupleofautomatedwaysofturningthefansonandoff.

PresstheENTERbuttononthehandcontroltoenterintothefancontrolmenu.
Mode
ThefirstmenuitemisMode.

PresstheENTERonthehandcontroltoentertheModemenuitem.Therearetwoitemsunderthefan
controlmodemenu,RelativeandAbsolute.

UsethismodeifyouwantthefanstostartwhenthedifferencebetweenthePrimaryMirrorand
Ambienttemperaturesreachesasetvalue(seeTemperaturebelow).PressENTERonthehandcontrol
toselectthissetting.



13


UsethismodeifyouwantthefanstostartwhenthePrimaryMirrorreachesasetvalue(see
Temperaturebelow).PressENTERonthehandcontroltoselectthissetting.
DiffSensor
FromtheFanControl–Modemenupressthescrolldownbuttononthehandcontroltomovetothe
nextmenuitem,DiffSensor.

TheDiffSensorfunctioncompareatemperaturedifferencebetweentheprimarytemperaturesensor
andeithertheambienttemperatureorthesecondarymirrorsensor.Notethatthesecondarymirror
temperaturesensordoesnotexistyet,butitisaplanforthefuture.Becauseofthis,DiffSensorshould
besettoambient.
PressthescrolldownbuttononthehandcontroltogotothelastitemontheFanControlmenulist,
Temperature.
Temperature

PressENTERonthehandcontroltoselecttheTemperatureitemontheFanControlmenuandthe
windowtosetthetemperaturedisplays.

Youwillsetthistemperaturevaluebasedonwhatmodeyouchosetocontrolthefans.Forrelative
mode,thisvalueistheminimumtemperaturedifferencethatturnonthefans.Youmightsetthisto2
degreesandifthedifferencebetweentheprimarymirrortemperatureandtheambienttemperature
becomeslessthan2degrees,thefanswillturnoff.ForAbsolutemode,thisvalueisthetemperatureof
theprimarymirrorthatwillturnthefanson.Soyoumaywantthefanstoturnonifitstemperature
reaches28degreeC.



14

UsingtheRS232
YoucancontroltheEFAfromacomputerusingPWIFocus,softwarethatisincludedwiththeEFAKit.In
ordertodothisyouneedtousethesuppliedRS232cable.IfyouhaveacomputerwithUSBports,then
youwillusethesuppliedRS232toUSBconvertercable.
 
USBtoRS232
converter
RS232
cable
PlugtheRS232cableintothe
connectoronthebacksideof
thehandcontrol.







15

Appendix1–TheMenuTree
PlaneWaveEFA
Temperature
¾Pri.:  21.2C
¾Amb.:  21.1C
Position
¾17.441
Fans
¾Off
¾On
¾Auto
Setup
¾TempUnits
Celsius
Fahrenheit
¾CountRatio
115134.423
¾StopDetect
Enable
Disable
¾RangeLimit
Enable
Disable
¾Calibrate
Status
•“Calibrated”or“NotCalibrated”
Auto
Manual
¾FanControl
Mode
•Relative
•Absolute
DiffSensor
•Ambient
•Secondary
Temperature