ASCOM Camera Control

blackwatch42nd

I'm using SharpCap with an ASI 071MC Pro and was experimenting connecting with the ASCOM driver. I noticed I'm unable to turn the heater on through ASCOM, where as I can with the native direct control connection. Am I missing something or is this in fact the case? And if so, does that mean any software I connect the camera through ASCOM (MaximDL for example), that I'm unable to control the heater?

Thanx

John W

chad

Hi John,

In Ascom, Heater control is not in Coolers. Warm up button is used to control the temperature rise slowly after cooling, not the heater control.

Heater control is in the camera setting dialog.

In the camera setting dialog, you can open the heater by checking the Anti-Dew.

Thanks

chad

blackwatch42nd

Chad,

Thanx for the quick reply and the info. I have now found the setting you mentioned to turn on the dew heater. I kind'a look at where those settings are as desired default settings. Once set, they're not changed unless a need arises. by checking that Anti-Dew box, I always want the heater on unless there's a particular reason to turn it off. Is this ok, to run the heater all the time?

John

chad

Hi John,

Yes, you are right.

Generally speaking, we hope that the temperature of the image sensor should be as low as possible during the shooting, so the sensor does not need to be heated, only need cooler. But after cooling, the protective glass will also cool, then the protective glass will dew, which will affect the shooting. So we need to heat the protective glass （not the sensor）to prevent it from dew. This is also why we call the heater as Anti-dew.

Because the dew is closely related to the environment, not only affected by the cooling temperature. So we open it defaultly.

Thanks

chad