I've just had a very unusual problem happen three times in a row and I'm not really sure what caused it. The MiniPC is shutting off when it's never done this before.
Windows 11 laptop running v4.1.14176.0, Stellarium, PHD2, APCC and a Pegasus PB Advance. Everything worked fine last time I used it with v4.1.14165.0. I also just updated ASCOM to 7.1.3 so that's in the mix as well.
The MiniPC shutdown was when running everything. I did try running only the PPB Advance, APCC and Stellarium and everything seemed to work. Then I uninstalled v4.1.14176.0 and installed v4.1.14165.0 and did a short test of everything and it worked.
I'm attaching all the Log files for v4.1.14176.0.
Possible SharpCap Issue v4.1.14176.0
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Please include the following details in any bug report:
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Possible SharpCap Issue v4.1.14176.0
- Attachments
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- Log_2026-02-19T18_13_21-5792.log
- (63.81 KiB) Downloaded 3 times
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- Log_2026-02-19T18_08_38-2288.log
- (31.95 KiB) Downloaded 6 times
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- Log_2026-02-19T17_58_34-9796.log
- (65.57 KiB) Downloaded 3 times
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- Log_2026-02-19T17_55_14-368.log
- (70.06 KiB) Downloaded 4 times
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- Log_2026-02-19T17_24_36-6536.log
- (32.1 KiB) Downloaded 4 times
Re: Possible SharpCap Issue v4.1.14176.0
Replying to clarify. The MiniPC is at the mount running all the software and the Windows laptop is connected via WRD. During test slewing around in the garage the MiniPC was shutting down.
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admin
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Re: Possible SharpCap Issue v4.1.14176.0
Hi,
nothing really changed between those two versions unless you are using certain QHY cameras in still mode or using one of the new sequencer steps that got added, so I think the version change is probably nothing to do with the issue.
I've seen this sort of report a couple of times before and previously it came down to power supply issues. Is your mini PC running from the same power source as the mount, camera coolers, etc? If the PSU (or battery) isn't up to it and everything loads the 12V line at once then it can drop down to a lower voltage and that causes some mini PCs to power off or reboot. The fact that it is happening while slewing and the mount motors will be drawing quite a bit does make that sound likely to me.
cheers,
Robin
nothing really changed between those two versions unless you are using certain QHY cameras in still mode or using one of the new sequencer steps that got added, so I think the version change is probably nothing to do with the issue.
I've seen this sort of report a couple of times before and previously it came down to power supply issues. Is your mini PC running from the same power source as the mount, camera coolers, etc? If the PSU (or battery) isn't up to it and everything loads the 12V line at once then it can drop down to a lower voltage and that causes some mini PCs to power off or reboot. The fact that it is happening while slewing and the mount motors will be drawing quite a bit does make that sound likely to me.
cheers,
Robin
Re: Possible SharpCap Issue v4.1.14176.0
The power supply is good for 17A continuous output at 12.8V. The PS feeds an APP fused distribution block. All DC cables are over-sized and good quality stranded cable. All connections are APP and made by me using the correct tools. I'm using DC-DC buck boosters for the MiniPC (19V DC) and Mount (24VDC). I can observer the Powerwerx in-line analyzer and see what the current draw is when slewing.
The max total current draw with the G11G, which worked flawlessly for three years, is under 8 amps. With the Mach2 it's hard to believe the current draw would exceed the PS capability but I'll check and report back.
The max total current draw with the G11G, which worked flawlessly for three years, is under 8 amps. With the Mach2 it's hard to believe the current draw would exceed the PS capability but I'll check and report back.
- G11G_PowerDist_01252025s.jpg (403.05 KiB) Viewed 492 times
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archer1960
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Re: Possible SharpCap Issue v4.1.14176.0
It might be the startup current surge that is hitting you, even if the steady-state current draw is within limits; if you're over 50% of capacity steady-state, you may well go over on the surge.
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admin
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Re: Possible SharpCap Issue v4.1.14176.0
Hi,
that looks a pretty significant PSU setup, so I would hope it would be OK, but if the 12V voltage does sag during mount motor spinup then maybe that impacts what looks like the 12->19V boost converter which is probably powering the mini PC?
