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| Optec Part # |
Description |
| 17470 | 6-ft. Control Cable, Hand Control to IFW/TCF |
| 17671 | 6-ft. Reverse RJ-12 cable for the PC converter |
| 17695 | PC Serial Port Converter, DB-9 to RJ-12 |
NOTE: The cables listed above are 6 feet in length. These cables can also be ordered in 12, 25, 50 foot or even custom lengths directly from Optec. The existing 6 foot cables can also be easily extended by adding additional length as needed. It would be best to order the proper lengths up front whenever possible to avoid more than cable thus requiring additional connectors as well. If you know what you want contact Optec directly.
DB-9 female to female cable
In addition you will be using one additional NON Optec
cable. It is a female to female 9 pin cable wired straight through
about 3 to 6 feet in length. If a DB-9 female to female cable cannot
be found a male to female cable using one gender changer (male to female) can
also be
used but this is not as clean. The following is a 6 foot DB-9 female to
female cable. These cables run less than $8.00 from
Dalco Electronics part
#41660
This cable is used to connect the Optec TCF-S focuser to the Paramount ME's instrument panel which is located on the Versa-Plate.
Instrument Panel connection
Below is the instrument panel located on the Versa-Plate. The connector to be used is connector #4, Aux Serial 1 (9-line) as highlighted. This is the ONLY connector you can use for this purpose! If you are already using this connector for something else you will have to reconsider. In that case running the cable independent of the Paramount's internal wiring is best!
Instrument panel located on the Versa-Plate
Use DB-9 Aux Serial 1 (9-line) ONLY!
Using the internal wiring of the Paramount ME
WARNING! You must use the DB-9 (9-line) Aux Serial 1 connector only (#4 above)! Nearly all 9 wires will be used in this configuration by the focuser. The focuser's DB-9 male connector is connected to the instrument panels' Aux 1 (9 line) DB-9 connector using a short DB-9 female to DB-9 female cable wired straight through.
The following shows the focuser plugged in to the proper connector. Again I prefer this method since it is the easiest installation, least expensive, and allows the Hand Controller to be located right at the PC for visual monitoring.
Drawback: You give up the one 9 line DB-9 connector. Solution. Run the Optec RJ-45 to DB-9 cable up through the Paramount ME. My second best choice but also takes up room inside the Paramount ME.
Pictured below is the TCF-S focuser connected to the instrument panel located on the Versa-Plate (excluding the telescope) by using the Aux Serial 1 (9-line) DB-9 male connector. That is actually a misnomer because this connector has nothing to do with serial communications, it is merely 9 wires connected through the Paramount using two male DB-9 connectors.
TCF-S wired to Versa-Plate
fs
Use a short DB9 female to
DB9 female cable
(straight through wiring)
Next, the RJ-45 to DB-9 Hand Controller cable #17470 that normally plugs directly into the TCF-S DB-9 male connector now plugs into the adapter panel on the back of the Paramount ME using the same DB-9 (9-line) Aux Serial Port 1 located on the Versa-Plate instrument panel. See below. The connector labeled #14 on the adapter panel Aux Serial 1 (9-line) must be used! See highlighted connector below.
Adapter Panel Connection
Paramount ME Adapter Panel
MKS-4000 control system
DB-9 connector Aux Serial 1 - #14 to be used!
The TCF-S Hand controller shown after being plugged into the adapter panel with AC power supplied.
Adapter Panel connection
DB-9 female end plugged into the adapter panel /
RJ-45 end into the hand controller
Now the hand controller can be placed where ever you like. Personally I prefer running the RJ-45 cable all the way inside the house placing it next to the controlling PC. The RS-232 cable from the hand controller then plugs into the PC COM PORT using a short 6 to 12 foot serial cable. The nice thing here is the hand paddle is right at the computer where you can see what it is doing without having to go to the mount to see it.
Of course you do not have to run the RJ-45 cable all the way to the controlling PC you could just run the RS-232 cable to the PC leaving the hand controller at the Paramount ME base. That would require affixing the hand controller to the pier or finding another good place to mount it. Even using Velcro to mount the hand controller to the pier would work.
Example 1
Here the Paramount ME is located at some distance from the controlling PC (up to 150 feet). Her the TCF-S hand controller is located right at the PC, very convenient!
