Maintenance - Meade LX80 Instruction Manual

MAINTENANCE

Your LX80 model telescope is a precision optical
instrument designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding
observations. Given the care and respect due
any precision instrument, the telescope will rarely
require factory servicing or maintenance. Use the
following guidelines:
1. Avoid cleaning the telescope's optics: a little dust
on the front surface of the telescope's correcting lens
causes virtually no degradation of image quality and
should not be considered reason to clean the lens.
2. When absolutely necessary, remove dust from the
front lens with gentle strokes of a camel-hair brush
or blow it off with an ear syringe (available at any
pharmacy). Do not use a commercial photographic
lens cleaner.
3. You may
fi ngerprints) from the front lens with a solution of 3 parts
distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. A single drop
of biodegradable dishwashing soap may be added per
pint of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and make
short, gentle strokes. Change tissues often.
Caution: Do not use scented, colored or lotioned
tissues or damage could result to the optics.
4. In the very rare situation where cleaning the inside
surface of the SC or ACF corrector lens becomes
necessary, un-thread the lens cell located at the
front of the main tube. The entire correcting lens and
secondary mirror system are mounted in this cell.
You may use the lens-cleaner solution described in
step 3 to clean the inside surface of the SC or ACF
corrector lens.
Note: When cleaning the inside surface of the
correcting lens, leave the lens mounted in its metal cell
throughout the process. Do not remove the lens from
its metal housing or optical alignment of the lens will
be lost, necessitating a return of the telescope to the
Meade factory.
5. If your LX80 model is used outdoors on a humid
night, telescope surfaces may accumulate water
condensation. While such condensation does not
normally cause any damage to the telescope, it is
recommended that the entire telescope be wiped
down with a dry cloth before being packed away. Do
not, however, wipe any of the optical surfaces. Rather,
simply allow the telescope to sit for some time in warm
54
remove organic materials
indoor air, so that the wet optical surfaces can dry
unattended. In addition, the dust cap should not be
placed back on to the optical tube until the telescope is
thoroughly dry.
6. If your LX80 model is not to be used for an
extended period, perhaps for one month or more, it is
advisable to remove the eight AA-size batteries from
inside the mount. Batteries left installed for prolonged
periods may leak, causing damage to the telescope's
electronic circuitry.
7. Do not leave your LX80 model outdoors on a warm
day or inside a sealed car for an extended period of
time; excessive ambient temperatures can damage the
telescope's internal lubrication and electronic circuitry.
Storage and Transport
When the telescope is not in use, store it in a cool,
(e.g.,
dry place. Do not expose the instrument to excessive
heat or moisture. It is best to store the telescope in
its original box with the RA and DEC (Page 8, Fig 1,
29 and 30) in the unlocked positions. If shipping the
telescope, use the original box and packing material to
protect the telescope during shipment.
When transporting the telescope, take care not to bump
or drop the instrument; this type of abuse can damage
the optical tube and/or the objective lens and knock
the optics out of alignment. It is highly recommended
to use an optional carry case to transport the telescope
(see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, Page 52).
Inspecting the Optics
A few words about the so-called "Flashlight Test:" If a
fl ashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed
down the main telescope tube, the view (depending
upon the observer's line of sight and the angle of the
light) may reveal what appear to be scratches, dark or
bright spots or uneven coatings, giving the appearance
of poor quality optics. These effects are only seen
when a high intensity light is transmitted through
lenses or refl ected off the mirrors and can be seen
on any high-quality optical system, including giant
research telescopes.
The optical quality of a telescope cannot be judged by
the "Flashlight Test"; the true test of optical quality can
only be conducted through careful star testing.
Gauging the Movement of the Telescope
A common complaint of many fi rst-time telescope
owners is that they cannot see the telescope "move"