ASI2600MC-Air Sits Below Set temp With Lots of TEC Power Left

another_mikey

Just received my new ASI2600MC-Air last Thursday and have had it out a couple times now. All looks good except for this. regardless of my set temperature and what power level the TEC is running at, the camera always sits about half a degree to even a degree warmer. I am running darks indoors now and set to -10C I am sitting at -9.1 C, even with cooler power at only 64%. Last night under the stars I was ranging anywhere from -9.4 to -9.7 with the set point at -10 and the cooler power at 27%! The outside temperature was only at _12C (54 F). I could only get it to move colder by setting set temperature to -11 or -12, but then this is essentially getting me into an unregulated temperature condition. This would seem to just be a firmware issue, as the cooler can obviously cool to a lower temperature than it is with such a low cooler power percentage being used and should be able to reach and hold the set temperature within a couple tenths of a degree at least, as all my previous ZWO cooled cameras have been able to do. is this something I should report via the Bug Tracker in the ASIAIR app?

PMTeam@ZWO

another_mikey Could you please let us know your software version and operating system? To help us troubleshoot the problem, please upload the device log by going to the "About" page and clicking "Bug Report". Thank you.

PMTeam@ZWO

another_mikey Additionally, could you please tell us what were you photographing and what were your exposure settings?

azskyguy

another_mikey
I'm seeing the same issue... I shoot at 0 Centigrade and camera is high by a half a degree or a degree always. I also notice dew heater is turned on at startup and I have to keep turning it off. (I'm in Arizona, although tonight imaging temp was 71 degrees and camera could still not hit zero. Prior external ASIairs always got the temperatures right.

Walf@ZWO

another_mikey we will fix it next version.

PMTeam@ZWO

azskyguy Could you please tell us what were you photographing and what were your exposure settings?

azskyguy

PMTeam@ZWO
NGC7000, 5 minute subs. Bin 1.

I also note that Dew Heater is turned on by default. I live in AZ, and not something I need or want. Default should be off, and people can turn it on if needed. It's a battery drain if it's on and not being used.
Thanks

another_mikey

Version has been 2.1.5. I am updating to Version 2.2 right now.

I will try to upload device log soon.

I was shooting Bubble Nebula, outside temp was 54 degrees, TEC power was at 27%, temp was set to -10C and the camera never got colder than -9.6C, and got as warm as -9.1C. I was shooting both 30 second images and 10 minute images. But to be fair, I have seen this behavior consistently, regardless of how long the exposures are or what the outside temperature is.

Since I did just successfully update the ASIAIR app to version 2.2 and the internal firmware of the ASI2600MC-Air to 40.64 I will retry with these settings and report back if the problem persists.

deans

Just tried mine last night with the same cooling issue as others. Set at -10 and it averages -9.5 with ambient of mid 50'sF.

The above was with a 36 x 5min run on IC5146. Temps varied from -9.3 to -9.8 and never reached -10 at all.

This morning after I had it parked I left it on and temp was at -8.5 with 55% power and ambient of 60F. CPU temp was at 35C

My other 2600MM and 2600MC both run within a couple tenths of -10.

My firmware was updated to latest before running.

This needs more cooling fans I believe?

another_mikey

Re-tried with version 2.2 and problem persists. Will try to file a bug report as instructed. Appoarently, this is a known problem, based on others with same issue. I need to know if I should return my camera to the vendoe inside of the 30 day new purchase window or if this issue is a firmware issue (as it appears to be) and will be fixed. I noticed a new version 2.2.1 is now released, but it does not appear to mention this as a fixed problem...Not sure I should upgrade to that as apparently some other issues with it? Please advise...I want to love this camera but this cooling issue really is a problem as it works now.

another_mikey

Retried with version 2.2.1, problem still persists. I posted my latest attempt (taking darks inside) to the Bug Tracker.

another_mikey

This seems like a firmware issue to me. I can get it to -10 if I tell it to go to -11 or -12. The TEC then adjusts its power a little to go colder. Of course, whatever temp it is set to it does not reach. The feedback loop code is not closing the loop. You end up with an unregulated temperature that is _close to your setpoint, but that also varies with camera load. NOT what you want. If the TEC control loop programming could be fixed to close like it does with previous cameras I believe this issue would be resolved. It IS possible that with the AIR electronics integrated that the absolute delta that the camera could achieve might be less than say the conventional ASI2600MC, but that is another issue I believe and likely something that could be lived with if it was properly specified to operate that way. I mean, if the advertised max delta T of the Air camera was -30C instead of -35C I would still have bought it and be using it with no issues...

Robininni

I too am having the exact same cooling issue with my 2600mc Air. Always settles to about .5-1 degree too warm with the cooler not running anywhere near max. I am getting this as all exposures, 10 minutes, 5 minute, 60 sec. Doesn't matter. I do notice that the temp will drastically warm (way more than 1 degree) if taking very short exposures--just a few seconds. It can't keep up. So I don't know if the too issues are related or not.