Sbig CFW-10 User Manual

SANTA BAR

BARA INSTRUMENT GROUP

SBIG

ASTRONOMICAL

INSTRUMENTS

147-A Castilian Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
Phone (805) 571-SBIG (571-7244) FAX [phone]
e-mail:[e-mail] home page:www.sbig.com

CFW-10 Operating Manual

April 14, 2005

Introduction

The CFW-10 is a 10-position Color Filter Wheel for use with SBIG and third-party CCD Cameras. It
accepts up to ten 1 ¼ inch filter cells. It interfaces to SBIG USB Port based cameras through the
camera’s I2C port, obtaining power and control from the camera. For SBIG Parallel Port based cameras
or for cameras from other manufacturers power is obtained from a separate 12V DC power source and
control is through a Serial Port (RS-232).
Finally, the CFW-10 is available in two versions: Windowed and Windowless. The Windowed
version is for use with an SBIG ST-7/8/9/10/2000 series camera and attaches to the camera by replacing
the front cover. The Windowless version attaches to the camera by replacing the T-Thread D-Block on
SBIG camera or through a T-Thread based coupler.

Opening the CFW-10

To open the CFW-10 remove the nine 4-40 x 3/16 Black Button-Head Cap Screws from the Telescope
Side using the supplied 1/16 inch Hex Tool. Slightly lift the aperture end of the cover and slide it away
from the connectors, allowing the connectors to clear the face plate. At this point you can insert filters
into the carousel or attach the CFW-10 to the camera. Note that the filter positions are marked with a

CFW-10 Operating Manual

number adjacent to each position. To reassemble the CFW-10 reverse the procedure, sliding the cover
into place and replacing the nine screws.

Attaching the Windowed Version to an SBIG Camera

The Windowed version of the CFW-10 attaches to the SBIG ST-7/8/9/10/2000 series of cameras by
replacing the camera’s front cover as described below:

1. Open the CFW-10 as described above to gain access to the mounting holes.

2. Remove the camera’s front cover by removing the six Flat Head Philips screws holding it in

place. Set the cover aside. Minimize the amount of time the camera is open to keep the interior
dry, hopefully to less than 10 minutes.

3. Place the CFW-10 housing over the camera, making sure the O-Ring remains seated.

4. Attach the CFW-10 to the camera using six of the supplied 4-40 x 3/16 inch Button Head Cap

Screws. We recommend you tighten the screws in two steps, making them finger tight on the
first pass then cinching them down on a second pass. This helps insure the O-Ring remains
seated.

5. Plug the CFW-10’s dangling cable into the camera’s I2C-AUX port and tighten the thumb screw

retainers. The RS-232 connector is not used in this configuration.

6. Reassemble the CFW-10.

7. Remove the T-Thread D-Block from the camera’s original cover and attach it to the Telescope

Side of the CFW-10 using the four 4-10 x 3/8 inch Flat Head screws that held it in place on the
camera.

8. At this point the Camera is ready for use. However the desiccant will need 4 to 24 hours to fully

dry the chamber back out so that the CCD doesn’t frost. When you apply power to the camera
the CFW-10 should rotate to the home position.

9. You can use CCDOps to control the CFW-10 by selecting “CFW-10” in the Setup command in

the Filter menu. You can also customize the names of your filters.

Attaching the Windowless Version to an SBIG Camera

The windowless version of the CFW-10 attaches to the SBIG ST-7/8/9/10/2000 series of cameras by
replacing the T-Thread D-Block as described below.

1. Open the CFW-10 as described above to gain access to the mounting holes.

2. Remove the T-Thread D-Block from the camera’s original cover and set the flat head screws

aside.

3. Attach the CFW-10 to the camera’s face plate using the four supplied 4-40 x 3/16 inch Button

Head Cap Screws.

4. Attach the T-Thread D-Block to the Telescope Side of the CFW-10 using the four 4-10 x 3/8

inch Flat Head screws that held it in place on the camera.

5. Connect the CFW-10’s RS-232 port to your computer’s serial port using the supplied cable.

6. Connect the CFW-10’s Power Jack to a 12 VDC source. US customers are supplied with a 12V

DC at 2 Amp Wall Transformer. If you provide your own source of 12V the mating connector is
the locking model Switchcraft S760K and the connector is wired Center Positive.

7. When powered up, the CFW-10 will rotate to the home position, stopping at Filter 1.

8. At this point you can use CCDOps to control the CFW-10 by selecting “CFW-10 (Serial) in the

Setup command in the Filter menu or use SBIG’s stand-alone CFW10.EXE program or third­party software such as CCDSoft or MaximDl.

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