RE: [APML] ST-4 question-UPDATE WITH NO RESOLUTION

[John Mirtle <spampit@shaw.ca>]

Alan,
	I am not suggesting that you go out and buy a soldering iron! You
don't want to develop soldering skills on your ST4, it is best left to
someone who knows a bit more than which end of a soldering iron to hold on
to. The older ST4's (I am not sure how old) used a rectifier without a
heatsink. Mine does not have one, it is 1993 vintage. As I live in Canada,
heat sinking of components is usually not required for product used
outdoors. (risk of snow tonight, in fact) The newer ones are apparently
fine. I have used mine under low voltage conditions and many of your
symptoms I observed. I just wanted to throw my best guess into the ring
along with everyone else, since this had not been mentioned. I am curious to
hear what SBIG come back to you with, be sure to let us know! 
	My money's still on the rectumfryer. :)

John Mirtle
Calgary, Ab. Canada
http://members.shaw.ca/jmirtle 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: astro-photo-bounces@seds.org [mailto:astro-photo-bounces@seds.org] On
Behalf Of Alan Voetsch
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 9:12 PM
To: Discussion of Film Astrophotography
Subject: RE: [APML] ST-4 question-UPDATE WITH NO RESOLUTION

Hey John,

--- John Mirtle <spampit@shaw.ca> wrote:
> The ST4's have a common problem with the bridge rectifier. All power 
> goes through the rectifier whether it's AC or DC. If the CCD head gets 
> less than 10 volts, it's sensitivity drops like a rock.

Well, that's a new one. Never heard of a bridge rectumfire. Bad thing is
that I will not be able to check anything out for awhile as the
long-forecasted clouds have moved in. They are here to stay for awhile
according to the 7 day forecast.

> In addition the Peltier cooler
> would not be getting it's full quota of power. If you are handy with a 
> soldering iron or know someone who is, SBIG will probably send you 
> one.
> Pretty much all of the symptoms you mention could be explained by this 
> problem, especially by one that is thermally intermittant.

I don't even have a soldering iron. But, I could get one if I had a
schematic to show me what I was doing. Then again, maybe there are dozens of
obscure parts that could cause the weird readings. Have you or anyone else
ever had the rectifier go bad and then replaced it?  

Thanks,
Alan




	
		
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