Example 2
Here the hand controller is located at the Paramount and the RS-232 cable is run directly to the PC instead. The hand controller can be affixed to the pier and will require a wall outlet for powering the focuser. Runs of 150 feet are not a problem with RS-232 serial.
150 foot run
Again either of these two methods are well suited for the job.
Running the cable through the Paramount
If you have not already installed the Versa-Plate onto the Paramount ME's DEC gear you can (I WOULD) run the RJ-45 to DB-9 female hand controller cable used by the focuser up through the Paramount ME bypassing the existing internal wiring option.
This works just as well but is not quite as convenient because you have to take the side cover plates on the RA and DEC axis off before running the cable up and through the Paramount ME. And if the scope is already mounted to the Versa-Plate it too needs to be removed further complicating the procedure.
However, running the cable through the Paramount is actually the most flexible method since you do not waste the 9 internal lines and you do not use an Aux power connectors either. These can then be used for something else AFTER the Versa-Plate is mounted and at a later date. The Paramount ME manual describes how you can run your own cables up and through the Paramount ME.
While you are at running cables through the Paramount ME I strongly recommend running at least one thin video/power cable combo and at least one USB cable up and through the Paramount ME as well. If you also have the Optec Filter wheel and/or field rotator these cables can also be run up through the inside of the Paramount ME too freeing up all the auxiliary connectors. If you choose to you can run the Optec TCF-S using the 9 wire Aux 1 DB-9 connector and then run the other cable(s) through the Paramount ME. Again, there are many options here.
NOTE: The above example installations will also work the same when the cable is run up through the mount!
The following is a very handy set of cables. It has the power cable you need for a live video camera along with the RCA phono plugs for video and sound. The second video camera which can then be powered using the Paramount ME Aux power connector uses audio cable #2. The first is used if your live video camera has a microphone. Then just run the video and audio signals to the controlling PC.
EXT25 - 25' Video/Audio/Power Extension Cables
Optec optional wiring/mounting kit for the ME
NOTE: Optec also sells an additional wiring kit and mounting hardware which places the hand controller(s) on the Versa-Plate. See below showing this. This is a perfectly suitable option but personally I prefer not mounting the hand controllers on the Versa-Plate. Why? Because I prefer the hand controller(s) at the computer next to me where I can see what is happening on the DRO (digital read-out) as opposed to mounting the hand controllers on the Versa-Plate as shown below.
The Optec Paramount mounting hardware can be found here. The link is on the lower right of the page! This option is shown below. Contact Optec directly for details on this alternative method.
Optec's version
Extending the Optec cables
If you wish to extend the RJ-45 to DB-9 hand controller cable you can use regular CAT-5e or CAT6 network cable with a female to female RJ-45 in-line coupler as shown below. That allows you to extend the length to whatever you desire up to about 125 feet. This kind of network cable is extremely inexpensive! About $15.00 for 100 Feet of Cat5E from http://www.cyberguys.com!
The RJ-45 Cat5e in-line female to female coupler should also be very inexpensive (~$4.95) unless purchased locally where more often than not the price is double or triple the price! If you are in a pinch either your local Radio Shack or Best Buy (or equivalent computer) retail store will also have these available but again the price will be shockingly high.
| Item | Image | Price approx. | Part# Cyber Guys |
| RJ-45 coupler (network cable) |
 |
$ 5.00 | 180 0515 |
| RJ-11 coupler (phone cable) |
 |
$ 0.79 | 180 0410 |
The same type of coupler a 6 conductor RJ-11 phone cable type female to female can also be used to extend the 6 foot serial cable length as well. If you choose Software Bisque can make the RS-232 serial cables to any custom length as well up to 150 feet. In fact you can just use the Optec #17694 DB-9 PC serial port converter with any reversed 6 conductor phone cable up to 150 feet and it will work without using extensions! This is because the wiring is done with DB-9 connector. Reverse means the two ends of the cable are opposite each or the cabling is flipped 180 degrees. As in white on the left of the RJ-11 would be white on the right of the opposite connector.
MKS-3000 Control System
If you have the prior control system in the Paramount ME
or the GT-1100S all the above applies. You must use the Aux DB9
connector with all 9 lines!
WARNING: GT-1100S users. DO NOT use the DB-9 PORT labeled focuser on the Dec plate. ME users do not use the active Aux Port. That is an active connector and is not compatible with the Optec Focuser! Doing so will cause issues making the Paramount GT-1100S misbehave but it will not cause any permanent damage! Be forewarned.
