141 replies to this topic

[CHASLX200]

I collected and tried out a lot of gear over the years.  Problem is I just put it on the shelf afterwards and went on to the next toy.    I need to clear it all out.    will be fun when I start to do that.    

You keep saying that and i made a offer more than once to buy it all out. 

[deSitter]

I’m out with the scope!  It’s still hot outside!  It at least not 105f. 
 

the moon looks good!  No false color. There is some scattered light around the moon,  but its low in the sky and our skies have been a bit Smokey. 
 

I do like the manual slow motions when I can remember where they are. With the scope balanced, they are smooth. 
 

the focuser has notable play. Will need to address that. 

Keep in mind that you CANNOT use the manual controls when the drives are engaged under power.

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

Keep in mind that you CANNOT use the manual controls when the drives are engaged under power.

 

-drl

At least it had SLO= MO's .  I never used the GO-TO on mine after it kept hitting the tripod and doing things on it's own. I traded a C14 for it and used it for about 3 months. The mount would be perfect for something bigger than my GP if it had a ready way to mount other scopes.

Edited by CHASLX200, 09 September 2024 - 06:22 PM.

[deSitter]

At least it had SLO= MO's .  I never used the GO-TO on mine after it kept hitting the tripod and doing things on it's own. I traded a C14 for it and used it for about 3 months. The mount would be perfect for something bigger than my GP if it had a ready way to mount other scopes.

As stated above, mine does. It's a simple part from ADM. All that is needed is a spacer and you can rig up your own from any typical Vixen, Losmandy, or dual saddle.

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

As stated above, mine does. It's a simple part from ADM. All that is needed is a spacer and you can rig up your own from any typical Vixen, Losmandy, or dual saddle.

 

-drl

Well i forget what mine was like since that was back in 1998.  But ya if i could buy one already rigged up then that is the way to go with a D or V plate holder.  I need another mount like a hole in the head.

[starman876]

You keep saying that and i made a offer more than once to buy it all out. 

your house is too small.   

[starman876]

At least it had SLO= MO's .  I never used the GO-TO on mine after it kept hitting the tripod and doing things on it's own. I traded a C14 for it and used it for about 3 months. The mount would be perfect for something bigger than my GP if it had a ready way to mount other scopes.

kept hitting the tripod because you did not have it set to let the computer know you were using the tripod.  Had two settings.  Pier and tripod.   I had mine set for pier and was using a tripod and I could not pull the plug fast enough when I saw the scope heading for the tripod leg.   Was fun to watch when it was set for tripod.   It would slew in go to mode and always avoid the tripod legs. 

[deSitter]

kept hitting the tripod because you did not have it set to let the computer know you were using the tripod.  Had two settings.  Pier and tripod.   I had mine set for pier and was using a tripod and I could not pull the plug fast enough when I saw the scope heading for the tripod leg.   Was fun to watch when it was set for tripod.   It would slew in go to mode and always avoid the tripod legs. 

You also have to start in the correct home position. I mean correct correct. Leveling was essential and had to be done accurately. The user interface is not sophisticated and it is easy to enter bad data. I have a tripod and never have a problem. The one issue I have is the infernal beeping for meridian flipping when it isn't necessary. I am tempted to break off the little speaker responsible.

 

-drl

[tim53]

I thought I'd set up tonight and gee whizz the moon some more now that it's a bit higher up the sky.  But today's high was 105F again, and it's still 93F out there at 8:15pm.  Tomorrow's high will be 93, then Wednesday is 81.  So maybe I'll set up one of those nights!

 

-Tim.

[CHASLX200]

kept hitting the tripod because you did not have it set to let the computer know you were using the tripod.  Had two settings.  Pier and tripod.   I had mine set for pier and was using a tripod and I could not pull the plug fast enough when I saw the scope heading for the tripod leg.   Was fun to watch when it was set for tripod.   It would slew in go to mode and always avoid the tripod legs. 

It was set up fine. Would work like normal and then do a GO-TO on it's own while looking at something.

[tim53]

Was cogitating about this thing today.  The power brick was missing the cord to the wall outlet, so I bought a new one.  Plugged it in and turned the switch to 'on'.  No light.  

 

From the descriptions of the drive that I've read above and elsewhere online, i think I'd almost rather start over with something new if such an animal exists.  My biggest problem is I'm a klutz with electronics.  So if there is something like Onstep that can run the mount, I'll need it to be a plug and play kit.

