Discovery Astrophotography with ZWO ASTRO

EAF Software Configuration

ASCOM Installation

The latest version of ASICAP has native support for the EAF. Other software packages will require the use of an ASCOM driver.

EAF ASCOM drivers can be found on the ZWO website:

https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/software-drivers

ZWO ASCOM driver

Download and install support for EAF, then launch the EAF dashboard from within your astronomy software.

ZWO ASCOM driver-EAF

 

Introduction of ASCOM driver interface

ZWO_ASCOM_driver

Note: If you do not have EAF temperature sensor, you can use the inner temperature sensor to detect.

 

Connecting EAF to your Astronomy Software

There are many kinds of imaging software. We have listed the setting steps of EAF in the mainstream software, so that you can set the EAF in the software more quickly.

 

ASICAP 

1.Open the focuser control panel.

ASICAMP_setting_12. choose the focuser that you connected.

ASICAMP_setting_23. Set suitable settings for your EAF.

ASICAMP_setting_3

 

ASIAIR

1. On the ASIAIR main screen find the icon for the EAF.

ASIAIR_EAF_setting_12. Click the icon and enter the EAF settings page.

ASIAIR_EAF_setting_23.EAF Advanced Settings.

ASIAIR_EAF_setting_3

 

Sharpcap

1.Open Sharpcap settings.

Sharpcap_EAF_setting_1

2.Choose ZWO focuser.

Sharpcap_EAF_setting_2

 

FireCapture

1.Open the focuser panel in settings menu.

FireCapture_EAF_setting_1

2.Check ”Use ASCOM Focuser”

FireCapture_EAF_setting_23. Choose ZWO Focuser in ASCOM panel.

FireCapture_EAF_setting_3

 

Sequence Generator Pro

SequenceGeneratorPro_EAF_setting

 

Maxim DL Pro

1. Open “Observatory panel”, in “Focuser 1” option, click “Choose…”.

MaximDLPro_EAF_setting-12. Choose ZWO Focuser in ASCOM panel.

MaximDLPro_EAF_setting-2

 

The SkyX

1.Open “Telescope” menu, and select “Telescope Setup”

SkyX_EAF_setting_1

2.Select “Focuser Setup”

SkyX_EAF_setting_23. select ASCOM Focuser

SkyX_EAF_setting_34. Setup the settings of ASCOM focuser.

SkyX_EAF_setting_4

5.Choose ZWO Focuser

SkyX_EAF_setting_5

 

Additional Installation Information

There is significant torque from the EAF stepper motor. We recommended setting the 0 position and the maximum number of steps as a first step to prevent possible damage to the focuser.

For the standard bracket installation:

The 0 position is recommended to be set to the position when the focuser is fully retracted.

The maximum number of steps is recommended to be set to a limit position less than or equal to the full focuser stroke.

For the curved saddle installation:

The 0 position is recommended to be set near the focus of the focus of the focus holder.

The maximum number of steps is recommended to be set to a limit position less than or equal to the focus seat stroke.

 

It has to be powered by 12V DC 0.5A and up.

 

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17 Comments

  • johan coussens
    Posted 2020年8月17日 at pm7:24

    hello,
    I hope all is fine with you. thanks for this great and nice hardware from ZWO
    please confirm : do i understand correctly that we can use more than 1 EAF unit from the ASICAP software? is it possible to choose the EAF unit for main scope and guide scope in the asicap software and to focus first guide scope and later main scope ?
    thank you for your appreciated reply.
    best regards
    johan

    • Post Author
      ZWO.Moson
      Posted 2020年8月18日 at pm12:13

      Sorry the ASICAP can not control more than 1 EAF unit.

