Strange grid on my new ASI071MC PRO's sensor.

stefanob60

Hi.

My first tests were with external temp 5-10 C° and sensor temp -10 C° without problems.

Yesterday, with an external temp about 15C° (sensor start about 18C°), when the sensor arrived al -10C° I noted this strange grid on the right side of it. I lowered the temperature slowly: about 15 minutes from +18C°to -10C° (first raw image).

When I returned at 0/-5 C° the grid disappeared (second).

.... but appear again (and terrible) when I lowered the camera again at lower temp (-20C°)! (third image)

What's happen?

Stefano.

stefanob60

This night I'm trying again. External temp 15C, sensor start temp 19C. I lowered very very slow the temp (a 1 min pause every -2 degrees) until -10C min.

The grid on the sensor appared from -8 C as in my first photo.

The camera has only two months and I paid it 1.700 euros (in Italy)! What should I do? I see that cooler's problems are very frequent with this camera that is very expensive.

I think that ZWO should quickly solve this serious problems and quickly replace defective ones. Because è new camera with this problem is defective, I think. I hope you wont ask my, to open it and try to solve the problem.

stefanob60

I remain speechless.

This is zwo support' s answer. Now a custom for these, that seem, very common problems (in mine the grid it very strange)

Hi Stefano,

Thanks for your email.

I am sorry for this problem.

You can follow this quick guide and redry the camera.

https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/How_to_clean_ASI_camera_and_redry_the_desiccant.pdf

Do you suggest me to try solving the problem opening the camera? And If I worsted the problem loosing the warranty?

A camera 3 months old? And the warranty? And the assistance? Where are there? A almost 1800 euros camera!

Mah!

Support@ZWO

Hi there

It's a dew problem on the sensor, sorry about that.

Please send a email to support(at)zwoptical.com, we will help you to solve it.

stefanob60

It is about a month since I sent the my camera to the (italian) Assistance Center by my dealer; I decided because the problems related to the cooling system were evident (difficulty of the sensor to drop in temperature - well below -35 degrees advertised - and systematic frost/dew, even with very gradual cooling). Only yesterday the assistence wrote to dealer that my brand new 071 was returned to the manufacturer for the necessary checks )) -:

After all these setbacks, which force me to be inactive, I at least hope that they don’t take another month and, above all, that this recall (instead of a fair and fast replacement) has been requested to provide a really decisive control and a hardware intervention.