Shutdown procedure for the APT

The short version

This version is the absolute minimum version to safeguard the telescope. This allows people who aren't familiar with the intricacies of using the APT to shutdown the telescope safely with the minimum of effort.

• Loosen the RA drive tension bolt until it is quite loose (a few turns) using the large socket wrench provided.
• Push the telescope by hand until the lens is accessible to a ladder.
• Put the lens cover on (check for dew first, if there is any use the hair dryer on low heat about a metre away from the lens and moving rapidly--take extreme care not to cause hot spots on the lens).
• Push the telescope by hand until it is at zero hour angle.
• Remove the enable pin from the base of the telescope (on the west side), and place the pin into the locking hole on the mounting, thereby preventing the telescope from moving. A microswitch on the mounting will now be engaged, thereby enabling the roof to be closed.
• Close the roof while watching to ensure that it clears the telescope.

The more complete version

• Switch off the RA and Dec servo amplifiers in the control room.
• Loosen the RA drive tension bolt and manually move the telescope east or west so that the lens cover can be replaced.
• Put the lens cover on (check for dew first, if there is any, follow the instructions given earlier).
• Switch off the lens fans.
• Manually move the telescope to zero hour angle.
• Remove the enable pin from the base of the telescope, and slip the pin down into the locking hole (moving the telescope by hand so that the holes are aligned).
• Close the roof while watching the clearance of the telescope. If the roof doesn't move, check that the zero hour angle microswitch has been activated by the telescope. Turn off the roof power.
• The mirror heater should be left running at all times at 110V using the variac.
• If an electrical storm is likely, or if leaving the telescope for an extended period, follow the instructions in the next section to safeguard the APT from damage.
• If bad weather is expected, or if the telescope is being left unattended for a few days, then the roof chains should be fastened, to prevent wind squalls opening the roof (as has happened in the past).

At the end of each observing run, or if lightning expected

If you have finished your observing run, and no one will be using the APT the next night, then, in addition to the nightly shutdown procedure you should:

• Shutdown the workstation (see the previous instructions for how to do this--please don't just switch it off).
• Unplug everything (except the mirror and lens heaters) from the power points. This includes the ethernet repeater box on the wall, the PC, etc. We have lost so much time due to lightning damage that we have to take every precaution.
• Unplug the ethernet coaxial cable (the BNC connector) from the ethernet box on the wall.
• Open the left front panel on the servo control box and, with the power to the box off, unplug the following cables (these are the ones that go out to the telescope):
  • From the Dec (leftmost) board: ``DIL''.
  • From the servo interface (middle) board: ``P2'', ``P5'', and ``KE''.
  • From the RA (rightmost) board: ``RIL''.
• Ensure that the roof retaining chains are in place.
• Turn off the CCD controller at the telescope.
• Turn off the room lights, and air conditioner.
• If any piece of equipment has failed, please inform Michael Ashley, Colin Bembrick, and Peter Mitchell, by email to mcba, csb, and pm (all address on newt.phys.unsw.edu.au). They will most likely request that the item be returned to UNSW for repair.
• Please leave the building in a clean state. Any food left around will attract ants, so please clean up carefully.