Alcor System EUDA-2M Manuale utente
© Alcor system 1
EUDA-2M / 3M “All Sky” Camera
Installation and user manual
Oct 05th, 2021 revision
© Alcor system 2
Table of Contents
1 Camera installation ................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 System installation ............................................................................................................................................ 3
1.2 Camera optical settings ..................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2.1 Temperature sensor and humidity connector (#1) ................................................................................... 7
1.2.2 Power connector and RS232 (#2).............................................................................................................. 8
1.2.3 USB connector (#3) ................................................................................................................................. 11
2 Software .................................................................................................................................................................. 12
2.1 Installing the camera Software ....................................................................................................................... 12
3 Using the camera software control ........................................................................................................................ 15
3.1 Initializing ........................................................................................................................................................ 15
3.1 Cooling the CMOS image sensor ..................................................................................................................... 22
3.2 General Software Setup .................................................................................................................................. 25
3.3 Camera Control panel ..................................................................................................................................... 27
3.4 Storage of files produced by the camera control software ............................................................................ 30
3.5 Image hot pixel removal using dark frame image ........................................................................................... 33
3.5.1 Achieving master dark frame .................................................................................................................. 36
3.5.2 Residual hot pixels repair/fix .................................................................................................................. 39
3.6 Setting the overlay grid ................................................................................................................................... 40
3.7 Cyanogen Boldwood, or Sentinel cloud sensors link with camera control software ..................................... 43
3.8 Magnitude per square second display image mode ....................................................................................... 44
3.9 Telescope control software link ...................................................................................................................... 45
4 Trouble shooting ..................................................................................................................................................... 47
4.1 Focus ............................................................................................................................................................... 47
7.2 Dew inside the dome ...................................................................................................................................... 49
5 Camera maintenance .............................................................................................................................................. 50
5.1 Sphere cleaning ............................................................................................................................................... 50
6 Product terms of use ............................................................................................................................................... 51
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1 Camera installation
1.1 System installation
The camera works outdoor, it is totally weather-tight. The camera has 5 positions filter wheel.
The focusing of the camera can be achieved by software remotely, so there is no need to open the camera to
achieve focusing.
The CMOS sensor has either 62 million pixels for EUDA-3M with 3.8 µm pixels, or 12 million pixels for EUDA-
2M with 4.63µm pixel size.
Both sensors can be cooled down.
EUDA-2M has Iris, that can be set from f2.8 to f22 by means of remote software. Lens focal length is 4.5 mm
EUDA-3M has Iris, that can be set from f4 to f32 by means of remote software. Lens focal length is 8 mm
The heat from the Sun does not cause daytime stops operation of the camera.
Please do not install the camera near a pollution source (like a chimney). Give as much exposure as possible
and avoid obstacles.
This version of camera has heater that can remove external condensation that can occur on sphere surface.
The camera has three anchors on the back, these three ISO M6 not thru threaded holes by 10 mm depth.
Use the supplied screws to attach it, or equivalent stainless steel A4 or A2 screw.
The whole camera weights 9.5 Kg (or 16 kg for EUDA-3M), so ensure that camera attachment is achieved
properly to the mast.
The N, S, E and W direction is defined by rotating the camera accordingly. This is up to the user to define
camera orientation according to its needs. Please perform image capture tests before attaching the camera
to the pole.
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Fig. 1 The position of the three screws securing the USB camera (yellow holes) seen from the bottom of the camera for
EUDA–2M Camera
There are three other "holes" that are filled with waterproof connectors, leave this space free and 100mm
underneath to allow the cables to run.
Connector’s keying and different number of pins are preventing connection errors. However, user must look
at the number of connector pins at the end of the cord before connecting the camera, in order to avoid
forcing the pins and damage the camera connector.
Connector
see fig. 1
EUDA-2M
Role Genre (on camera)
RED Temperature sensor Female
BLUE Power connector and RS232 link Male
PINK USB 2.0 link to camera Male
© Alcor system 5
Fig. 2 The position of the three panel connector of EUDA–3M Camera
Let the cables to go straight from the camera. If the cables shall be bent, respect a minimum curvature
radius of 100 mm.
The waterproof connectors connect as follows:
Identify the number of connector pins of the camera, its type (male / female)
Identify the number of pins of the connector cord and match.
Identify the key pin inside the camera connector and the key at the connector cord side.
Apply a rectilinear motion. If insertion force strength persists, please repeat steps for
locating the pin number and key. Excessive force applied to connector can cause the
destruction of the connector or a bad connection can damage the camera.
In case of damage, due to trials to attach cable to the wrong connector kind, this will
cancel warranty. Please PAY ATTENTION.
© Alcor system 6
Fig. 3 Key one of the three connectors (24V power connector).
Fig. 4 Push the connector straight
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Fig. 5 Then turn the connector’s collar in clockwise fashion
1.2 Camera optical settings
The angle adjustment (tilt) of the camera lens with respect to the CMOS detector plane is factory made.
It is not possible to perform changes from outside for tightness reasons.
The camera iris and focus position is controlled by external software, as well as the 5-positions filter wheel
and camera. So, this is required to run the Skywatch.exe to gain access to these settings.
1.2.1 Temperature sensor and humidity connector (#1)
It is a 5-pin connector. The probe located at the end of the cord will be placed preferably in the shade, as far
as possible from the camera, and always with two set Ø4mm screws with the direction given in the next
frame and horizontally. It put upside down, this can destroy the sensor and warranty will not apply.
© Alcor system 8
Fig. 6 Up / down and horizontal temperature sensor and humidity directions for installation
1.2.2 Power connector and RS232 (#2)
This is providing power to the camera and RS232 link.
The RS232 connector is a DB9 connector type female and attaches to the serial port of the PC. New PCs are
not equipped with serial port, and must be equipped either:
By a RS232 – USB converter (very moderate cost, FTDI, ATEN devices, avoid Prolific, there are
not reliable)
By RS232 PCI card (Low-cost device, not suitable for laptops)
By Serial to Ethernet (MOXA devices, very reliable and professional device
http://www.moxa.com/product/nport_device_server_1.htm ) Product type is Nport.
© Alcor system 9
The power supply is provided as 12V or 24V, 110V 60Hz and 220V 50Hz compliant. The current provided by
the PSU is enough to power the camera and the dome heater. Three kinds of plugs are provided on request:
EU, US and UK type.
Fig. 7 24V power supply
The RS232 control link is mandatory, and must be connected to your PC. This gives access to:
dome heating control, temperature and humidity thresholds that will turn on and off the dome
heating
setting the heat power to be applied to the dome
reading temperature of different sensors inside and outside camera
reading relative humidity sensors from inside and outside the camera
controlling the lens focus position and iris from f2.8 to f22, and the good focus position is set by
Skywatch software on startup (otherwise blurry images will be obtained).
This is a mandatory way to control the camera. Please connect the RS232 link to your PC.
© Alcor system 10
At the end of the RS232 cable, a USB to RS232 high quality converter is used Once connected to the PC, the
driver is loaded automatically for Windows 10. For other OS, please go here to pick up the proper driver:
http://www.ftdichip.com/FTDrivers.htm
Under windows 7, it will appear as UC232R in device manager and driver must appear as follows after driver
installation (can be another COM number port).
Under Windows 8, ask windows device manager to update this device from internet, and driver will be
installed automatically.
In the end the PC, must have TWO USB port free for the system, one for the camera Data stream, and
another for this RS232 to USB link.
Fig. 8 RS232 to USB converter Fig. 9 COM port under Device manager,
warning it can be another number than
COM24
The device manager properties for this COM port should be seen as follows once connected:
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