 

I could pull the covers off and look for burned stuff, I suppose.  Given that it doesn't appear to work, there's bound to be something burned out inside.

 

-Tim.

[tim53]

Pulled the covers off and peeked inside.  I can't see any sign of burnt capacitors and such in there.  I don't see a fuse inside either.  The scope came with a long cable- a double cable - that goes from the power brick to the controller, but the inline fuse connector was broken.  So I tried powering up with a shorter power cable, but didn't get the led to light up when the power switch was turned on.

 

-Tim.

[deSitter]

Pulled the covers off and peeked inside.  I can't see any sign of burnt capacitors and such in there.  I don't see a fuse inside either.  The scope came with a long cable- a double cable - that goes from the power brick to the controller, but the inline fuse connector was broken.  So I tried powering up with a shorter power cable, but didn't get the led to light up when the power switch was turned on.

 

-Tim.

Throw that thing out. Use a 12v lithium battery like a TalentCell. I can run the 650 at 12v on a charge all night. Even lots of slewing. You don't need 18v. The transformer is a disaster. It's just a dumb supply with a bridge rectifier and smoothing capacitors. I doubt there is any sophisticated circuitry in it al all. When those scopes were new, power bricks were expensive compared to he cheap dumb transformer.

 

I have a 15v laptop power supply with the right plug (IBM Thinkpad circa 2003). I have a couple more capacitors to replace before I'm going over 12v again.

 

-drl

[starman876]

These were great drives when they were working.  Would hold a ton of weight.  

[tim53]

I'll take another look inside for the fuse.  And I'll run it from a 12v battery, as drl suggested and see if it's happy.

 

I don't necessarily need the goto for this, as I'll probably use it at the L.A. house for lunar, solar, and planetary imaging.  I just hate manually adjusting every few seconds.

[tim53]

Internal fuse is fine. Cr 2032 button battery is dead, however.  

[tim53]

So I hied on ove to Harbor Freight and picked up a pack of CR 2032 button batteries. On the way there, it started drizzling.  When I got back it was sprinkling and my stuff was wet.  So I put it all in the shop to dry.  I'll try to fiddle with it tomorrow after Christmas festivities (most are tonight, though).

 

Hope that fixes things, but I haven't looked into the hand controller, and don't have a proper power cable to plug into my 12V power supply.

[RichA]

It was set up fine. Would work like normal and then do a GO-TO on it's own while looking at something.

Never  ran across that, but there was a known runaway RA problem.  Fixed with new board(s).

[starman876]

So I hied on ove to Harbor Freight and picked up a pack of CR 2032 button batteries. On the way there, it started drizzling.  When I got back it was sprinkling and my stuff was wet.  So I put it all in the shop to dry.  I'll try to fiddle with it tomorrow after Christmas festivities (most are tonight, though).

 

Hope that fixes things, but I haven't looked into the hand controller, and don't have a proper power cable to plug into my 12V power supply.

I also have hand controllers.

[tim53]

The suns out!  
 

I’ve got the boards back in place and I’m cogitating about powering it up.  NOT going to use the 18v power brick that came with the scope. I have an EBL 1000w power station that has two 14v, 8amp max ports  plus a cigarette lighter port,  but no cables to plug the mount in. What should I get? 

Edited by tim53, 26 December 2024 - 02:53 PM.

[tim53]

Okay, so I found a cigarette plug/cable in the box that came with my 2045 LX3.  it's like a light year long, but plugged it in and the handpad comes up with "Meade LX200".  Now I guess I need to RTFM to figure out how to get the RA drive to track.  

 

-Tim

[tim53]

So the manual says it should change

drom “Meade Lx200” to 

“Telescope

Object Library”

after a few second self diagnostic test. 
 

but it never gets past the meade lx200 display. The led on top of the hc blinks twice then

goes off. 
 

[tim53]

Tried cleaning the contacts for the ra motor, but no change. 

[deSitter]

So the manual says it should change

drom “Meade Lx200” to 

“Telescope

Object Library”

after a few second self diagnostic test. 
 

but it never gets past the meade lx200 display. The led on top of the hc blinks twice then

goes off. 
 

I have seen this mentioned. i.e. a known problem. Someone will chime in. Post in the Meade forum.

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

Okay, so I found a cigarette plug/cable in the box that came with my 2045 LX3.  it's like a light year long, but plugged it in and the handpad comes up with "Meade LX200".  Now I guess I need to RTFM to figure out how to get the RA drive to track.  

 

-Tim

Why would it say LX200?