Hello,
I have noticed that the documentation says that when the Cloud Sensor initiates a shutdown sequence, the scheduled darks/bias frames will continue. I use the "Run" shutdown application to close my roof. What I need to know is which happens first? Will my scope park and the application be run to close the roof prior to the scheduled dark/bias frames? Or will the scope park and allow the scheduled dark/bias frames and when those are done, "run" the shutdown application to close the roof?

Thanks,

Greg

Hi Greg,

A vert cloudy/rainy report from the cloud sensor software will cause a park command to be issued to the mount and a close shutter to be issued through the observatory control software only. If you require an eternal command to close the shutter then it would not be executed until the end of the darks and dawn flats, if the external command in entered in Options, box 3, Shutdown.

If you enter your external command on Options, box 2, After Light Frames, the external command would be executed either after the light frames complete or a very cloudy/rainy condition is reported by the Boltwood software. Darks would continue to run but dawn flats would not be taken of course.

From the CCDAP3 Help System caution on the cloud sensor topic:

Both the Cloud Sensor documentation and common sense advise against relying on this device to protect valuable equipment. It is mainly intended as a monitor of sky conditions. See the Cloud Sensor documentation for details. CCDAutoPilot responds to changing sky conditions as a convenience to the user and in no way should be considered a fail safe approach. The most reliable usage, again without guarantees, is to have a direct connection between the Cloud Sensor and the dome control hardware emergency close switch with no intervening software. The dome controller should be on an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to be able to close the dome in the event of a power failure.

None of this is any substitute for an attendant.