  • Mastria
    Posted 2020年10月25日 at pm7:59

    Regarding to use of two EAF on same computer, I’ll have a configuration with two telescopes controlled by N.I.N.A. software with or without ASCOM. I know that I can use two N.I.N.A. instances at the same time, I can use one profile with 1st equipment e a second profile with another including telescope, cameras, guiding, focuser etc. Today I have one EAF for the first telescope and a Seletek focuser on another, its working ok, but I want to replace seletek with a second EAF. It’s possible work with two EAF on same computer without ID’s conflict, maybe with ASCOM? Thanks.

    • Post Author
      ZWO.Moson
      Posted 2020年10月26日 at am5:42

      Sorry we haven’t use N.I.N.A, we don’t know whether it support.

  • Jim
    Posted 2020年11月18日 at am4:40

    I am having trouble achieving full focus travel using ASIStudio.
    I have mounted the EAF to my Celestron c9.25 focuser using a bracket that directly connects the motor to the scope’s focus shaft (1:1 ratio).
    A c9.25’s focuser takes approximately 45 turns from fully in to fully out.
    I have determined that in ASIStudio, 10,000 steps equates to 1 full turn. This means I need to be able to set maximum steps in ASIStudio to a value of 450,000 steps. Unfortunately ASIStudio is limiting me to a maximum of 60,000.
    Please update your software/firmware to allow a higher limit or advise on how I should proceed.
    I suspect the same issue applies when using ASCOM.

    • sara.liu
      Posted 2020年11月18日 at am9:34

      We will think about it.
      Please set the stroke near the focus or set the 0 position multiple.

    • Ash
      Posted 2020年11月28日 at pm7:32

      Hi guys,

      I’m using the EAF on a RASA 8 with the SCT 8-9.25 bracket. Like Jim I cannot use the full travel of the focus knob. I have determined that it’s safely 28 turns from 0 to full travel on the focus knob and one full turn is roughly 5720 steps so the maximum “Max step” value would need to go up to 160,160 (5720 steps x 28 turns = 160,160) on a RASA 8. Please can you consider increasing the Max steps in a future update. Thanks

  • Yoshiaki
    Posted 2021年1月30日 at am5:03

    I use EAF with MaxIm DL Pro 6.
    The ASCOM driver interface does not have a window for entering coefficients for temperature compensation.
    The MaxIm DL Pro side has a check button called “Temp. Tracking”, but is it not possible to perform temperature compensation operation with EAF?

    • Post Author
      Support@ZWO
      Posted 2021年2月2日 at am10:34

      Option->Properties->Temp

      • Yoshiaki
        Posted 2021年2月5日 at am9:18

        Hello

        > Option-> Properties-> Temp
        Is this the explanation in the ASCOM driver interface?
        If so, the letters “Option”, “Properties”, and “Temp” cannot be found in the ZWO EAF Setup window.
        Or is it the description in Observatory Setup in MaxIm DL?
        Please explain a little more so that I can understand.

        • Post Author
          Support@ZWO
          Posted 2021年2月5日 at am9:52

          We have already replied to you in mail. Here is for quick answer. Please send mail if you have more questions.

  • victor
    Posted 2021年3月29日 at am5:06

    It is available for iMac ?

  • Jay DeShan
    Posted 2021年5月23日 at am1:51

    I have 2 EAFs that control different telescopes very successfully, as long as only one EAF is plugged in at a time. I can not select, as I can with my different ZWO cameras. I don’t need them to run at the same time, but I would like choose either one depending on the telescope I want to use for the night, without changing cables. Am I not doing something correctly? Now matter how I try to select a different EAF, it always reverts to the same focuser.

    thanks

    • Post Author
      Support@ZWO
      Posted 2021年5月24日 at am9:58

      You can set alias for EAF in Ascom.

  • Claudio
    Posted 2021年9月13日 at pm2:19

    I have the ZWO-EAF-5V focuser and I feed it at 5VDC with the USB port.
    Can I power it at 12VDC?
    What is the maximum power limit in VDC?
    Thanks
    Clay

    • sara.liu
      Posted 2021年9月16日 at am7:43

      No, you can’t.
      The power supply should be 5v.

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