Galaxy001
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/08/06
Posts: 1626
Loc: San Ramon, California
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Why does my telescope have hard stops? They can get extreemly irritating if I'm just out of reach of what I want to look at. And why aren't they there when I turn the scope off? Just wondering if anyone knew a little about the LX's internal mechanics, thanks!
Clear skies,
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Zach
Remember to Keep Looking Up!
My observatory:
 Meade LX90 GPS 8" UHTC
With a (Meade) 18 mm UWA ep and a 3x telextender
Other cool stuff:
Meade ETX-60
DSI Pro
60 mm Solar Filter
Celestron dew shield
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2358
Loc: Boothwyn, PA
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The hard stops are mechanical. They are definitely there when you turn off the scope, unless they are broken. The electronics decide to avoid the hard stops when the scope is powered on and working properly. If you ever open the bottom metal cover under the scope, you will see lots of wires going everywhere including up the sides of the fork arms. You do need those wires in order to have a working Declination motor (right fork) and a working GPS/level/north sensor [I'm coming from LX200GPS world here but LX90GPS is probably set up similarly in this regard]. (you paid good money for those features right?) So the telescope is limited to a little less than 2 full revolutions in order not to twist these wires around themselves and break. Not only breaking wires, but breaking their connectors on the circuit boards.
Yes, the hard stops might be annoying, but theyre a necessary evil 
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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 (12/20/06 12:51 AM)
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Moggi1964
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/05
Posts: 2515
Loc: Madison. NJ. USA
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The scope can do almost 2 full revolutions so you shouldn't be out of reach of anything!
On my LX200R the scope will slew in the opposite direction if it decides that continuing in a particular direction will mean it will hit the hardstop.
Like Joe said "a necessary evil".
Don't let it spoil your viewing.
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Morris
WO Megrez 80 ED F/7
WO 8x42 binoculars
Seymor Rosin F/4.5 Astrograph in the making
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NorthCoast
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/04
Posts: 2195
Loc: Westerville, Ohio, U.S.A.
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Not sure what others do, but as a matter of habit I leave the "cord wrap" enabled on the Autostar controller. I don't think that I have ever had it make a 360° revolution.
Edited: wire wrap to cord wrap
Edited by NorthCoast (12/20/06 10:59 AM)
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Moggi1964
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/05
Posts: 2515
Loc: Madison. NJ. USA
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Wire trap?
Tell me more 
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Morris
WO Megrez 80 ED F/7
WO 8x42 binoculars
Seymor Rosin F/4.5 Astrograph in the making
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2358
Loc: Boothwyn, PA
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I think the option is "cord wrap" in the utilities menu and I think it uses even less of the 360 degrees before the hard stop on either side of the proper home position (in the middle between the 2 hard stops).. Al you need is 180 on either side, enough to make 1 complete turn.
On a side note, I picked up a used 8" scope for a good deal and wouldn't you know it was too good to be true.... The hard stops are for some reason only 120 degrees apart!! I can only move the scope 120 degrees not 700 or even 360. I am calling up Meade to order sky assurance and have it fixed. If you can't turn it at least one full revolution it is useless. The hard stops ride on a ring around the RA worm gear and something must be jammed inside...
--------------------
Meade RCX400 30cm --
People dont like when I stick up for Meade but they're just jealous of my RCX
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NorthCoast
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/04
Posts: 2195
Loc: Westerville, Ohio, U.S.A.
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Quote:
Wire trap?
Tell me more
From the Meade Autostar Manual:
"Cord Wrap, when set to "On," moves the telescope in such a way as to prevent the cords and
cables attached to your telescope assembly from getting wound around the assembly and tangled
as the telescope slews to objects. "Off" is the default setting."
If this is enabled then could this be a reason for the hard stops in the original post? 
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Mark
Hold the "Alt Key" and type 248 on the number pad for °
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Galaxy001
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/08/06
Posts: 1626
Loc: San Ramon, California
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I don't think I've ever messed with the cord wrap setting. It sounds like the telescope will just compensate for moving in one direction by moving in the other for your next object. I'll give it a try, and yes, I see now that it is "A Neccesary Evil." 
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Zach
Remember to Keep Looking Up!
My observatory:
Meade LX90 GPS 8" UHTC
With a (Meade) 18 mm UWA ep and a 3x telextender
Other cool stuff:
Meade ETX-60
DSI Pro
60 mm Solar Filter
Celestron dew shield
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Moggi1964
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/05
Posts: 2515
Loc: Madison. NJ. USA
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Actua;;y, I get annoyed that my microfucusser cord gets wedged under the forks even in regular slewing.
I need to find a method of tying it back.
I relaised today that I need to spend daylight time with the scope to do all the things I want to do to make it easier to use at night. Now I just need to find the time 
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Morris
WO Megrez 80 ED F/7
WO 8x42 binoculars
Seymor Rosin F/4.5 Astrograph in the making
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12228
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Quote:
Actua;;y, I get annoyed that my microfucusser cord gets wedged under the forks even in regular slewing.
I need to find a method of tying it back.
Check out my Mods pages... I have 2 methods. One brings a 12v powersource into the right fork, where I can plug in my Dew-Controller... The other is a Micro-Focus mod, that I can plug into the fork arm power as well.
No more cord wrap for the 2 main items on the scope now...
http://www.neodinian.com/astronomy/mods.php
Enjoy!
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Neo... (Jeff)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
 Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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Moggi1964
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/05
Posts: 2515
Loc: Madison. NJ. USA
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Jeff is:
the man who has been there and done it. Then gone back and redone it to make it even better 
Thank you!
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Morris
WO Megrez 80 ED F/7
WO 8x42 binoculars
Seymor Rosin F/4.5 Astrograph in the making
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12228
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Currently my focus controller is 9v with a battery in the project box... I've used it with it velcro'd in place (where you see it in the pic), and supprisingly there is little to now shake... So I may run an optional bypass to plug the focuser into the 12v power. All I need to do is add a second (and third for extras) power socket to the fork-arm.
Works like a charm.
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Neo... (Jeff)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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Max leiva
super member
Reged: 10/29/04
Posts: 172
Loc: El Salvador
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Excellent idea with the electric focuser!!!
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Max Leiva
12" LX200GPS
Orion 80ed
Canon 20Da
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12228
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Thanks.
I'll be showing off all my mods at one of our local club meetings (I think June or July). We have a "Home made accessories" meeting.
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Neo... (Jeff)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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