Australia Telescope National Facility
PARKES
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Australia Telescope National Facility
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Below are some of the important procedures which should be explained to a new observer. It also provides examples of some of the types of failures which may occur.
Before going through these procedures, ask the observers to read the following guides:
* Parkes Observatory - Observers Guide
* Parkes Observatory - Training and
Safety Guide
* (Multibeam Observers ONLY) Parkes
Observatory - Multibeam User Guide
Here goes.....
1. Location and Purpose of Rooms
As you are going through the telescope indicate what
all the rooms and levels of the telescope are and there purpose to the
functioning of the telescope.
2. Control Room Computers
Explain the purpose of each in the Control Room. What
each display shows (including the Receiver PC Display, note that if the
temperature of the receiver goes up, the call-out person should be notified)
3. Important Notices
Indicate to the observer possible "Important Notice"
which may be displayed, including the whiteboard, notices above computers
and the pin board.
4. Winds Display
Show the observer the Winds display - data for 2 hours.
The winds display is critical for unstowing from a wind park. Wind
Park occurs when the winds are above 50 kilometres/hour. This is
automatic. If this fails you can see the wind speeds from showtel,
but notify someone.
5. Safety Timer
There are three main buttons. Green reset button,
press within 15 minutes, otherwise the alarm sounds. The yellow button
for DCP contact, this must be checked when the DCP phone is moved byt pressing
the DCP Button and the DCP then returning the call. DCP phone only
required if one person in the tower. Explain what happens if 25 minutes
passes before observer gets to it or when 35 minutes is reached.
(Note: 35 Minute automatic phone calling is not currently working)
Press the yellow button if you are tired and need to locate the DCP quickly.
Press the red button if there is a fire or if there is
a the mains power failure and the generator won't start (see below for
example)
6. Showtel
Explain the showtel display.
7. Fault Reports
Show the observer the web based fault , observer
and wind park reports. Explain that these reports should be filled
out and stress importance.
8. Manuals and Documentation
Show the observer the location of the Manuals and Documentation.
9. Call out Roster
Show the observer the call out board. Purpose of
the callout person, how to contact them. If unable to contact call
out person, try calling the friend or anyone from the telescope.
10. Manual Control Panel (MCP)
Show the observer the MCP. Show the user how to
un-stow and stow the telescope. Explain the difference between stow
and park. Get the user to un-stow and stow the telescope, get user
to use the clear call system for telling people that telescope moving.
Explain the software and hardware limits on the display (top hardware limit
light, bottom software limit light). Explain the north and south
wraps (limit with cables). 15 minutes to do full azimuth and 6 minutes
to reach the zenith. Software problem with going the long way then
the source is available and the disk turns the other way.
Explain the safety tags. Stress that the telescope
should not be moved if tag on MCP. Only the person who owns the tag
can remove there tag.
11. Servo
Computer instructions with park or stopping the disk.
12. ME
Only Andrew should do anything with this. Show
the observer the ME room and problems with not locking due to moths or
other insects.
13. Location of the Computer
Room
Show the observer the computer room and the location
of each computer. (Servo, wirrun, yowie, bunyip, pkccc0, multibeam correlator)
14. Multibeam Correlator
How to reboot the multibeam correlator with the probe.
15. Power Failures
Important Issue. Three types of Power Failures.
Mains fails and the Generator kicks in. Only have
to reset the alarm near the MCP and in the diesel shed in small room.
Mains fails and the Generator doesn't kick in straight away, this may take up to 6 minutes. You still need to reset the alarm near the MCP and in the diesel shed in small room.
Mains fails and the Generator doesn't kick in. Ring Barry Turner and callout person. Take ear muffs, keys and torch to generator hut. Go over to the hut, explain why the roller door is up (DON'T CLOSE). Make sure the ear muffs are on, the generator makes a lot of noise when started. Take note of the lights on display to tell Barry. Move switch from auto to off then auto again.
Remember to reset the UPS alarm, press the reset alarm,
then the test alarm, then reset alarm button. This will set off the
alarm in the control room, remember to reset it again.
16. Examples of Failure
If there is a Fire, the fire exhausters are located on the walls, they are not water based due to electrical equipment. If you are unable to put out the fire, try proceding to the MCP to stow or park the disk, call the on-call person to ring Fire Bridge.
If disk is low and storm comes in quickly and there is
a power failure and the generator won't start. Call Barry Turner.
Go over the generator shed and try starting the diesel, if this won't work.
Finally, stress that if you are unsure of any procedures
associated with operating the telescope to contact the on-call person.