Telescope Assembly; Unpacking (Both 1X100 Models); The Field Tripod (Both 1X100 Models) - Meade 8" LX100 Series Instruction Manual

-8-
B. TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY
Use the
following steps to assemble
your telescope.
Note: Section headings list the specific
LX100 model
covered
under that heading.
1.
Unpacking (Both LXl00 Models)
Meade
8'
and
1O'
LXl
OO
telescopes are packed differently, depending on the
model,
to assure safe arrival.
Carefully unpack and
remove all the
telescope parts from
their
packing material. Compare the
parts to the
"Packing Program'(packed
with the telescope) to identify each part.
NOTE: We recommend that you keep atl packing materiats.
lf it is
ever
necessary
foryou to return your
telescope to
the Meade factory for
servicing, these materials will help to assure that no
shipping damage will
occur.
Note
to foreign users:
Meade
8'and
10'LX100 Schmidt-Cassegrain models supplied to countries
outside
the
U.S.A.
are
identicalin
all
respects
to the
telescopes
offered
domestically,
with the exception
of
the AC
wall
adapter. Also included is a set of plug adapters which
willallow
the
walladapter to
be
plugged into the standard wall sockets of most countries.
2.
The Field Tripod (Both
LXl00
Models)
The
Field
Tripods for the Meade 8" and
10' LX100 telescopes are supplied as completely assembled units,
except for
the
spreader
bar (#4,
Fig.
1) and the
6 lock knobs (2 knobs for each
of
the
3
tripod legs) used
to
adjust
the height
of
the
tripod. These
knobs are packed separately for safety in shipment.
For terrestrial observations, the
base
of
the
telescope's fork mount
may be
attached directly to the field tripod.
The telescope
in this
way is
mounted in
an 'altazimuth" ('altitude-azimuth,"
or
"vertical-horizontal') format,
ideal
for non-astronomical applications. The telescope in this set-up moves along vertical and horizontal
a,\es,
@rresponding
respectively to the
Declination and Right Ascension axes in an astronomical observing
mode.
The telescope may,
of
course, be used for astronomical observations when set-up in the altazimuth
mode, but the electric
motor drive
will,
in this case,
be non-functional
from a practical
point
of
view.
Alternately,
the field tripod is
normally used in conjunction with the appropriate equatorial wedge
(see
section 3) for serious astronomical
applications. The
equatorialwedge
permits alignment
of
the telescope's
Polar Axis with
the
Celestial
Pole (or North Star), so that the.electric motor drive becomes operational.
After removing the field
tripod from its shipping carton, stand
the tripod vertically,
with the tripod feet down
and
with the
tripod
stillfully collapsed
(see Fig.
2).
Grasp two of the tripod legs and,
with
the
full weight of
the tripod on the third leg, gently pull
the legs apart to a
fully open position.
Thread in
the 6 lock-knobs (2
on
each tripod leg)
near the
foot
of
each tripod
leg.
Refer
to Fig.
1.
These
lock-knobs are used
to fix the
height
of the
inner, extendable tripod leg sections.
Note:
"Firm feel"
tightening
is
sutficient; over-tightening
may result in stripping
of the knob threads and results in no
additional strength.
The spreader
bar (#4, Fig.1) has been
removed for shipment.
To
replace,
first
remove the hex nut from the
top
of
the threaded rod
(#2, Fig.1) and remove the threaded rod from the tripod head
(#1
,
Fig. 1).
(Note, the
threaded rod has a knob (#3, Fig. 1)
permanently attached.) Remove the second hex nut from the threaded
rod.
Slide
the spreader bar onto
the threaded rod (note the correct orientation
as shown in Fig. 2)
and position
the threaded rod
back through the
tripod
head. Place
the
clip retainer
(a'C'clip)
into
the slot
in
the threaded
rod. This clip holds the threaded rod in place. See Fig'
2.
Position the spreader bar so that the 3 arms of
the spreader bar are lined
up
with the 3
tripod legs.