Meade ETX-125PE Instruction Manual download pdf (Page 6)

GETTING STARTED

CHAPTER

TELESCOPE FEATURES

Quick Tips

• Rotational Limits: The telescope base and fork mount are

designed with internal “rotational limit stops.” The horizontal

limit stop prevents the telescope from rotating more than

630° to avoid damage to the internal wiring. The vertical limit

stop prevents the viewfinder from contacting the fork mount

when the telescope is pointed upward just past 90° and

prevents the optical tube from contacting the base if pointed

downward more than 30°. Do not force the telescope to

move beyond these stops or damage to the telescope will

result.

• Vertical Lock;Declination Setting Circle: The vertical lock

knob (6, Fig. 1) is a knurled knob located on the fork arm to

the right of the focus knob (9, Fig. 1). Mounted beneath the

knob is a circular scale with no numbers. Do not confuse this

scale with the Dec setting circle (18, Fig. 1) on the opposite

fork arm which has a number scale used to locate

astronomical objects.

• A Note on Indoor V i ew i n g : While casual, low-power

observations may be made with the telescope through an

open or closed window, the best observing is always done

outdoors. Temperature differences between inside and

outside air and/or the low quality of most home window glass

can cause blurred images through the telescope. Do not

expect high-resolution imaging under these conditions.

Telescope Controls

An important array of features and manual controls facilitates

operation of an ETX telescope. Be sure to become acquainted

with all of these controls before attempting observa t i o n s

through the telescope.

Horizontal Lock (10, Fig. 1): Controls manual horizontal

rotation of the telescope while sitting upright as shown in Fig.1.

Turning the horizontal lock c o u n t e r c l o ck w i s e unlocks the

telescope, enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about the

horizontal axis. Turning the horizontal lock clockwise prevents

the telescope from being rotated manually, but engages the

horizontal motor drive clutch for Electronic Controller operation.

When polar aligned, the horizontal lock serves as the Right

Ascension, or R.A. lock (see Right Ascension, page 12).

Vertical Lock (6, Fig. 1): Controls manual vertical movement of

the telescope while sitting upright as shown in Fig. 1. Turning

the vertical lock c o u n t e r c l o ckwise unlocks the telescope

enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about the vertical axis.

Turning the vertical lock clockwise (to a firm feel only) prevents

the telescope from being moved manually, but engages the

vertical motor drive clutch for Electronic Controller operation.

When polar aligned, the vertical lock serves as the Declination,

or Dec lock (see Declination, page 12).

Focus Knob (9, Fig. 1): Causes a finely-controlled internal

motion of the telescope’s primary mirror to achieve precise

image focus. An ETX can be focused on objects from a

distance of about 11.5 ft (ETX-90EC) or 15 ft (ETX-125EC) to

infinity. Rotate the focus knob clockwise to focus on distant

objects; counterclockwise to focus on near objects.

Flip-Mirror Control (16, Fig. 1): Both ETX models include an

internal optically-flat mirror. With the flip-mirror control in the

“up” position, as shown in Fig. 1, light is diverted at a 90° angle

to the eyepiece. Alternately, with the flip-mirror control in the

“down” position, light proceeds straight through the telescope

and out the photo port (17, Fig. 1) for telephoto or astronomical

photography using the optional #64 T-Adapter, or for observing

with the optional #932 45° Erecting Prism (see

OPTIONAL

ACCESSORIES

, page 17).

NOTE: The flip-mirror control is in the “up” position when the

control is vertical (perpendicular to the telescope tube). It is

“ d ow n ” when the control is hori zontal (parallel with the

telescope tube).

Computer Control Panel

The computer control panel (Fig. 5) of the ETX-90EC and

ETX–125EC models include a connector for either the

standard-equipment Electronic Controller or the optional #497

Autostar Computer Controller, an external power supply

c o n n e c t o r, and two auxiliary ports (see

O P T I O N A L

ACCESSORIES

, page 16).

ON/OFF (1, Fig. 5): When the ON/OFF switch is moved to the

ON position, the red power indicator light (5, Fig. 5) illuminates

and power is supplied to the Electronic Controller and to the

telescope’s motor drive.

AU X (2, Fig. 5): Two identical auxiliary ports provide

connections for current and future Meade accessories.

CAUTION:Using products other than standard Meade

accessories may cause damage to the telescope’s

internal electronics and may void the Meade warranty.

HBX (3, Fig. 5): The HBX (handbox) port is designed to accept

the plug from the coil cord of the Electronic Controller or the

optional #497 Autostar Computer Controller.

12v (4, Fig. 5): The 12v connector is designed to accept an

external power supply such as the optional #541 AC adapter or

the #607 Power Cord (see

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

, page 18).

When one of these alternate powering options is used, the

internal batteries are disconnected from the power circuit.

NOTE: Always remove the batteries if they are not to be used

for a long period of time.

Electronic Controller Functions

The Electronic Controller provides the observer with the means

to control the telescope motors from a compact handbox. The

Electronic Controller (Fig. 6) has soft-touch keys designed to

have a positive feel, even through gloves.

Primary functions of the Electronic Controller are to move

(slew) the telescope, indicate the slew speed, and to operate

the optional #1244 (ETX-90EC) or #1247 (ETX-125EC) Electric

Focuser (see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 18). Other

functions are also possible when using the MODE key (see

Electronic Controller Modes, page 11 and APPENDIX A,

page 22).

Arrow Keys (1, Fig. 6): The four arrow keys slew the telescope

in four directions (i.e., up-and-down or left-and-right) at any one

of four slew speeds (see SPEED Key, page 7).

Important Note: While using the arrow keys to slew to an

object, when reversing direction there may be a slight

pause as the telescope motors compensate for the

reversal of the internal gears.

Fig. 5: Computer Control Panel. (1) ON/OFF switch; (2)

Auxiliary ports; (3) Handbox port; (4) 12v connector; (5)

Power indicator light.

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Meade ETX-125PE Instruction Manual Page 6

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