tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post8365613952170753910..comments2024-03-11T14:29:59.043-07:00Comments on The AstronoMolly Log: The Saga of the Celestron CGE MountAstronoMollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340696241101171173noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-54548680091632355862022-02-09T20:01:29.696-08:002022-02-09T20:01:29.696-08:00I am having an issue with my CGE throwing no respo...I am having an issue with my CGE throwing no response 16 and 17 errors when I issue a goto command through asi air plus. Whats really strange is that my laptop can issue commands via CPWI and NexRemote without any issues. I am connected direct to the Nexstar + HC for all of these efforts. Does anyone with a CGE mind testing this out with an ASI Air to see if it throws the same errors? that would help me out a ton on my trouble shooting journey. BlueRidgeDSIAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01462738626921680623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-65004287449462488212021-10-02T14:06:58.406-07:002021-10-02T14:06:58.406-07:00Hi Scott, I didn't end up doing the ground wir...Hi Scott, I didn't end up doing the ground wire -- I came to the conclusion that the motor was dead, and I found someone selling one on AstroBin earlier this year. I bought it, swapped it in, and it worked! But then my other axis was behaving oddly (dec axis), and it looked like the grub screw might have come loose -- the one that holds the brass drive gear to the motor shaft. In trying to tighten it, I stripped it, and the spent months trying to remove the grub screw so I could replace it. I've given up for now...AstronoMollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340696241101171173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-20340323718660032712021-09-24T11:38:42.084-07:002021-09-24T11:38:42.084-07:00I realize this is an older post but would you have...I realize this is an older post but would you have images of your mod that you could link to? I’m in the process of pulling my CGE apart to clean the gears and relube everything. I’d love to do the ground wire mod. Did you just solder a lead on to the ground wire post and attach it to the metal housing? My CGE is going on 20 years old and I don’t want to replace it. It’s perfect for what I need and want just do some DIY tuning. Thanks for the help. ScottGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11954019991173324493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-71799185170560809472020-05-15T11:37:09.260-07:002020-05-15T11:37:09.260-07:00Yes! They're super cheap. I bought a couple t...Yes! They're super cheap. I bought a couple to see if they were causing my issue (they turned out to be fine). All you have to do is desolder the old ones and solder on the new ones. Very quick. https://www.jameco.com/z/SS0505A-Highly-Electric-Company-Snap-Action-Switch-Short-Hinge-Roller-Lever-Solder-5-Amp-250-Volt-AC-0-44n-Screw-Mount_159599.htmlAstronoMollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340696241101171173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-35092291687116258772020-05-12T13:49:11.090-07:002020-05-12T13:49:11.090-07:00I think one of the limit switches is bad since it ...I think one of the limit switches is bad since it gave intermittent correct behavior, cw and ccw enabled when both switches off, after clicking the switch manually. It then aborted mid slew and went back to not running ccw when it was in the 0,0 state. Do you know a source/part number for the limit switches?jshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03743747849828803034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-6004083246228745362020-05-11T18:26:50.039-07:002020-05-11T18:26:50.039-07:00I got into the mount today and the limit switches ...I got into the mount today and the limit switches seem to be giving the wrong logic state to the drive. When both are off "0,0" the mount will rotate cw but not ccw. However "0,0" is when the mount is between the hard limits and should move either way. I did get it to cut off when it hit the meridian for cw "0,1" but it will only go ccw if I manual hold one switch closed when the other is open - logical "1,0" to go ccw! Weird.jshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03743747849828803034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-83038996046962033012020-05-09T23:11:45.525-07:002020-05-09T23:11:45.525-07:00Sure! You can email me at astronomolly.images (at)...Sure! You can email me at astronomolly.images (at) Gmail (dot) com. I've really been through the ringer with my CGE and CGE Pro mounts, so I can probably help you out. (and maybe sell you parts...) AstronoMollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340696241101171173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-70677821232858142702020-05-09T14:13:09.805-07:002020-05-09T14:13:09.805-07:00Interesting. I may have to pick your brain and as...Interesting. I may have to pick your brain and ask for help - if you are willing of course. I picked up a used CGE with the Bennett mod, but it was sold as a problem child at a price I could not refuse. I'm trying to sort through its problems and parts may be an issue eventually. I do, oddly, have another CGE through work since on was purchased for the university back in 2006 and although I can't cannibalize it (inventory would have a fit) it does allow me to swap out modules to see what is going on with mine. jshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03743747849828803034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-70822424951097833502019-09-06T15:50:15.644-07:002019-09-06T15:50:15.644-07:00Greetings to all owners of CGE frames. The mount a...Greetings to all owners of CGE frames. The mount acquired in 2005 has had some episodes. Undoubtedly good load capacity. It was necessary to change the original control and de RA and dec cables. It currently does not work. I understand that it is necessary to change the control and cables RA and DEC again. I bought some for Amazon and they sent me wrong ones. Star the return process.Gilbertohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03202371268843255917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-26503236986334384092019-01-21T19:53:58.468-08:002019-01-21T19:53:58.468-08:00I thought about just soldering the ground wire of ...I thought about just soldering the ground wire of the motor directly to the RA housing, lol! Maybe I will 😂 A screw would probably be better though, yeah, and I need to get a tap kit anyway.. AstronoMollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340696241101171173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-451409326012986774.post-7347218144654739922019-01-20T12:06:26.725-08:002019-01-20T12:06:26.725-08:00Lol, I had the exact same problem with my CGE moun...Lol, I had the exact same problem with my CGE mount - the RA would slew out of control and the only way to stop it was to cut the power.<br />I looked for information on this problem but there wasn't really anything too helpful out there but info on the cable issue, which in turn also led me to the Bennet mod.<br />I installed the Bennett mod and initially it worked just fine but after a couple of sessions with my CGE 1400 the RA started to slew out of control again - I was fuming mad lol.<br />Anyway I ordered the ORION HDX 110 and lived happily with that for a long time... in the meantime I took the CGE apart to see if I could find the problem and I did - it was an intermittent bad ground on the RA - the RA motor needs the be grounded properly to function (which really was the original issue a lot of CGE owners experienced). So after finally grounding the RA motor properly (in my case I drilled and tapped a hole in the RA housing and fitted a small screw that I attached to the RA motor ground and voila!) I have a fully functional CGE mount once again.<br />Interestingly though my HDX 110 now has developed a similar issue where the RA briefly stops at the requested object but then immediately starts slewing again until I cut the power *facepalm*. <br /><br />R. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05679322470780822193noreply@blogger.com