Can you put a multimeter on the 12V output and keep an eye on it to see if it dips when the mount movement kicks in? Even better if you have a multimeter with min/max recording or something that can keep a log of the voltage.
Another approach is to check the Windows event log to see if anything got recorded in the log at the time of the reset. A software side crash would almost certainly get something recorded in the log (and most likely an app crash or a blue screen as part of the reboot). If there is nothing recorded in the windows event log for the shutdown but you see event ID 41, that indicates a reboot after an unexpected crash or power loss. This would be looking in the Windows 'Event Viewer' app, in the Windows Logs/System area.
cheers,
Robin
that looks a pretty significant PSU setup, so I would hope it would be OK, but if the 12V voltage does sag during mount motor spinup then maybe that impacts what looks like the 12->19V boost converter which is probably powering the mini PC?
Can you put a multimeter on the 12V output and keep an eye on it to see if it dips when the mount movement kicks in? Even better if you have a multimeter with min/max recording or something that can keep a log of the voltage.
Another approach is to check the Windows event log to see if anything got recorded in the log at the time of the reset. A software side crash would almost certainly get something recorded in the log (and most likely an app crash or a blue screen as part of the reboot). If there is nothing recorded in the windows event log for the shutdown but you see event ID 41, that indicates a reboot after an unexpected crash or power loss. This would be looking in the Windows 'Event Viewer' app, in the Windows Logs/System area.
cheers,
Robin
Re: Possible SharpCap Issue v4.1.14176.0
Robin,
To follow up on this and further test I removed the 12>24V DC buck converter and used the AP 24V power supply for the mount. This isolates the mount and removes it from the PSU. This test was only for about two hours and during this time the MiniPC never shut down. This says to me that there is an issue with the buck converter or PSU. I've not looked at any Windows event logs.
During my start up of the Mach2 I was having a lot of trouble getting it connected and running properly. After several emails back and forth with AP we did a Teamviewer session and of course the mount behaved perfectly. So who knows what was going on. There was one thing that AP mentioned regarding the session results and that is the Mach2 did not move as anticipated when the SharpCap move buttons were used. AP recommended I not use the SharpCap buttons and instead use the AP V2 ASCOM driver controls for movement. I've asked AP for further clarification on what exactly they felt was wrong and I'm awaiting a response.
Mike
To follow up on this and further test I removed the 12>24V DC buck converter and used the AP 24V power supply for the mount. This isolates the mount and removes it from the PSU. This test was only for about two hours and during this time the MiniPC never shut down. This says to me that there is an issue with the buck converter or PSU. I've not looked at any Windows event logs.
During my start up of the Mach2 I was having a lot of trouble getting it connected and running properly. After several emails back and forth with AP we did a Teamviewer session and of course the mount behaved perfectly. So who knows what was going on. There was one thing that AP mentioned regarding the session results and that is the Mach2 did not move as anticipated when the SharpCap move buttons were used. AP recommended I not use the SharpCap buttons and instead use the AP V2 ASCOM driver controls for movement. I've asked AP for further clarification on what exactly they felt was wrong and I'm awaiting a response.
Mike
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admin
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Re: Possible SharpCap Issue v4.1.14176.0
Hi Mike,
good to hear that you have most likely found the cause of the mini PC reboots. Hope you work out a way around the problem.
What sort of thing do you observe with the movement buttons? SharpCap uses the ASCOM MoveAxis commands to implement those buttons - basically telling the mount to move either the RA or Dec axis at a specific rate until told to stop. Some ASCOM drivers don't implement that part of the specification (in which case the buttons don't enable in SharpCap), but if it is implemented by the driver, it really should work.
cheers,
Robin
good to hear that you have most likely found the cause of the mini PC reboots. Hope you work out a way around the problem.
What sort of thing do you observe with the movement buttons? SharpCap uses the ASCOM MoveAxis commands to implement those buttons - basically telling the mount to move either the RA or Dec axis at a specific rate until told to stop. Some ASCOM drivers don't implement that part of the specification (in which case the buttons don't enable in SharpCap), but if it is implemented by the driver, it really should work.
cheers,
Robin