QHYCCD QHY8L User Manual
QHY8L
Cooled Color Astronomy CCD Camera
User Manual
QHY8L User Manual V1.0
CONTENTS
1)SAFETY PRECAUTIONS--------------------------------------------------------------------------2
2)STANDARD EQUIPMENT-----------------------------------------------------------------------3
3) SEPARATELY SOLD ACCESSORIES---------------------------------------------------------5
4)CAMERA STRUCTURE AND INTERFACE CONNECTION------------------------------6
5)CAMERA DRIVERS INSTALLATION AND QUICKLY MASTERING -------------------7
6) DC201 IINPUT VOLTAGE RANGE--------------------------------------------------------------9
7)SERVICE TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY OF CAMERA--------------------------------9
8) HOW TO AVOID CCD SENSOR MOIST IN HIGH HUMIDITY-------------------------- 10
9)NOTES ABOUT LONG TERM USING AND REMOTE OBSERVATORY----------- 12
10) PROTECTION OF COOLER-------------------------------------------------------------------15
11) CLEAN THE SURFACE OF CCD CHIP-----------------------------------------------------16
12) SET ON THE GAIN and OFFSET ------------------------------------------------------------17
15)QHY8L CHANICAL DIMENSIONS --------------------------------------------------18
16)QHY8L Back Focus Lenght---------------------- --------------- ---------------19
17)THE METHOD OF THE CENTER AND ANGLE ADJUSTMENT RING -------------20
18) SOFTWARE ABC COURSE -------------------------------------------------------------------21
19) IMAGE CALIBRATION OF QHY8L-----------------------------------------------29
20) CAPTURE BIAS IMAGE-------------------------------------------------------------------------30
21) CAPTURE DARK IMAGE-----------------------------------------------------------------------31
22) CAPTURE FLAT IMAGE------------------------------------------------------------------------32
23) CAPTURE DARK FLAT IMAGE---------------------------------------------------------------32
24) Guiding with QHY8L in MAXim DL---------------------------------------------------------32
QHY8L CCD Camera User Guide
Congratulations on your new QHYCCD series purchase!
Make sure you read this guide carefully before operating your
new camera! Time spent reading this guide will save you frustration
and maximize the enjoyment of your new QHY8L CCD Camera.
Precautions
1
The larger surface area of the Large format CCD chip and cooling
system are more fragile than a small or medium sized CCD. Take
extra care when transporting and storing the device. Any significant
impacts may damage your equipment.
Connection Sequence:
2
1. Connect USB cable from camera to PC
2. Connect 9-pin cable from camera to DC201
3. Connect 12V power to DC201.
Disconnect Sequence
3
1. Disconnect 12V input power from DC201
2. Disconnect 9-pin cable from Camera
3. Disconnect USB cable from PC
Power to the DC201 needs to be:
4
1. 4A/5A regulated DC power supply.
2. Internal diameter of connection to DC201 is 2.1mm.
3. Tip-positive*
*Please note the reverse polarity will cause damage for camera
and a plug with a different internal diameter won’t work.
1 2
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Make sure that the following items are included in your camera
package. If anything is missing, contact the retailer from which you
purchased the camera.
1
QHY8L Camera
Center and Tilt
2
Adjustment Ring
3
USB cable
4
5
6
DC102 DC adapter
9 PIN power cable
Silicon gel tube
(one)
3 4
Accessories Sold Separately
(Contact your dealer for pricing and ordering
information)
1
100-240V TO 12V
AC adapter
Full Air proof box with
2
electric heating
silicon gel
Camera Interface
1：Camera Front Part
2：CCD Chamber Air socket
3：M42/0.75 Inner screw
(Depth:3mm)
4：IR block optic window
5: Heat Sink Exhaust
7 6
8
3 4
2
6: 9pin power socket
7:USB socket
8:Guiding/Control
signal socket RJ11
9:Heat sink air intake
1
5
9
5 6
Camera Software Installation
Please download last QHY8L system driver from
1
http://www.qhyccd.com/download.html (WINUSB
64/32version) This version support
windowsXP,windowsVista and windows 7, 64 and
32bit version.
