AP1200 Not Flipping - More

[Mike Dodd]

This is a follow-up to my question several nights ago about why ACP did not perform a meridian flip.

ACP is not performing any flips at all.

Tonight I first tested my AP1200 mount to verify that it could accurately point to targets on both sides of the meridian. It could, using ACP and TheSky to initiate the slews.

I then created a simple plan (attached) in TheSky Capture + Planner and watched remotely as ACP executed that plan.

The target was NGC2175, which transited at 11:46 local (04:46 UTC). I have attached the log. ACP should have stopped imaging at about 04:38, given my 5-minute exposures and my 3(?)-minute pre-flip wait time.

ACP did not stop and did not perform the flip.

I watched the whole time, and ACP merrily continued imaging past the pre-flip stop time and right through the actual transit time. I've attached a screenshot showing what I saw fully two minutes after transit. The WebCam Monitor shows the scope pointing west of the meridian. Also note the AZ reading in ACP.

I'm very puzzled (and disturbed) at this. As I mentioned before, I have watched ACP perform meridian flips flawlessly in the past. However, looking over my most recent images and logs, I found that ACP has not been performing flips for at least two months. No log entries, and the PA included in the file name shows the rotator at the same angle, even though the file name also correctly indicates the east or west side.

The fact that ACP did not rotate the camera 180° convinces me that ACP knows that no flip was performed.

I have changed nothing in my ACP configuration except to clear the horizon (defaults to 20°, I believe).

Also noted tonight: When ACP started the NGC2175 plan, it did not turn off tracking as it normally does. The NGC2175 plan was the second one of the evening. The first target was M1, but it was too close to the moon to get a good guide star, so I gave up on that one. When the M1 plan started, ACP did turn off tracking as expected, but it did not turn off tracking when I started the NGC2175 plan.

I will greatly appreciate any help resolving this problem. I really can't do any imaging if there is a risk of an equipment crash.
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Mike

Mike Dodd
Montpelier, VA USA
http://astronomy.mdodd.com
http://NotWhatIVotedFor.com