Understanding the ASI1600 cooler

olav

Hi there,

The current ASI1600 manual (v1.1), chapter 4. "Camera technical specifications"" says: "Delta T: 40-45 below ambient".

But chapter 6.3 "Cooling system" says: "The lowest temperature that can be set is -30°C."

For me, imaging temperatures are between -5 and -20°C more than 95% of the times.

Less than 2% of the times would have temperatures bumping above +5°, so I could rather abstain from imaging at those rare occasions.

Even with air temperature at 0°C, I see that the ASI1600 is bought quickly to -30 and MaxImDL reports cooler power less than 20% all the time. (10-15% when air temperature is around -5°C)

So, seems like I'm wasting a lot of cooler power here!

I'd like to have the rare advantages of our low temperatures when possible..

Or is this -30°C limit just a rough guide, and no absolute limit?

I tried at -35°C accidentally the first time, and while cooling actually stopped after a short while (had reached set-temp first according to MaxImDL, I'm quite sure), I still suspect entirely other (power) issues to be the cause.

Btw, seems like I have figured out how to start the camera and cooler properly:

1) Plug 12V cooler cord (to my 90Ah GEL battery)

2) Plug USB cable to PC already running

3) In MaxImDL, redo setup of EFWmini

4) In MaxImDL, redo setup of ASI1600MM-Cool

I have not had this problem not remembering cam and fw setup, with ASCOM 6.2 and other hardware.

Maybe this is because you seem to be supporting two instances of both ASI1600 and EFW, and it has to be like this?

("ASI Camera (1)" and "ASI Camera (2)", plus "ZWO FilterWheel (1)" and "ZWO FilterWheel (2)")

Anyway, a fix for this would be nice, if possible.

Oh, one more thing.

In the shipment was a hollow/fat bolt with a chamber/lid, most likely to hold Silica-gel. (the pellets provided? or the regular micro-balls purchased separately?)

Nothing about this in the manual. And nothing on the blank bolt, with flat-screwdriver head, that can be removed from the side of the camera body. (recent model change?)

Had something similar with a QHY-camera previously.

Can somebody please elaborate on the intended use?

Is it meant to be used at the end of every imaging session with fresh pellets, even if I'm using the MaxImDL "warm up" function?

Thanks :)

Sam@ZWO

there are 2 ASCOM driver is to let one app to run 2 ASCOM camera or filter wheel

the minimal temperature can be set should be -40 instead of -30

we changed -30 to -40 in our driver but forget to change in the manual

the new design we changed the CMOS chamber seal way

so exchange desiccant tablets don't need to open the camera

here is a discuss on CN

http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/556985-zwo1600-changes-to-front-end/?view=getnewpost

olav

Thanks Sam,

Then I guess it's a MaxImDL issue that the ASCOM setup does not keep the setting from time to time, to use the ASI drivers. No big thing.

Will try at -40.

The thread you sent was informative, but did not say anything about the new way of using desiccant tablets. So I have to assume that the chamber is not meant for staying screwed in all the time, only after use, or maybe only if dew start to build.

Sam@ZWO

here is it

New designed ASI1600 and ASI071 exchange desiccant note.rar