RCA SOLAM VIDEO CAMERA User Manual
ASTROVID
SolarCam™ CCD VIDEO CAMERA
CAMERA CONNECTIONS:
***The power supply is to be connected last to prevent any damage to the camera.***
1. This camera cannot be hooked directly to a television for a picture as it only supplies Baseband or
Composite Video.
2. Most newer televisions have separate Video In jacks that can be used with this camera.
3. Look at the back of the Astrovid SolarCam™ camera.
4. On the back is a 12 pin female jack labeled DC IN. The round male metal jack on the black power cord
goes into the ASTROVID SolarCam™. It attaches to the back of the camera’s DC IN jack. Line up the pins
to match the connector, be careful in doing this so as not to bend any of the pins within the connector. Push
in the power cord to lock. DO NOT force this connection . Not plug in the wall transformer until all of
your connections are made.
5. Plug in the mini-phono plug from the wall transformer power supply into the power cord that is now
attached to the DC IN.
6. Connect the white Composite video cable’s Male BNC connector to the back of the SolarCam™ camera’s
female BNC connector labeled Video.
7.The other end of the white video cable has a Male RCA Adapter that can be plugged into a VIDEO IN
jack for a television, camcorder, or VCR. (please note set VCR or TV to line in or video in)
10. Our monitors come with the same BNC jacks as the camera. So if you are using our monitor you will
need 1 BNC to F-adapter. The RG-59 cable can then be screwed into the VIDEO INPUT JACK on the
monitor. There is another BNC jack on the monitor for VIDEO OUTPUT. From here using another cable with
a BNC on one end and an RCA adapter on the other end, you can plug
into a VCR or Camcorder to simultaneously watch and record your
observations. Using this configuration with one of our 850 line high
resolution monitors will give the best results from the ASTROVID
StellaCam™.
11. Once all of the cables and adapters are plugged in, you may
plug the power supply in.
Composite Video.
2. Most newer televisions have separate Video In jacks that can be used with this camera.
3. Look at the back of the Astrovid SolarCam™ camera.
4. On the back is a 12 pin female jack labeled DC IN. The round male metal jack on the black power cord
goes into the ASTROVID SolarCam™. It attaches to the back of the camera’s DC IN jack. Line up the pins
to match the connector, be careful in doing this so as not to bend any of the pins within the connector. Push
in the power cord to lock. DO NOT force this connection . Not plug in the wall transformer until all of
your connections are made.
5. Plug in the mini-phono plug from the wall transformer power supply into the power cord that is now
attached to the DC IN.
6. Connect the white Composite video cable’s Male BNC connector to the back of the SolarCam™ camera’s
female BNC connector labeled Video.
7.The other end of the white video cable has a Male RCA Adapter that can be plugged into a VIDEO IN
jack for a television, camcorder, or VCR. (please note set VCR or TV to line in or video in)
10. Our monitors come with the same BNC jacks as the camera. So if you are using our monitor you will
need 1 BNC to F-adapter. The RG-59 cable can then be screwed into the VIDEO INPUT JACK on the
monitor. There is another BNC jack on the monitor for VIDEO OUTPUT. From here using another cable with
a BNC on one end and an RCA adapter on the other end, you can plug
into a VCR or Camcorder to simultaneously watch and record your
observations. Using this configuration with one of our 850 line high
resolution monitors will give the best results from the ASTROVID
StellaCam™.
11. Once all of the cables and adapters are plugged in, you may
plug the power supply in.
ASTROVID SolarCam™ Camera
Controls
Controls
The use of the separate camera controls will enable the image to gain fine adjustment of the final image. It
will allow the user to view both solar surface detail and prominences. The use of a monochrome 2/3 inch
format video CCD will give the largest field of view possible. This will enable full disk viewing on many more
telescopes. See also the separate specification sheet for parameters of each camera control function.
The following controls on the camera are detailed as follows:
will allow the user to view both solar surface detail and prominences. The use of a monochrome 2/3 inch
format video CCD will give the largest field of view possible. This will enable full disk viewing on many more
telescopes. See also the separate specification sheet for parameters of each camera control function.
The following controls on the camera are detailed as follows:
Manual Shutter Speed Dial: Round dial labeled 0-9on
back upper left corner of the camera. Use the
mini screwdriver provided to change the shutter speeds. Shutter speeds go from 1/60 second to 1/10000
second. Position 0-7. Position 8 Filed integration 1/60 second or Frame Integration 1/30 second. Position
9—no use.
.
second. Position 0-7. Position 8 Filed integration 1/60 second or Frame Integration 1/30 second. Position
9—no use.
.
Internal External Sync Switch: Horizontal switch labeled INT EXT. Just to the right of the Shutter
Speed Dial.
Speed Dial.
Not really used for Solar Imaging. Leave switch to the left on internal.
Gamma On Off Switch:
Vertical switch labeled V ON OFF. Just to right of Internal external sync switch.
This will control the gamma, which relates closely to the contrast of the image. In the off position the gain is
adjusted to the normal daylight conditions (gamma 1.0) . In the ON position the gamma is increased. This
will give a higher contrast image and is useful for solar surface detail. You may want to experiment in both
positions as the use of various neutral density and colored filters i.e. blue and green will also affect the
contrast.
adjusted to the normal daylight conditions (gamma 1.0) . In the ON position the gamma is increased. This
will give a higher contrast image and is useful for solar surface detail. You may want to experiment in both
positions as the use of various neutral density and colored filters i.e. blue and green will also affect the
contrast.
With total manual control
a nd
a nd
la rg e
2 /3
i nc h
monochrome
CCD
the
ASTROVID
SolarCam™
provides the most flexibility
and largest field of view
possible!
and largest field of view
possible!