OUAstrphys
super member
Reged: 12/31/07
Posts: 102
Loc: Norman, OK
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Ok, I've recently owned a CPC 11" and I am VERY excited to be upgrading to a 14" RCX. I went back and ready literally hundreds of posts from this forum on the rcx and I was really scared of the things I read. I ended up sending the scope strait from the dealer to Dr. Clay just to be safe. From you rcx owners out there, what should I expect? Is there anything I can do to keep away from these pesky problems that seem to be present in a large fraction of these scopes?
Thanks!
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Alex
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14" RCX400
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Pess
(Title)
Reged: 09/12/07
Posts: 1910
Loc: Toledo, Ohio
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Electrical problems seem to plague the RCX.
There does not seem to be enough protection built into the circuitry.
I would strongly suggest you get a right-angle pigtail plug (Scopstuff offers one) to avoid fork induced bending of the power plug as the forks slew.
I would also suggest operating the scope solely from a battery pack such as a used to jump start a car. Avoid using a 120v/12v power supply as they seem to fry the main board with some regularity.
I run mine off a deep cycle marine battery.
Other problems seen with some regularity appear to be failures of the Dec motor. Since it is usually the dec motor I would venture a guess and opinion that weight imbalance may be a root cause.
Lastly, shipping seems to cause loosening of plugs interconnecting circuit boards within the scope. This is probably the single biggest cause of scopes dead-on-arrival.
If you don't mind poking around inside your scopes innards, you can remove the bottom plate and fork panels and (after grounding oneself) carefully make sure each and every plug is seated. All told there are somewhere around 25 plugs.
Pesse (Hope this helps.) mist
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southmike
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/22/04
Posts: 2820
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
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you should expect a scope that performs quite well.
refurbished means brought back to factory good as new specs,
maybe some minor cosmetic blem, but nothing mechanical or optical. dr clay should make it even better, he has some tweaks and adjustments he does, and add a custom object base on older scopes.
basically you should get a scope I would drool all over..
mike.
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group scope pic
my refractors
LX200 10"-St120
LX200 8" f6.3-Orion 80ed
LX200 8" f10-Orion 90 Mak setup pic
Meade 102ED LXD650
Sky Watcher 100 ED Triplet prototype
Nexstar 5
etx125
etx70's
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2342
Loc: Boothwyn, PA
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Maybe I got lucky (bought mine used and the original owner took some great pics) but I have never ever had a problem with mine. Do I represent the silent majority I don't know.
For me the $620 for two years sky assurance (when you buy a "3 year plan" it only extends the warranty 2 years not three!) which I was able to get the original owner to buy and then transfer to my name has been an investment that I didn't get to use, I guess luckily, but I still might send it in for a free cleaning/checkup before it expires.
Expect a scope with the best views you have ever seen through a personally owned scope.
Expect to read the manual a few times and ask us for help when it doesn't quite slew perfectly to the alignment stars (it happens, I deal with it).
Expect to take some precautions which were well-said above, and expect some worry each time you turn it on or run the focus motors.
Expect to forget all the potential drawback the first time you look through a wide angle eyepiece or see how crisp jupiter is at 600x if your seeing supports it. Even at 300x you will be happy with the view.
Keep in mind that most people only join a particular forum if they have problems or feel the need to vent frustrations. You usually don't hear about the good ones which is why I try to be a vocal proponent for meade's RCX400.
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Meade RCX400 30cm --
People dont like when I stick up for Meade but they're just jealous of my RCX 
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OUAstrphys
super member
Reged: 12/31/07
Posts: 102
Loc: Norman, OK
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Good to hear. What is the best defense for the run away focus issue? Should I just get a crayford focuser and not use the electric focuser if at all possible?
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Alex
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14" RCX400
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2342
Loc: Boothwyn, PA
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You use the focus motors for collimation. Mine keeps it pretty well though, so yes a crayford focuser will minimize "wear and tear" on the focus motors.
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Meade RCX400 30cm --
People dont like when I stick up for Meade but they're just jealous of my RCX
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Gama
Vendor (Gama Electronics)
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 672
Loc: I come from the land downUnder
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Ive had my 14" RCX-400 for 3 years now. Still kicking, and no major issues.
I use focus every time i use the scope.
