Leisure Time LX20 - Manual (Page 6)

celestial software library; 25 ft. power cord and adapter for
telescope operation from 115v.AC; 8 x 50mm viewfinder;
eyepiece-holder and diagonal prism (1.25"); Series 4000
SP26mm eyepiece; variable-height field tripod; operating
instructions.
d. 12" Model LX200
Includes 12" Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube assembly with EMC
super multi-coatings (D = 305mm, F = 3048mm-f/10); heavy-duty
fork mount, with 4"-dia. sealed polar ball bearing, quartz-
microprocessor-controlled 5.75" worm gears on both axes, and
multi-function power panel display on the drive base; manual and
electric slow-motion controls on both axes; setting circles in RA
and Dec; handheld keypad Electronic Command Center with
digital readout display, PPEC Smart Drive, 7-speed drive control
on both axes, GO TO controller, High-Precision Pointing, and
64,340-object onboard celestial software library; 25 ft. power cord
and adapter for telescope operation from 115V.AC; 8 x 50mm
viewfinder; 2" diagonal mirror with 1.25" adapter; Series 4000
SP26mm eyepiece; giant field tripod; foam-fitted carrying case;
operating instructions.
UNPACKING AND INSPECTION
As you begin to unpack your telescope from its cartons, you will
probably be interested in setting it up right away; we certainly
understand your excitement but please take a few minutes to read
this page before doing so. You should verify that you have all the
proper equipment, and that it has arrived to you undamaged.
We strongly recommend that you keep your original packing
materials. If it should ever become necessary for you to return
your telescope to the Meade factory for servicing, these will help
ensure that no shipping damage will occur.
Meade LX200 telescopes supplied to countries outside the U.S.A.
are identical to those offered domestically, with the exception of
the AC wall adapter.
1. What You Should Have
Carefully unpack and remove all the telescope parts from their
packing material. Compare each part to the Standard
Equipment. You may wish to place a check next to each item as
you identify it. These Packing Programs represent the original
specifications for this instrument. Each telescope has been
inspected twice at the factory to confirm the inclusion of every
item.
2. Please Look Everything Over
Meade Instruments and your shipper have taken precautions to
ensure that no shipping damage will occur, but if your shipment
has suffered severe vibration or impact damage (whether or not
the shipping cartons show damage) then it is important that you
retain all the original packing and contact the shipper to arrange a
formal inspection of the package or packages. This procedure is
required prior to any warranty servicing by Meade Instruments.
3. Inspecting the Optics
Note on the "Flashlight" Test: If a flashlight or other high-
intensity light source is pointed down the main telescope tube, you
may at first be shocked at the appearance of the optics. To the
uninitiated, the view (depending on your line of sight and the angle
the light is coming from) may reveal what would appear to be
scratches, dark or bright spots, or just generally uneven coatings,
giving the appearance of poor surface quality. These effects are
only seen when a high intensity light is transmitted through lenses
or reflected off the mirrors, and can be seen on any high quality
optical system, including the giant research telescopes in use
today. It should be pointed out, however, that optical quality cannot
be judged by this grossly misleading "test", but through careful
star testing. The Flashlight Test causes even the very best optics
to look "terrible".
As the high intensity light passes through the Schmidt corrector
plate, most of it is transmitted through (about 98%+) while the rest
of the light scatters through the glass. As the light hits the mirrored
surfaces, most of it is reflected back (about 94%) while the rest of
it scatters across the coatings. The total amount of scattered light
will be significant, and its effects allow you to see microscopic
details that are normally invisible to the unaided eye. These
anomalous details are real, but their combined effects will in no
way impose limits on the optical performance, even under the
most demanding observing or imaging criteria.
4. Caution: All LX200 Owners
CAUTION: Serious damage to the drive gears may
result from shock in handling, while transporting or
commercially shipping the LX200, should the R.A. lock
(7, Fig. 1), and/or the Dec. lock (2, Fig. 4) be left
engaged. Always release the locks when storing in the
case, or when crating for commercial shipment to allow
the telescope to give, if the case or crate is sharply
jarred or dropped.
Also, the optical and mechanical axes of all LX200
telescopes have been carefully aligned at the factory to
ensure accurate object pointing. Do not loosen or
remove the fork arms or optical tube assembly from
the drive base; the resulting misalignment of the axes
will result in inaccurate slewing of the telescope in the
GO TO mode.
5. Caution: 10" and 12" LX200 Owners
CAUTION: Do not attempt to turn the focuser knob of the
optical tube until you have read this note!
NOTE: Next to the base of the focuser you will see a red-
colored slotted head bolt. This bolt is used only for safety in
shipment. Remove this bolt before attempting to turn the
focuser knob. In its place, insert the rubber plug provided as a
dust protector (this rubber plug is included with your hardware
package).
Your focuser is now operational.
a. Commercial Reshipment
To commercially re-ship the telescope, be sure to follow this
procedure:
1. Turn the focuser knob clockwise until it stops. This will bring
the primary mirror all the way back in the tube.
2. Remove the rubber plug and insert the red-headed bolt.
Thread it in to a firm snug feel. Do not overtighten. (If you
have misplaced the red-headed bolt, you may use any other
bolt that is 1/4-20x1" long.
3. When packaging the 10" or 12" LX200, be sure to release the
R.A. lock (7, Fig. 1), and Dec. lock (2, Fig. 4), to prevent
shock to the gears in the motor assemblies should the
package suffer severe handling.
Please note that commercial shipment of the 10" and 12" LX200
Telescope without the safety bolt in place and packed in the
original factory supplied shipping containers as described above is
done at the owner's risk and your warranty may be voided if
shipping damage results.
6. Keypad Version Number
The current keypad version is 3.20 (see sticker on back of
keypad). This does not indicate the telescope software version—
which is displayed on the keypad LED at power-up.
6