Instruction manual

RoboFocus Electrical

The RoboFocus control box has five electrical connections. First, on the left end of the box:

• “+12V” — 12VDC (positive) input from the 120VAC power supply included

• “REMPOW MOD” — Remote Power Module connection. RoboFocus provides four control channels

for the user for the optional RoboFocus Remote Power Module. You can remotely power your scope,

CCD, dew heaters, etc.

On the right end of the box:

• “PC” — This is your RS232 connection from the computer. We include a 6-conductor telephone cable

(a 12ft length) and an adapter for the PC jack (PC1). DO NOT USE commercial 6-pin cables unless

you have verified that they are suitable. See appendix for details on making your own cable. Ideally,

the RoboFocus will have its own RS232 serial port on the PC; however, the RoboFocus can also

operate on the same port as the telescope control software (see below).

• “SCOPE/HAND” — If you wish to operate the RoboFocus on the same serial port as your telescope,

connect the scope to this jack through the proper adapter. See discussion below for details. This jack

is also used for the optional RoboFocus hand control (hand control and scope connection cannot be

used at the same time unless you have an adapter from us). CAUTION: do NOT connect your scope

directly to this jack or you may damage it.

• “STEP MOTOR” — The stepping motor connects to the DB9 connector using the 9-pin cable (an 8

foot length is provided).

The control box is usually mounted on the telescope pier where the wiring is convenient. In general, we

recommend mounting the control box vertically with the power switch DOWN. The reason is that the

internal temperature sensor will then be downward, so that the temperature readings will be less affected by

the internal heating in the controller.

Serial Pass Through

The Scope/Hand jack requires more discussion. As noted, one can connect the RoboFocus to its own serial

port (you will need to use the PC1 PC adapter to go from the DB-9 connector on the PC into the telephone

type cable used in the RoboFocus).

However, if you are limited in the number of serial ports available, you have a choice of adding serial ports

to your PC (see appendix) or you can use the RoboFocus “Scope” jack. The RoboFocus is wired to allow it

to be on the same RS232 circuit as other devices, such as the telescope. The signals for both the

RoboFocus and the scope pass into the RoboFocus on the same cable. The RoboFocus will respond only to

its own signals. The scope signals will pass through the RoboFocus to the scope, and the scope responses

will pass back through the RoboFocus to the computer.

Because the wiring of each type of scope is different, you MUST use the proper adapter between the

RoboFocus “SCOPE” jack and the scope itself: NEVER connect the scope directly to the RoboFocus

controller. If the proper adapter was not included in your RoboFocus package, please call us to obtain one.

If you intend to connect to an LX200, and you already have Digital Dome Works, you can use the LX200

adapter that came with DDW.

Unfortunately, your computer will not allow two different programs (e.g., focuser and scope control) to

connect to the same serial port at the same time. Therefore, to take full advantage of this feature, the scope

and focuser software must be in the same program. Although we expect such software soon, it is not yet

available.

However, you can take partial advantage of this design and still avoid adding serial ports. To do this,

connect your scope (or other RS232 device) to the Scope input, then alternately connect the software

programs to the serial port. For example, in the scope control program, open the port to the scope, aim the