Only real bummer is that the focus readout always defaults to -0.51 on the display regardless of what it was on before i parked the scope. So i Sync it every time i power on to overcome this.
I think this is a backup battery that is on the main board, but havent bothered to look at it, as its going really good.
Theo
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Pess
(Title)
Reged: 09/12/07
Posts: 1910
Loc: Toledo, Ohio
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I have heard a good technique to keep the focus motor in tip-top shape is to run it to its stops every so often.
These actions redistribute the grease so you don't develop any bind points the motors must struggle with.
A couple people have reported the screw falling off inside. That fix can be done but it sounds like a beast to do.
In addition, there is a flat battery on the back of the control board. It is gotten to by removing the bottom plate and then playing a skilled game of "operation" to get it out and replaced.
Good time to make sure all the wire connectors to the main board are firmly seated--there are ten of them on this 1.5"x6" board.
In regards to collimation, you should probably collimate with your imaging setup. (ie use the camera).
If you collimate with an Eyepiece then switch to camera you may find your collimation has changed. At least it does with mine. I note that I actually have slightly off collimation on my diagonal so I have three states of collimation: camera, straight through & w/diagonal. I make the camera perfect and bear the other two (slightly off) conditions.
The factory default collimation on mine was pretty good until I accidentally overrode the factory default by hitting the wrong key combination...but that's another story.
Pesse (I think, therefore, I've had coffee.) Mist
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OUAstrphys
super member
Reged: 12/31/07
Posts: 102
Loc: Norman, OK
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Thanks for the info!
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Alex
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14" RCX400
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OUAstrphys
super member
Reged: 12/31/07
Posts: 102
Loc: Norman, OK
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Well it seems my predisposed worries were warranted. Dr. Clay received my scope today and it is as dead as can be. The one good thing is that it is in the hands of professionals right now. OPT sounded like they were on top of it though. SIGH!!!!!! I was looking forward to getting my hands on it but it looks like it might be awhile now.
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Alex
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14" RCX400
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wrather1
AstroBear
Reged: 10/25/05
Posts: 2932
Loc: Dallas, Texas
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Dr. Clay probably knows more about fixing the scopes than the boys in the back room at Meade.
DW
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"Don't worry about what telescope you own, or its quality. Just get out under the night sky, and enjoy God's wondrous universe." - T. M. Back
Meade RCX400-12 on JMI trolley "Ursa Major"
TMB 130SS on EQ6 PRO "Ursus Polaris"
Orion ED80 "Ursa Minor", WO ZS66ED "grab-'n'-go"
Canon EOS 30D (Hutech), Meade DSI, Philips ToUcam Pro
North Texas Clear Sky Chart
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OUAstrphys
super member
Reged: 12/31/07
Posts: 102
Loc: Norman, OK
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From what I have heard you are absolutely correct. I am actually very lucky that he has the scope right now and not me. He's already assured me that they will take care of it. Great guy!
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Alex
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14" RCX400
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Pess
(Title)
Reged: 09/12/07
Posts: 1910
Loc: Toledo, Ohio
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Quote:
Dr. Clay probably knows more about fixing the scopes than the boys in the back room at Meade.
DW
He doesn't 'fix' these scopes. He only adjusts them and checks function.
Meade won't provide him with parts any more than they will provide us.
If your scope is dead, he will almost certainly return it directly to Meade at Irving for repair.
From my conversations with Meade, they repair all RCX scopes in Irving (others are sent on to Mexico).
The RCX scopes are usually repaired in a 'batch'. So your repair time will vary depending on when it arrives in the repair cycle for the next batch.
My first repair was 6 weeks from my door back to it. The second repair was 10 weeks door to door.
Pesse (Fingers crossed, I now treat mine like fine crystal.) Mist
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2342
Loc: Boothwyn, PA
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I'm in the minority but I was NOT expecting that!! Yes lucky you had it shipped to Dr Clay, I hope he can help!
Man are the working RCX400s on fork mounts countable on one hand or something??? I know the MaxMounts are since they only produced a "handful" of them. I guess I am not going to sell mine now, and if I did I would not ship! The connections must work themselves loose or the many interior wires break or something in the back of the truck. I am fairly sure it WAS in refurbed to 100% standards when it left the factory... one can only hope anyway....
