Standard Equipment; Unpacking And Inspection; What You Should Have; Look Everything Over - Meade LX200 Instruction Manual

16" LX200 uses only one motor to track, and in this case
Smart Drive corrects for periodic error in one axis only.
Smart Drive uses a model of the gear system to perform
periodic error correction (minute correction to the tracking rate
of each motor). This model is created at the factory and stored
in non-volatile memory. Smart Drive activates automatically
and transparently to the user.

Standard Equipment

The 16" LX 200 includes the following:
16" Schmidt Cassegrain optical tube assembly (f/10) with
super multi-coatings (D = 406.4mm, F = 4064mm f/10)
Heavy-duty fork mount, with 6" diameter sealed polar ball
bearing, quartz micro-processor-controlled 11" worm gears
on both axes, and multi-function power panel display on the
drive base
Manual and electric slow-motion controls on both axes
4-speed drive control on both axes,
PPEC Smart Drive on both axes
Keypad hand controller with digital readout display
GO TO controller, and 64,359-object software library
Setting circles in Right Ascension (R.A.) and Declination
(Dec.)
Series 4000 SP 26mm eyepiece
8 x 50mm viewfinder
#929 diagonal mirror (2"/1.25")
16" field tripod with leveling legs
Operating instructions
25 ft. power cords for telescope operation from 115vAC

UNPACKING AND INSPECTION

As you begin to unpack your telescope from its cartons, you
may wish to set it up right away. 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 reached you
undamaged.
We stro n g ly recommend that you keep your original
packing materials. If you should ever need to return your
telescope to the Meade factory for servicing, these will help
prevent shipping damage.
Meade LX 200 telescopes supplied to countries outside the
U.S.A. are identical to those offered domestically, with the
exception of the AC wall adapter.

What You Should Have

Carefully unpack and remove all the telescope parts from their
packing materials. Compare each part to the Packing Program
(packed with the telescope) to verify that you have each part.
Place a check next to each item as you identify it. The Packing
Program represents the original specifications for this
instrument. Each telescope has been inspected twice at the
factory to confirm the inclusion of every item.

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), 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.
- 6 -

Inspecting the Optics

CAUTION: Serious damage to the drive gears may
result from shock in handling. During transport or
commercial shipping,the R.A.lock (6,Fig.1) and/or the
Dec. lock (18, Fig. 1) must not be engaged. Always
release the locks when storing in the case or when
crating for commercial shipment. This allows the
telescope to give if the case or crate is sharply jarred
or dropped.
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
r e m ove the optical tube assembly from the tube
adapters (19, Fig 1).The resulting misalignment of the
axes will result in inaccurate slewing of the telescope
in the GO TO mode. Do not attempt to turn the focuser
knob of the optical tube until you have read the
following note.
CAUTION: Next to the base of the focuser is a red slot-
head bolt, 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
p rotector (this rubber plug is included with yo u r
hardware package).
The 16" LX200 should never be commercially shipped
without the red bolt in place. This is essential during
c o m m e rcial transport , where rough handling may
occur. Your transport and storage of the telescope will
never require this bolt.

A Note on the Flashlight Test

If a flashlight or high-intensity light source is pointed down the
main telescope tube, you may be surprised 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. They can be seen on any high quality optical system,
including the giant research telescopes in use today. The
flashlight test casts even the very best optics in an
uncomplimentary light. Optical quality cannot be judged by this
test, but through careful star testing.
As the high-intensity light passes through the Schmidt corrector
plate, most of it (about 98%+) is transmitted. The rest of the light
scatters through the glass. As the light hits the mirrored
surfaces, most of it (about 94%) is reflected back. 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.

Commercial Reshipment

To re-ship the 16" LX200 commercially, 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 bolt. Thread it in
to a firm feel. Do not overtighten (if you have misplaced the
red bolt, you may use any other bolt that is 1/4-20x1" long.)
3. When packaging the 16" LX200, be sure to release the
R.A. lock (6, Fig. 1) and Dec. lock (18, Fig. 1) to prevent
shock to the gears in the motor assemblies should the
package suffer rough handling.