20 Most Recent Meade LX200GPS Telescope - Page 4 Questions & Answers

You may need to mount just a rail like this one:
http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_mrail.htm

You can call Meade directly and ask:
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

If it will not boot-up it's probably the main board. However, I would try a brand new hand controller cable first before I panic.

A fellow by the name of Ron Sampson can repair the hand controller and or the main board circuits. He can be contacted by placing a message for him on the LX200 and the LX90 Yahoo Tech Group.

Hope that helps you. You can send him the hand controller and the main board and he will have a look at it.

You accidently posted this question in the TELESCOPE Topic.

This links may help you:

http://www.mapug-astronomy.net/ragreiner/decdrive.html

and this:

Sometimes a "runaway" is caused by a bad hand controller cable. You can buy a replacement from www.scopestuff.com

If a new cable does not fix it loose connections on the main board, and blown circuits can also cause a runaway. Get a new cable first and see if that fixes it before you open up the electronics, or try to send to Meade for repair.

C1 and C2 are on the input of a voltage regulator. The fact that they burn, could mean that their voltage rating has been exceeded (check the voltage across them), or that age has caused their failure. The classic uses about 18 volts into the power panel - see that it is not higher than that. The handpad would not be a cause for this to happen as it is not the source of the power. Replace the caps with similar ones, but with higher voltage rating - 50v is fine. But check your power supply first!

The worm gear could be loose inside? or the clutch has grease on it.

There is a DEC repair kit available on scopestuff.com here:

http://scopestuff.com/ss_ezck.htm

A small Dobsonian, like one of these.

6 inch should be not too big for her to carry outside.

http://www.telescope.com/control/dobsonians/classic-dobsonian-telescopes

You will not need the GPS to work once you are polar aligned, especially if you use the PARK feature before you turn it off.

If the base can be rotated to within 1 or 2 degrees of true North you can use the RA adjustments on the wedge to compensate for the error. Is this a commercial wedge or one that someone welded together from steel?

If it is commercial it should have RA adjustments. BUT, you will still need to get near true North or you will not have enough adjustment to correct the final few degrees of error. If you can point the scope at Polaris you will be within "range" of the possible wedge adjustment.

This may help you:

http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/pier.htm see step #2

http://www.ccastronomy.org/photos_home_observatories_reil.htm see #8

http://www.pier-tech.com/telescope_pier_installation.htm

Hope this helps you.

The main board is inside the base. You may have accidentally unplugged a wire to the board while you were installing the gears.

You have a LARGE Meade telescope. This should be an easy fix if you can disassemble the fork arm and get inside.

First I would contact Meade customer service to see if they have a manual that shows disassemble instructions. If not I would join the Yahoo LX200 forum and look for help there with an owner of the 16 inch model.

http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

Just search in Yahoo Groups for the LX200 forum.

On smaller scopes the DEC motor is held on by two spring loaded bolts, probably one has become loose?

No schematics out there for that model, although there are ones for the LX classic and GPS. The center contact is positive.

Go to the LX200 Yahoo Group. They have diagrams in the files which you can access if you are a member of the group.

Meade has manuals on their web site here:

http://www.meade.com/manuals/index.html

Do a RESET on the hand controller. Then Train Drives. Make sure TIME and DATE are correct, and Daylight Savings is YES

Maybe Meade will sell you the part?? Usually they want you to send back the telescope.

Call them at this phone number:
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

I have a similar telescope, and there is nothing that gets dislodged by nudging. HOWEVER a major problem is with the Declination drive gears. They are plastic and can loose a tooth really easy. If the is a problem, then you should hear 'skips' when the drive is moving the motor. Smart drive moves the telescope to read the feed-back position dist, and to see the 'home' position magnet. If the sensor is out of place then it will do as you see.

If the dome does not respond to commands from the DDW control pad, then all you can do is checking the communication cables for contacts and eventually try replacing the cable. Try starting the unit with cable disconnected, if you still get the problem , then the DDW must be replaced.

If that does not work, then the hand control pad must be replaced.

Hi there,

There must be some mechanical problem in this leaver...
It need a deep view on this telescope to understand the problem.
Contact meade using the below link -

http://www.meade.com/support/warranties.html

or call them on - 800-626-3233

Good Luck!!

Thanks

Go online to the Yahoo LX90 or LX200 Group an post your question -- also you could have a broken clutch in the base.

Meade will not sell you a corrector plate. The scope must be returned to Meade. Call their customer service line here-
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

The shipping will be very expensive along with the repair. Possibly taking it to a local Meade dealer may be more economical??

I think you will find this link helpful. Good luck.
http://www.bisque.com/help/theskyV6/Telescope/LX200_GPS.htm