Run installer。
2
Connect the camera to computer with USB calbe.
3
Do not connect 9pin power cable this time
System will find new device. Wait till installation
4
finished(In XP select “No”->”Next Step”->”Install
automaticly”
After successfully installed, the LED of camera will
5
flash.
Download and run the the driver version detector
6
software from www.qhyccd.com/download.Html
Click QHY8L button.Check if it the installed driver
the lastest version
Connect DC201 with 12V input. The LED of
8
DC201(+15,-15.+5) should be on
Download EZCAP software from
9
http://www.qhyccd.com/download.Html Click “scan
camera” from main menu. The QHY8L will be
highlight. Check it on.
10
Check if DC201’s FAN and TEC LED on and check
if the fan of QHY8L running.
7
Use 9pin power cable connect DC201 and QHY8L.
Please note the side with EMC ring should connect
to DC201
7 8
DC201 Input Voltage Range
The DC201 requires a regulated 12V input. The
normal input range is 11V-13V. If you exceed
13V- common when you are using an external
battery, the higher voltage will reduce the life of
the TEC and Fan. If you exceed 13V, please limit
the maximum power of your Cooling Settings. This
can be controlled via“TEC PROTECT” in
the“Favorite” menu of EZCAP. Please select it. If
you are using the ASCOM driver, this has been
set automatically.
QHY8L’s power is from 3.6W to 30W, which is
depended on the TEC’s PWM power. So the
power supply should be larger than 4A.
QHY8L use the one-stage TEC, the temperature
can be cooled below 30 degree centigrade by the
surroundings. It should be used the special
DC201 for QHY8L.
Service Temperature and Humidity of Camera
Service Temperature of this camera is from -20C/4F to +30C/86F.
Relative Humidity amount is from 0% to 90%.
9 10
How to avoid CCD sensor moisture in high
humidity environments
In certain environments, when the
temperature of the camera drop below the
dew-point, dew or ice may form on the camera.
This is simply a law of nature. However, ice
and/or dew which form on the surface of CCD
chip or optic window will impact your images.
If dew or ice forms on the surface of CCD, the
water can flow onto the electric board, which
leads to short circuit or data corruption. It is
critical that you avoid dew or ice formation
during operation on the CCD chip.
What if dew forms on the surface of CCD chip?
The internal space of CCD camera is relatively
airtight. If dew forms on the surface of CCD
chip, this indicates that there is higher relative
humidity in the CCD chamber. You must dry
the chamber using the following method:
1. Screw off the air socket screw on front part
of CCD sealed chamber
2. Put fresh silica gel in silica gel tube. Before
putting silica gel, a small piece of cotton is
needed to create a barrier between the hole in
the tube and the chamber
3. Screw silica gel tube into the connection of the
sealed chamber. Make sure the rubber O-Ring
is present to ensure an airtight connection.
4. In about 24 hours, the proper relative humidity
should be restored in the CCD sealed
chamber
If you need to dry the chamber faster, you can use
the following method:
Dew is formed on the IR cut glass
If the cooling temperature is too low in a high
humidity environment, the CCD optic window may
collect dew. This is because the temperature of
the window is too low.
The QHY8L uses 3mm thick optic glass. Although
this glass should prevent dew, follow this
procedure if you run into problems:
Using compressed air or a hand pump with dry air,
make dry air go through the silicon gel tube.
Meanwhile, slightly unscrew the front cover of
CCD. The air current will flow over the CCD
sealed chamber through the air connection of the
CCD. Then air will flow out from the gap between
the unscrewed front cover of CCD and the body of
CCD. After a few minutes, the relative humidity in
the CCD sealed chamber will get lower. Please
note, too high of a pressure can damage the CCD
chip and the cooling system.
1. Install M42 to M42 heater produced by QHYCCD,
The heater will raise the temperature to avoid dew
forming. Consult your area dealer to purchase.
2. Reduce the cooling power. The best
temperature range for QHY8L is from -15℃ to 20℃. Please adjust cooling temperature according
to the ambient temperature.
3. Don’t put the glass window of the CCD upside
down. Cold air will focus on the optic windows if it
is upside down. It will cause lower temperature of
optic windows.
11 12
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