Meade Instruments LX200 - Manual (Page 34)

Meade Instruments Corporation - Meade LX200 Instruction Manuals
Display reads 'Meade LX200', then the version of the software is indicated briefly before defaulting to the
TELESCOPE/ OBJECT LIBRARY. Within 15 seconds, the planetary orbital calculations with their
corresponding apparent sizes and magnitudes, and current stellar precession calculations are made. Every
computer function is checked, and the LX200 diagnostics is complete.
[ toc ] 2. N/S Switch
The recessed N/S Switch (8, Fig. 7) converts the LX200 for operation in the Northern or Southern
hemisphere, making the drive reverse its' tracking direction. Before power up, the appropriate N or S switch
position should be made, as the LX200 will not recognize a change made on the N/S switch afterwards.
Use a pen or small tool to slide the switch appropriately. Be sure before you travel across the equator, that
you are setting the proper + or - latitude SITE entry for your final destination.
[ toc ] 3. Ammeter
The Ammeter display (1, Fig. 7) is a series of vertical red LED bars. Each bar that is fully lit represents 0.1
ampere (100 milli-amperes) of current draw. The LED Ammeter represents its' lowest value on the extreme
left of the scale. During normal tracking speeds, the Ammeter will show about four fully lit LED bars and at
times a fifth that is partially lit, indicating about 400 to 450 milliamps or 0.4 to 0.45 amps of current draw
(when a slew in initiated, the ammeter will peg the scale momentarily showing the inertia load, this effect is
entirely normal). The current draw information can be useful if you are trying to calculate how much battery
life you will have during an observing run. As an example, if the ammeter has four bars lit, indicating 0.4
amps and you are using a 12 amp hour battery, then to know the approximate number of hours of life the
battery would yield, you would divide 12 by 0.4 indicating a battery life of 30 hours.
[ toc ] 4. DEC Motor Connector
The DEC Motor Port (11, Fig. 7) is an 8 pin phone jack connector socket, designed to accept standard 8
pin phone jack coil cords. One end of the supplied coil cord plugs in to the Power Panel and the other plugs
into the DEC MOTOR socket in the right fork arm to power the declination motor.
CCD Connector Pin LX200 Assignment
#1 #Normally Closed
#2 West
#3 North
#4 Ground
#5 South
#6 East
[ toc ] 5. CCD Connector
The CCD Port (10, Fig. 7) allows direct interface from
popular aftermarket CCD autoguiding/imaging cameras with
their compatible connecting cables to accomplish
autoguiding for non-attended astrophotography. The CCD
cameras effectively watch a star and detect slight
movements. When star movements are detected, signals
from the CCD electronics make drive corrections in the
LX200, to bring the star to a home position.
Most CCD autoguiding/imaging cameras are supplied with a
cable which is compatible with the LX200 port. If your CCD
unit does not have a cable, one can be obtained from the
CCD manufacturer, or you can make your own cable using the following table of information.
[ toc ] 6. Power 12vDC Connector
The Power 12v DC connector (9, Fig. 7) is designed to accept either the AC Converter that is supplied as
standard equipment with the LX200 or the DC Power Cord that is available as optional equipment. The
acceptable voltage range (under load) is from 12 to 18 volts.
[ toc ] 7. Keypad Connector
The Keypad connector (6, Fig. 7) is a 4 pin phone jack connector socket, designed to accept standard 4 pin
phone jack coil cords. One end of the supplied coil cord plugs into the Keypad port, the other end plugs into
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