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Meade RCX400 30cm --
People dont like when I stick up for Meade but they're just jealous of my RCX
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Pess
(Title)
Reged: 09/12/07
Posts: 1910
Loc: Toledo, Ohio
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Quote:
I'm in the minority but I was NOT expecting that!! Yes lucky you had it shipped to Dr Clay, I hope he can help!
Man are the working RCX400s on fork mounts countable on one hand or something??? I know the MaxMounts are since they only produced a "handful" of them. I guess I am not going to sell mine now, and if I did I would not ship! The connections must work themselves loose or the many interior wires break or something in the back of the truck. I am fairly sure it WAS in refurbed to 100% standards when it left the factory... one can only hope anyway....
My first repair came back with a complete checklist that covered every operation the scope was capable of.
I opened the box. Plugged it into power. The display came on for a few seconds then went blank.
After checking everything including opening the base and re-seating every plug I contacted Meade and was told to 'send it back again.".
They replaced the main control board.
It was already a new one. Might have been bad. <shrugs>
I was tempted to just sell it as soon as it came back this time but I didn't. Seems to be working and even the OTA temp sensor, which never worked, has come to life.
My friend has a 14" RCX. Mysteriously his main control board also went out and his scope is on the way back to Meade.
Now I only run it off a battery with a right-angle pigtail...
Pesse (A RCX with a pigtail is sexy) mist
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2342
Loc: Boothwyn, PA
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Quote:
Now I only run it off a battery with a right-angle pigtail...
I have had no problems with the Meade supplied 5 AMP (special to the RCX!! Don't use less than that!) AC power supply, but usually I run mine with Powertank 17Ah battery and the scopestuff DC plug with built in right angle adapter.
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Meade RCX400 30cm --
People dont like when I stick up for Meade but they're just jealous of my RCX
Edited by Joseph Gillman (07/22/08 05:02 PM)
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OUAstrphys
super member
Reged: 12/31/07
Posts: 102
Loc: Norman, OK
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Well, I got good news faster than I expected to hear ANY news. My dealer contacted Meade to figure out what to do and the outlook for getting Dr. Clay a spare mother board was not good due to the fact that Meade had none.
I got an e-mail this morning from Dr. Clay stating these facts but then he said it was purring like a kitten. He said he had a spare (new) MB laying around his work shop. He got it installed and everything is working perfectly (knock knock).
I thought about not sending the scope to Dr. Clay but then I guess common sense kicked in and now I am very lucky I did. He really does care about every piece of equipment he touches. Every scope I own from now on will go and spend some time with Dr. Clay!!
Whew!! crisis averted, who knows how long it would have taken Meade to get spare parts!!
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Alex
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14" RCX400
Edited by OUAstrphys (07/23/08 12:02 PM)
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wrather1
AstroBear
Reged: 10/25/05
Posts: 2932
Loc: Dallas, Texas
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Sounds like Dr. Clay & Co. can fix a scope after all...
Eh, Pess? 
As for me, after a very bad experience with Meade with respect to scope returns, I will do just about anything to avoid sending a scope back to them ever again. And I know how to use a soldering iron.
DW
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"Don't worry about what telescope you own, or its quality. Just get out under the night sky, and enjoy God's wondrous universe." - T. M. Back
Meade RCX400-12 on JMI trolley "Ursa Major"
TMB 130SS on EQ6 PRO "Ursus Polaris"
Orion ED80 "Ursa Minor", WO ZS66ED "grab-'n'-go"
Canon EOS 30D (Hutech), Meade DSI, Philips ToUcam Pro
North Texas Clear Sky Chart
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OUAstrphys
super member
Reged: 12/31/07
Posts: 102
Loc: Norman, OK
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I will be driving to pick the scope up as to stay away from the horror stories I have heard regarding "freighting" these scopes. Is there anything I can do to keep away from the electrical problems as I am scared to even look at the thing now? Until I construct my observatory this scope will probably be set up and torn down every time I use it. Any advice? Is there any way to set this scope up (forget about putting it on a wedge, that would be impossible by myself) Alt-Az by myself? I've seen a few posts about special handles that help ergonomically, does anyone know what they're called?
Thanks!!
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Alex
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14" RCX400
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OUAstrphys
super member
Reged: 12/31/07
Posts: 102
Loc: Norman, OK
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Haha good call DW!!
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Alex
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14" RCX400
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