Eight years later, thank you! I had an issue with my motor control board -the connections and the power -and your video was the best resource on how to approach it and work on it successfully! Fantastic! 👍 Clear Skies! Mark
I've just watched your videos again after a few years..I had no end of issues with my cgem.. seems like it's major flaws are with the servo motors, backlash issues with the motor gear to the worm spur gear mesh... so I'm going to belt mod mine and replace the servo motors for steppers... and change the board and run it with onstep... can't believe someone designed it to make these issues..
It's hit and miss with the system they've employed for sure. The belt drives mounts are becoming very popular these days. Fortunately, in your case, you seem to have the skill sets necessary to make the conversion. Many are not so lucky and get stuck with the way it came. Cheers!
The encoders on the motor control board are not replaceable due to the micro soldering necessary. The fix was to replace the old MC board with a new one. Clear Skies.
I got the MC board from deepspaceproducts.com/cgem-motor-control-module-cgem-series_8_4245_9482.html It's advisable to update your hand controller and MC board after installation. The new boards provide more power to the motors. It's the same one they're now using for the DX.
@@DakotaStarryNights Although those IC's at 4:55 look like they might have been something custom-programmed by Celestron, if you could obtain them it shouldn't be too hard to replace with a "Hot Air Rework Station" and some solder. Also, 9:57, isn't it just an RJ-12 socket and you could use telephone cable with an RJ-12 plug on it (after checking that Celestron doesn't use some proprietary wiring that's different from the standard telephone wire). It says Hand Controller on the socket so that's probably just signals and not power and I don't think you'd have to worry about ampacity of the cable (overheating). You could even make your own lengths getting a crimper (www.aliexpress.com/item/33028577788.html ...though you might want to get a better one) plus some 6-wire cable (www.aliexpress.com/item/32948638643.html) and jacks (www.aliexpress.com/item/32956150910.html); all that assuming it's actually RJ-12 but if it's not you just need to figure out which connector it is and it's the same deal; cable + jack + crimper.
HI, your input is very interesting and rewarding. Can you share with us the CGEM Motor pinout (I see 6 white wires and 2 others (White and Red?) to be able to test only the motor. Many thanks in advance.
@@DakotaStarryNights Thanks. I recently acquired a used CGEM DX with the RA drive being intermittent. Tried it out for the first time last night. Yep, problem confirmed. A smell of hot electronics was detected at the mount, turned the mount off. I am thinking bad RA motor or driver or both at this point. A good repair project... Thanks for your quick reply. Now to find time to work on it. Thanks again for your quick reply.
How does one know if that watch battery needs replacement? They last a long time, but mine is an old mount. What won’t work if that battery is going out?
You can check the battery with a volt meter. But I'd would go ahead and replace it. One less thing to worry about as just a small drop in voltage can throw a lot of things off.
Yeah, that's certainly possible. I only plugged into my friend's CGEM to verify what I thought the problem was, which it did. Knowing this you shouldn't have to. :-)
CyScape The CGEM in experienced hands can easily handle an 8" Edge HD. I could have gotten the 9.25" Edge but I knew the 8" would be a much better fit. Keep in mind the 8" & 9.25" operate at 2125mm and 2321mm. Imaging at around f/10 can be demanding. But if you keep your imaging payload under 21lbs or less then you should be good. If you're just doing visual work then the 9.25 Edge might be a better choice. Clear Skies
Eight years later, thank you! I had an issue with my motor control board -the connections and the power -and your video was the best resource on how to approach it and work on it successfully! Fantastic! 👍 Clear Skies! Mark
Cool!
That suggestion about taking the torque off 5hose two cables with the plastic wire holder and a washer was, by itself, worth the price of admission.
Great idea to bundle the cables together to avoid tugging and pulling on them! Thanks.
Glad you found it useful. :)
Hi. You said you removed the RA motor but it is still installed throughout the video.
