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Script to 'co-operate' with external controller

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Offline waterwingz

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Re: Script to 'co-operate' with external controller
« Reply #20 on: 22 / September / 2016, 19:00:12 »
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Quote from: jules on 22 / September / 2016, 07:28:50
In proposed scenario with camera having the power button held down continuously, if I were to leave power supply on, I guess the camera will autostart pretty soon after the script shuts down each time. Then the script will take another photo, again set 'autostart once'.... 
Easy enough to test this.

I tried it on my G10.    Started the camera and held the power button down manually.  The script "autostarted" as planned,  took a picture, paused for the menu key, and then shut down.  The camera did not restart even though I was still holding the power button down.

I had to release the power button and press again to get the camera to turn back on.

So your "constant restart" scenerio will not happen.  At least not with my G10 - maybe other cameras are different?
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Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16
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Offline jules

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Re: Script to 'co-operate' with external controller
« Reply #21 on: 22 / September / 2016, 19:54:34 »
Thanks very much for testing it on your G10. The same thing *seemed* to be happening with my D10 but I could not be certain because - for D10 - very slight variation in pressure on the power button can change on/off status unintentionally.

So... only way forward would be try opening the camera... and the rocky road gets even steeper!!
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Offline waterwingz

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Re: Script to 'co-operate' with external controller
« Reply #22 on: 22 / September / 2016, 19:57:14 »
Quote from: jules on 22 / September / 2016, 19:54:34
So... only way forward would be try opening the camera... and the rocky road gets even steeper!!
Or you get creative with a clamp mechanism for the power button.  It looks like a big fat elastic band holding down the nut from a #10 screw would be enough to do it?

« Last Edit: 22 / September / 2016, 20:04:51 by waterwingz »
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Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16
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Offline jules

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Re: Script to 'co-operate' with external controller
« Reply #23 on: 22 / September / 2016, 20:53:46 »
Indeed it looks as if it should work with nut and strong elastic, and with various other clamp arrangements I've tried. With care they will indeed turn it on... but nothing I could devise had been able to hold the on-state reliably.

For manual use the D10 requires a firm, quick press to turn on. The mechanism seems to defy holding the on-state, whether by hand or with clamp. Very frustrating! 
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Offline waterwingz

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Re: Script to 'co-operate' with external controller
« Reply #24 on: 22 / September / 2016, 21:02:41 »
Quote from: jules on 22 / September / 2016, 20:53:46
Indeed it looks as if it should work with nut and strong elastic, and with various other clamp arrangements I've tried. With care they will indeed turn it on... but nothing I could devise had been able to hold the on-state reliably.

For manual use the D10 requires a firm, quick press to turn on. The mechanism seems to defy holding the on-state, whether by hand or with clamp. Very frustrating!

Buy an older A4xx series on eBay and move on?  I paid $25 for my A560.
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Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16
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Offline jules

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Re: Script to 'co-operate' with external controller
« Reply #25 on: 22 / September / 2016, 21:39:57 »
Quote from: waterwingz on 22 / September / 2016, 21:02:41
[...] Buy an older A4xx series on eBay and move on?  I paid $25 for my A560.

 I am indeed on the lookout for a cheap older camera to test button hold-down scenario, but not much available locally (remote Australia) and international postage will convert 'cheap' to 'expensive'.

Probably not viable to obtain a set of 'cheap old' cameras to replace my existing D10s in the real world project (monitoring bird activity). Would also require building a new set of mounting boxes etc, very time-consuming. (backround:  https://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=10284.msg110850;topicseen#msg110850 )
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Offline reyalp

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Re: Script to 'co-operate' with external controller
« Reply #26 on: 22 / September / 2016, 22:28:30 »
Quote from: jules on 22 / September / 2016, 20:53:46
Indeed it looks as if it should work with nut and strong elastic, and with various other clamp arrangements I've tried. With care they will indeed turn it on... but nothing I could devise had been able to hold the on-state reliably.

For manual use the D10 requires a firm, quick press to turn on. The mechanism seems to defy holding the on-state, whether by hand or with clamp. Very frustrating!
IIRC someone using the clamp method on a D10 a few years back and killing their power switch.
... searches ...
hmm, looks like that someone was you https://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=11434.msg112336#msg112336  :P
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Offline jules

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Re: Script to 'co-operate' with external controller
« Reply #27 on: 22 / September / 2016, 23:56:16 »
Yes, it was me. That camera now lined up for an attempt at opening the case. Google did not find info about powershot D10 dis-assembly and I have no prior experience with such things.
Seeking advice in a separate thread: https://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=12974.0
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Offline jules

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Re: Script to 'co-operate' with external controller
« Reply #28 on: 25 / September / 2016, 02:14:22 »
Quote from: waterwingz on 22 / September / 2016, 19:00:12
[...] I had to release the power button and press again to get the camera to turn back on.

So your "constant restart" scenerio will not happen.  At least not with my G10 - maybe other cameras are different?

It seems "constant restart" will not happen with my D10 if clamped reliably. Probably my *apparent* constant restart was due to dodgy clamp causing power button to release and re-contact.

But... how can I get *planned restart* ?  Will that depend on external power being turned off and then on?

It seems several people have used a clamped button-down for long duration timelapse. However, in searching previous threads I did not find details of how they handled the stop/start details.

I can see the power button has a toggle effect: press - on - press again - off...

Really need help to understand *how* this works electronically, how it relates to CHDK control, and to external power control ??
« Last Edit: 25 / September / 2016, 02:20:40 by jules »
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Offline waterwingz

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Re: Script to 'co-operate' with external controller
« Reply #29 on: 25 / September / 2016, 11:16:15 »
Quote from: jules on 25 / September / 2016, 02:14:22
But... how can I get *planned restart* ?  Will that depend on external power being turned off and then on?
I was under the impression that has been your plan all along?   

Use a low power micro-controller with a sleep mode to cycle the power supply for your camera on & off.  Use an autostart script to take a picture at each power up and then to turn the camera off in an orderly fashion before the power is disabled by the micro-controller.

What am I missing here?
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Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16
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