9 replies to this topic

[Tom Duncan]

I understand the capacitors in various places of the "Classic" Meade LX200 electronics are weak and should be replaced (especially the one under the ribbon in the HC...might do that one anyway) but as the electronics are designed for 18v is it safe to use 12v instead?

 

And what are the downsides to using 12v? I believe the slewing is slower but will the relatively low voltage raise havoc with the computer or have other negative effects? 

 

Thanks

 

Tom Duncan

[Skywatchr]

I understand the capacitors in various places of the "Classic" Meade LX200 electronics are weak and should be replaced (especially the one under the ribbon in the HC...might do that one anyway) but as the electronics are designed for 18v is it safe to use 12v instead?

 

And what are the downsides to using 12v? I believe the slewing is slower but will the relatively low voltage raise havoc with the computer or have other negative effects? 

 

Thanks

 

Tom Duncan

12v is just fine as long as the supply is 3A or better..

Edited by Skywatchr, 29 May 2024 - 06:26 PM.

[RichA]

I understand the capacitors in various places of the "Classic" Meade LX200 electronics are weak and should be replaced (especially the one under the ribbon in the HC...might do that one anyway) but as the electronics are designed for 18v is it safe to use 12v instead?

 

And what are the downsides to using 12v? I believe the slewing is slower but will the relatively low voltage raise havoc with the computer or have other negative effects? 

 

Thanks

 

Tom Duncan

Why would you when the world is awash in inexpensive power supplies of most voltages?  Some electronics can be damaged by using too low a voltage.

[Daveatvt01]

I believe they were designed to be run on 12v. Early models are definitely marked 12v on the front panel and came with a 12v power supply. The story goes that Meade upped the power supplies to 18v without changing anything internally in the scopes. Anyway, they run fine on 12v.

[Skywatchr]

I believe they were designed to be run on 12v. Early models are definitely marked 12v on the front panel and came with a 12v power supply. The story goes that Meade upped the power supplies to 18v without changing anything internally in the scopes. Anyway, they run fine on 12v.

Actually a number of things were changed on the mainboards.  But nothing that would prevent you from running them at 12vDC.

[Tom Duncan]

So it would be reasonable to use the scope and its factory original electronics with 12v without antagonizing the capacitors and with no loss of performance other than perhaps slower slewing?

 

Tom

[Skywatchr]

So it would be reasonable to use the scope and its factory original electronics with 12v without antagonizing the capacitors and with no loss of performance other than perhaps slower slewing?

 

Tom

I would still change those certain tantalum capacitors to be on the safe side, especially the one in the handbox.  But yes, the scope will still run fine otherwise on 12v.

[Tom Duncan]

Very good all, thanks for the input. 

 

Tom

[MikeBY]

Tom,
The only advantage of the higher voltage power supply is that the motors have more torque and maximum slew speed is faster.
The rest of the electronics are regulated down to lower voltage.

The 5 tantalum caps should be changed out for electrolytics in any case.

[rferrante]

If the scope has been operated at 18V for some time, the 5 caps that see the 18v need to be replaced as they are stressed and will fail at some time. The 4 not in the hand controller will at least not fry anything important, so if you like to take risks you can wait for those to fail and replace as necessary. The one in the hand controller should be replaced, even if you now switch the scope over to 12V.