Hello, I had the same exact issue, saw your video after I fixed it. Is there somewhere I can text you on ?
I've just watched your videos again after a few years..I had no end of issues with my cgem.. seems like it's major flaws are with the servo motors, backlash issues with the motor gear to the worm spur gear mesh... so I'm going to belt mod mine and replace the servo motors for steppers... and change the board and run it with onstep... can't believe someone designed it to make these issues..
It's hit and miss with the system they've employed for sure. The belt drives mounts are becoming very popular these days. Fortunately, in your case, you seem to have the skill sets necessary to make the conversion. Many are not so lucky and get stuck with the way it came. Cheers!
Do you have the rest of the story? What happened to the encoders? How did you replace them, or fix it finally?
The encoders on the motor control board are not replaceable due to the micro soldering necessary. The fix was to replace the old MC board with a new one. Clear Skies.
Did you get one from Celestron, or second hand?
I got the MC board from deepspaceproducts.com/cgem-motor-control-module-cgem-series_8_4245_9482.html
It's advisable to update your hand controller and MC board after installation. The new boards provide more power to the motors. It's the same one they're now using for the DX.
Thanks!
@@DakotaStarryNights Although those IC's at 4:55 look like they might have been something custom-programmed by Celestron, if you could obtain them it shouldn't be too hard to replace with a "Hot Air Rework Station" and some solder. Also, 9:57, isn't it just an RJ-12 socket and you could use telephone cable with an RJ-12 plug on it (after checking that Celestron doesn't use some proprietary wiring that's different from the standard telephone wire). It says Hand Controller on the socket so that's probably just signals and not power and I don't think you'd have to worry about ampacity of the cable (overheating). You could even make your own lengths getting a crimper (www.aliexpress.com/item/33028577788.html ...though you might want to get a better one) plus some 6-wire cable (www.aliexpress.com/item/32948638643.html) and jacks (www.aliexpress.com/item/32956150910.html); all that assuming it's actually RJ-12 but if it's not you just need to figure out which connector it is and it's the same deal; cable + jack + crimper.
HI, your input is very interesting and rewarding. Can you share with us the CGEM Motor pinout (I see 6 white wires and 2 others (White and Red?) to be able to test only the motor. Many thanks in advance.
Don't know, but perhaps someone will post the answer.
You did not mention the DC voltage you applied to test the motor, was it 12V?
yes, 12v
@@DakotaStarryNights Thanks. I recently acquired a used CGEM DX with the RA drive being intermittent. Tried it out for the first time last night. Yep, problem confirmed. A smell of hot electronics was detected at the mount, turned the mount off. I am thinking bad RA motor or driver or both at this point. A good repair project... Thanks for your quick reply. Now to find time to work on it. Thanks again for your quick reply.
How does one know if that watch battery needs replacement? They last a long time, but mine is an old mount. What won’t work if that battery is going out?
You can check the battery with a volt meter. But I'd would go ahead and replace it. One less thing to worry about as just a small drop in voltage can throw a lot of things off.
By plugging your motor onto your friends mount my only concern would be...what if the motor was what caused the damage to the controller? Just saying.
Yeah, that's certainly possible. I only plugged into my friend's CGEM to verify what I thought the problem was, which it did. Knowing this you shouldn't have to. :-)
Dakota Starry Nights
I'm looking to get a new mount. I'm going to get an 8" Edge HD, what your honest opinion on this mount with that OTA?
CyScape The CGEM in experienced hands can easily handle an 8" Edge HD. I could have gotten the 9.25" Edge but I knew the 8" would be a much better fit. Keep in mind the 8" & 9.25" operate at 2125mm and 2321mm. Imaging at around f/10 can be demanding. But if you keep your imaging payload under 21lbs or less then you should be good. If you're just doing visual work then the 9.25 Edge might be a better choice. Clear Skies
Power and hand control together like that will get Emf interference. you can lose the odd digital signal. not good idea.
great and easy !! like that...