Camera cooling problem - driver related

buckeyestargazer

I have two new ZWO cameras (ASI6200MM and ASI2600MC). I use SGP for image capture which uses the ASCOM driver. I have noticed a repeatable problem with cooling on both cameras that I believe is related to the driver or firmware.

When I first connect either camera in SGP I have it set to automatically cool to -10C. The camera will start cooling but when it reaches 0C it will show that the camera cooler is at 100% and after some time will stop cooling and the temperature will climb, even though the power still shows 100%.

However, if I set the cooling to 0C and let the camera reach 0C (usually around 40% power) and only after it reaches 0C change the set point down to -10C, the camera will then cool properly. My set point of -10C is reached and even on warm nights the power is around 80%.

So the camera does cool properly, but only after I manually set it to 0C, then later to -10C.

moson

This is normal, The cooling temperature of some cameras can't reach the target temperature directly, it need cool down step by step, that is for protecting cameras. Or you could use ASIStudio.

buckeyestargazer

OK, I understand that this is normal behavior for the driver, but to be totally honest I think that is a poor design. As I mentioned in my original post, the camera can reach my cooling set point (-10C) even on the warmest nights and the power consumption is at 80%. Even if the cooler needs to take some time to reach the cooling point in order to protect the camera, why not have it try to go all the way to the set point first? As it is now, the cooling stops at 0C, even though there is plenty of power remaining to go all the way to -10C. There's no point at all to stopping the cooling at 0C.

Support@ZWO

I think it is a good way to make the best use of the camera cooling. It takes some time for the camera to stabilize in the target temperature, it will get better performance while long exposure.