Folks ... and Robin
I think I have found a bug in the cooler control for the DS10cTEC camera from Mallincam in SCPro v4.1.14247.0.
Setting both cooler and fan to "on" ... no cooling.
However, setting fan "off", with cooling set to "on", both fan and cooling work as they should.
This also occurs with the very latest version 4.1.14304 ... both versions are 64 Bit.
Note that this does NOT occur with the DS432m or the DS8300m, even using exactly the same cables. Note also that this does NOT when using MCSky software (including the very latest version), also when using exactly the same cables.
Obviously I have found a workaround : has anyone else discovered this "bug".
Thoughts ?
Simon
Cooler conteol for Mallincam DS10cTEC
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Re: Cooler conteol for Mallincam DS10cTEC
Hi Simon,
that's an interesting one - as I'm sure most people are aware, the recent Mallincam camera models are very closely related to models sold by ToupTek, Altair and other brands to the point that exactly the same code is used in SharpCap to control all of those types of cameras, just routing the messages via the appropriate manufacturer SDK (which are all basically compatible).
Because of this, even though I don't have a Mallincam model to test with, I am able to test with the mono cooled version of the 294 camera from Altair - a very similar model aside from the branding and the mono sensor rather than colour. This model cools correctly for me when fan and cooler are set to 'On'. This, along with your observation that it is only the DS10cTEC that shows the problem gives a pretty strong pointer that the problem isn't something I can fix in SharpCap and is either a weird hardware thing or some subtle bug in the Mallincam SDK for this model.
It would be good to know if this is happening to anyone else, or if it is just an odd one-off in your case. If it is more widespread then that would point to the possibly needing a bug fix - for this to happen the bug would need to go to Mallincam for confirmation and then for them to try to get a fix sorted.
cheers,
Robin
that's an interesting one - as I'm sure most people are aware, the recent Mallincam camera models are very closely related to models sold by ToupTek, Altair and other brands to the point that exactly the same code is used in SharpCap to control all of those types of cameras, just routing the messages via the appropriate manufacturer SDK (which are all basically compatible).
Because of this, even though I don't have a Mallincam model to test with, I am able to test with the mono cooled version of the 294 camera from Altair - a very similar model aside from the branding and the mono sensor rather than colour. This model cools correctly for me when fan and cooler are set to 'On'. This, along with your observation that it is only the DS10cTEC that shows the problem gives a pretty strong pointer that the problem isn't something I can fix in SharpCap and is either a weird hardware thing or some subtle bug in the Mallincam SDK for this model.
It would be good to know if this is happening to anyone else, or if it is just an odd one-off in your case. If it is more widespread then that would point to the possibly needing a bug fix - for this to happen the bug would need to go to Mallincam for confirmation and then for them to try to get a fix sorted.
cheers,
Robin
Re: Cooler control for Mallincam DS10cTEC
Thanks for the prompt response Robin ...
I have an easy work-around so the "issue" is minor ... but most intriguing.
I will forward your message on to MallinCam folks (Jack Huercamp) and we'll see where that takes us.
Simon
I have an easy work-around so the "issue" is minor ... but most intriguing.
I will forward your message on to MallinCam folks (Jack Huercamp) and we'll see where that takes us.
Simon
Re: Cooler conteol for Mallincam DS10cTEC
Robin ...
For what it's worth, I do have an extra "clue" for you that might be of interest while we wait for the MallinCam SDK to be updated.
My DS8300m met with precisely the same issue using SCPro 4.1.14247 (64 bit).
That issue does not occur with the DS8300m with version 4.1.14304 (64 bit).
Something changed between the two versions, at least for the DS8300m ... whatever !
Simon
For what it's worth, I do have an extra "clue" for you that might be of interest while we wait for the MallinCam SDK to be updated.
My DS8300m met with precisely the same issue using SCPro 4.1.14247 (64 bit).
That issue does not occur with the DS8300m with version 4.1.14304 (64 bit).
Something changed between the two versions, at least for the DS8300m ... whatever !
Simon
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Re: Cooler conteol for Mallincam DS10cTEC
Hi Simon,
that's interesting - there is exactly one relevant change between those two versions - in the cooler handling code in SharpCap for Mallincam/ToupTek/Altair cameras, SharpCap now keeps a close watch on what the cooler is doing when SharpCap expects it to be turned on. If SharpCap thinks the cooler should be on, but the cooler power reports as less than 5% and the temperature is off the set point by more than 2 degrees then SharpCap checks the cooling configuration :
1) If the cooler unexpectedly reports as 'off' when SharpCap has turned it on, SharpCap turns it back on
2) If the cooler still reports as on, but the power is still low and the temperature has not reached the desired level, SharpCap turns the cooling off then on again.
This was introduced as a workaround for an intermittent problem with other models of camera where the cooler would seemingly turn off on its own at random points. The monitoring means that SharpCap catches that quite quickly and the turning off/on of the cooler seems to put things back into proper operation.
My guess is that the recovery code also steps in for the 8300m and restores the situation without you noticing. If this is happening you would find messages in the log starting either 'Unexpected cooling state' or 'Found cooler disabled when we expected it enabled'.
cheers,
Robin
that's interesting - there is exactly one relevant change between those two versions - in the cooler handling code in SharpCap for Mallincam/ToupTek/Altair cameras, SharpCap now keeps a close watch on what the cooler is doing when SharpCap expects it to be turned on. If SharpCap thinks the cooler should be on, but the cooler power reports as less than 5% and the temperature is off the set point by more than 2 degrees then SharpCap checks the cooling configuration :
1) If the cooler unexpectedly reports as 'off' when SharpCap has turned it on, SharpCap turns it back on
2) If the cooler still reports as on, but the power is still low and the temperature has not reached the desired level, SharpCap turns the cooling off then on again.
This was introduced as a workaround for an intermittent problem with other models of camera where the cooler would seemingly turn off on its own at random points. The monitoring means that SharpCap catches that quite quickly and the turning off/on of the cooler seems to put things back into proper operation.
My guess is that the recovery code also steps in for the 8300m and restores the situation without you noticing. If this is happening you would find messages in the log starting either 'Unexpected cooling state' or 'Found cooler disabled when we expected it enabled'.
cheers,
Robin