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Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based

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Offline johnburns

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Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based
« on: 04 / August / 2008, 08:55:19 »
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I'm sending some Ixus 70's up in a weather balloon and want them to take photos at relatively the same time.\

I've managed this (to within 1 sec) by synchronizing the clocks in the cameras and then running a script which uses the modulus of get_day_seconds.

Although the clock set menu in the camera only shows minutes, pressing set to store the time sets the seconds to zero so it's relatively easy to synchronise the clocks together to +/- 0.5sec.

Due to the use of the modulus operator, you may have to wait the entire delay minus 1 sec for the first photo to be taken (when set to 30 seconds, the photo will be taken when the clock gets to 0 and 30 seconds)

The following script
Code: [Select]
@title Photo every x seconds
@param a Interval
@default a 30

rem a = Delay in seconds
rem x = Mod of seconds for delay
rem y = Last get_day_seconds
rem z = Current get_day_seconds

:main_loop
sleep 100
z = get_day_seconds
if z = y then goto "main_loop"
y = z

rem Interpreter gets to this bit once per second
x = z % a
if x = 0 then goto "take_shot"
if z % 5 = 0 then goto "print_countdown"
goto "main_loop"

:print_countdown
  print "Next shot is in",a - x,"sec"
  goto "main_loop"

:take_shot
  print "Shooting..."
  shoot
  goto "main_loop"
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Offline fbonomi

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Re: Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based
« Reply #1 on: 04 / August / 2008, 20:26:33 »
Nice technique, and again it's wonderful to see CHDK at use in different fields!

You might get a better precision with get_tick_count instead of get_day_seconds, if you need it.

I assume cameras are on different balloons, or you could sync them perfectly via the USB remote and an external clock pulse.
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Offline johnburns

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Re: Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based
« Reply #2 on: 04 / August / 2008, 23:20:28 »
Quote from: fbonomi on 04 / August / 2008, 20:26:33
You might get a better precision with get_tick_count instead of get_day_seconds, if you need it.
I was aware of this, but the precision is not too important (and the clocks are synch'd by hand) and I am taking high res photos over a 6 hour period - in my case I'm taking one photo every 30 seconds.


Quote from: fbonomi on 04 / August / 2008, 20:26:33
I assume cameras are on different balloons, or you could sync them perfectly via the USB remote and an external clock pulse.
They are on the same balloon, one pointing down, one to the side.  This is purely a weight and simplicity thing.  Using two ixus 70's I've managed to get the entire payload weight (everything except balloon) down to 745 grams.  This includes the two cameras (286g), 4AA lithium batteries (94g) and GPS/Trasmitter/Antenna (124g).  The radar reflector is the heaviest individual item at 189grams (I'm looking at changing this to a mylar covered carbon fibre frame).

I'll post more info in a more general location when assembled and ready to fly.  This week I'm putting a 3 day old ixus70 in my freezer at -20 degrees c to make sure it still fires and to measure the battery life (If it's too low I'll need to have the batteries insulated and run wires into the camera). Lets hope it works and the temperature doesn't cause the LCD to crack!

Thanks for your comments.
« Last Edit: 04 / August / 2008, 23:22:26 by johnburns »
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Offline fbonomi

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Re: Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based
« Reply #3 on: 05 / August / 2008, 02:35:06 »
Quote
Lets hope it works and the temperature doesn't cause the LCD to crack!
yikes!
I would first check with an old/broken camera, even if a different one.

Quote
(If it's too low I'll need to have the batteries insulated and run wires into the camera)
As the camera heats up a little bit, isnt's better to keep them inside the camera and insulate the whole thing? So they would keep themselves warm..

Quote
I'll post more info in a more general location when assembled and ready to fly.
please do!
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Offline Jucifer

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Re: Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based
« Reply #4 on: 05 / August / 2008, 04:59:01 »
Good idea about synching the cams.

You could also record in-camera temperatures... ;)
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Offline johnburns

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Re: Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based
« Reply #5 on: 05 / August / 2008, 20:47:07 »
Quote from: Jucifer on 05 / August / 2008, 04:59:01
You could also record in-camera temperatures... ;)
I would like to have done this, but whenever I use get_temperature, my cameras lock up and need the battery removed to be able to continue.  I am logging the time and battery voltage though so I can graph the battery curve for temperatures.
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Offline PhyrePhoX

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Re: Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based
« Reply #6 on: 05 / August / 2008, 21:00:06 »
are you sure u are using on of the "juciphox" builds then?
the normal chdk doesnt sport get_temperature.

btw if you disable the display, batteries will drain much slower
« Last Edit: 05 / August / 2008, 21:02:58 by PhyrePhoX »
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Offline johnburns

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Re: Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based
« Reply #7 on: 06 / August / 2008, 00:21:31 »
I'm using allbest.
At the moment I have to manually turn off the display with the buttons then start the script.  I actually have the blue LED flashing as a heartbeat so I know when the script is running.

Does allbest not include get_temperature? These releases and their different features makes chdk really confusing.

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Offline fe50

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Re: Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based
« Reply #8 on: 06 / August / 2008, 04:02:50 »
Hi johnburns,

Allbest #50 --> old stable version
Allbest Autobuild --> latest version of the Allbest development tree, some new features & camera models, beta version
JuciphoX --> latest "special" version with many new features, based on the latest Allbest development tree, experimental

Downloads & links: CHDK Wikia:Downloads

For the Juciphox build there's also a wikia documentation available.

The "get_temperature" is only available in Juciphox.

Give the Juciphox build a try, it includes many new features & improvements - read the documentation (wikia & forum) for further informations...
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Offline PhyrePhoX

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Re: Synchronizable Intervalometer - seconds based
« Reply #9 on: 06 / August / 2008, 05:59:59 »
mind you, the juciphox build uses a new syntax for all new commands, you can do "x = get_xyz" now instead of the old "get_xyz x". the "old" commands can be used using the old and the new syntax.
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