Daystar Quark Power Supply Mod

[marktownley]

Hi All.

If you're lucky enough to have owned a good Daystar Quark from when they first came out as I am, you may be finding it is starting to show a couple of signs of age through use. The first is the blocking filter fails, which is a simple case of replace with the same filter directly from Andover. The second is the USB power supply socket is getting a bit 'sloppy' and presents a loose fit to the USB power cable. This is something I have an issue with and a short term fix is pinching the socket housing a bit tighter with a jewellers screw driver etc to get a better fit, but, over time, this just enlarges again and the loose fit returns and with it issues of the Quark staying powered, just brushing against the cable or a gust of wind is all that is needed to break the power connection - which is annoying!

Normally for something like this I would just dive straight in, taking things apart and engineering a solution, but in this instance i'd rather explore a range of possibilities before I attempy open heart surgery on the Quark.

So, my open question to you all - what is a solution to this? There are various things online about tweaking the cables for a more secure fit etc. But how about replacing that USB socket on the Quark for an altogether more durable solution?

There's not much room to play inside a Quark, but there should be enough space for another socket?

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Mark

[Petrus]

Following with interest this subject!

If I may ask, what filter on the Andover website is the correct one for the Quark blocking filter? I take a look again at the instructions on how to change it, and it doesn't look impossible feature for me after all.

[christian viladrich]

Hello,
DayStar uses a 10 A Andover filter for blocking : 25mm Andover 656fs02 1nm
This is a two-cavity filter.

As for SolarSpectrum, they probably use a filter like this one from Alluxa :
https://www.alluxa.com/optical-filter-c ... pass-25mm/
This a three-cavity filter, with much higher peak transmission, and price ...

[Petrus]

Thank you for the answer Christian!

[MalVeauX]

Hi,

This is true of all devices that use friction/compression at the fitting and then let the torque of the wire load it and act as a lever opening up the points where the friction contacts are. Everything gets loose.

The solution is to make a brace so that a different mechanism is taking the torque of the wire load instead of the actual USB connection itself. Basically a brace that hovers over the power socket, so that when inserted and coupled, and then braced on something else, none of the torque is on the USB connection and simply on the brace. I imagine a simple 3D printed thing could be fashioned, think of how a newtonian crayford focuser is built to sit on the curve of the tube and allow access to a portal. Something similar could be made or 3d printed so that you slip it over the USB wire, plug it in, then it attaches flush to the Quark body and something stabilizes the wire to the brace (like a band or a velcro strap, etc). The brace could even be made to clam-shell fit over the Quark body to secure it.

Very best,

[marktownley]

As for SolarSpectrum, they probably use a filter like this one from Alluxa :
https://www.alluxa.com/optical-filter-c ... pass-25mm/
This a three-cavity filter, with much higher peak transmission, and price ...

Have you any experience with this filter Christian?

[marktownley]

Hi,

This is true of all devices that use friction/compression at the fitting and then let the torque of the wire load it and act as a lever opening up the points where the friction contacts are. Everything gets loose.

The solution is to make a brace so that a different mechanism is taking the torque of the wire load instead of the actual USB connection itself. Basically a brace that hovers over the power socket, so that when inserted and coupled, and then braced on something else, none of the torque is on the USB connection and simply on the brace. I imagine a simple 3D printed thing could be fashioned, think of how a newtonian crayford focuser is built to sit on the curve of the tube and allow access to a portal. Something similar could be made or 3d printed so that you slip it over the USB wire, plug it in, then it attaches flush to the Quark body and something stabilizes the wire to the brace (like a band or a velcro strap, etc). The brace could even be made to clam-shell fit over the Quark body to secure it.

Very best,

You're thinking along the same lines as me Marty...

[vkx86]

Applying pressure with some kind of braces and other hacks to make a contact in loose socket is a way to nowhere.
With some good soldering skills you can re-solder a new socket.
Or pay some money to electronics/smartphones repair shop to re-solder a new socket for you.
The interesting thing is that regular micro-USB socket in smartphone can survive years of use - I'd never had it failed in my smartphones. Quark has built-it play in that connection due to cylindrical body the socket is mounted in, that's weak point that can be remedied by using only angled plugs with Quark to minimize the fulcrum that straight plugs on end of stiff cable (such as bundled one) have.