DEC Motor Problem
gmas...@gmail.com
I recently acquired a Meade LX200 Classic scope 12". The problem is
when I turn the scope on the DEC motor seems to kick into over drive
and pretty much makes a full rotation of the scope. It never really
turns off but you can tell it's straining? Any clues? The BIOS is
3.34L The DEC cable is not the original but I belive who ever adopted
an ethernet cable did it correctly the wires are oppisite of
eachother. so pin 1 on one connector is pin 8 on the opposite
connector and so on. I don't think it's the cable. Any suggestions? I
would rather not send this into MEADE for repair if I can help it.
Does anyone know if where you can buy spare parts for this?
Dave Mabry
gmas...@gmail.com said the following on 3/24/2008 9:18 PM:
I just repaired an LX200 classic that was blowing fuses. When I called
Meade they wanted a flat fee of $500 and 6 to 9 months for repair. It
was then that I decided to attempt the repair myself.
Even though your problem is not the same as yours, I have found that
there is lots of information on troubleshooting this series of
telescopes on the 'net.
So, here is a site that may address your particular problem.
http://members.aol.com/ccdastro/decfix.htm
Hope it helps.
Bob Brannon
run--stop----run---stop by replacing the US Digital Encoder on the
Motor....very easy to do....
On thing to look for ::: ( I do not know if this works on a LX200) press
mode for a few seconds and get to the AZM / ALT display......run the
motor.....does the display change ? Mine did not....
Good Luck
Bob
"Dave Mabry" <dma...@mich.com> wrote in message
news:ZqSdnbn6loZ...@giganews.com...
Zyp
No matter what you do, don't expect Meade to fix it. Meade can't seem to
fix the LX200 in less than a year. Unfortunetly Meade's service dept.
sucks.
--
Zyp
G
> Bob Brannon wrote:
> > I just fixed my Lx200GPS that was running either continuously or
> > run--stop----run---stop by replacing the US Digital Encoder on the
> > Motor....very easy to do....
> > On thing to look for ::: ( I do not know if this works on a LX200)
> > press mode for a few seconds and get to the AZM / ALT
> > display......run the motor.....does the display change ? Mine did
> > not....
> > Good Luck
>
> > Bob
>
> > "Dave Mabry" <dma...@mich.com> wrote in message
> >news:ZqSdnbn6loZ...@giganews.com...
>
> >>> Hello,
> >>> I recently acquired a Meade LX200 Classic scope 12". The problem is
> >>> when I turn the scope on the DEC motor seems to kick into over drive
> >>> and pretty much makes a full rotation of the scope. It never really
> >>> turns off but you can tell it's straining? Any clues? The BIOS is
> >>> 3.34L The DEC cable is not the original but I belive who ever
> >>> adopted an ethernet cable did it correctly the wires are oppisite of
> >>> eachother. so pin 1 on one connector is pin 8 on the opposite
> >>> connector and so on. I don't think it's the cable. Any suggestions?
> >>> I would rather not send this into MEADE for repair if I can help it.
>
> >>> Does anyone know if where you can buy spare parts for this?
>
> >> I just repaired an LX200 classic that was blowing fuses. When I
> >> called Meade they wanted a flat fee of $500 and 6 to 9 months for
> >> repair. It was then that I decided to attempt the repair myself.
>
> >> Even though your problem is not the same as yours, I have found that
> >> there is lots of information on troubleshooting this series of
> >> telescopes on the 'net.
>
> >> So, here is a site that may address your particular problem.
>
> >>http://members.aol.com/ccdastro/decfix.htm
>
> >> Hope it helps.
>
> No matter what you do, don't expect Meade to fix it. Meade can't seem to
> fix the LX200 in less than a year. Unfortunetly Meade's service dept.
> sucks.
>
> --
>
> - Show quoted text -
Great lol. Does anyone know of an electronics shop in the Atlanta GA
area. I cant seem to find a local shop that can work on the
electronics.
Dave Mabry
G said the following on 3/26/2008 2:15 PM:
> On Mar 26, 11:51 am, "Zyp" <nos...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Bob Brannon wrote:
snip
>> No matter what you do, don't expect Meade to fix it. Meade can't seem to
>> fix the LX200 in less than a year. Unfortunetly Meade's service dept.
>> sucks.
>>
>> --
>> Zyp- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Great lol. Does anyone know of an electronics shop in the Atlanta GA
> area. I cant seem to find a local shop that can work on the
> electronics.
What is wrong with your electronics? I may be able to offer suggestions.
Zyp
From what I can tell MEADE just waits for someone to bring in another LX200
of the same age / category and buys it from the unsuspecting owner opting to
sell a newer LX at a discount. Then, they scavenge away at the older unit
for parts. You too can wait with MEADE to see .. which may take over 6
months to a year before the right one comes in... for parts.
But what ever choice you make, taking it to MEADE to repair is timely,
costly, and sometimes extremely frustrating.
--
Zyp
G
able to fix it. They had to replace the eletronics and dec motor
assembly. It took them about about a week to get the job done. I
coudlnt be happier they charged me $70 very cheap. I'm very happy.
Scope is working beautifuly now. Camera shop is called Camera Bug in
Atlanta GA. They did a great job.
stua...@shaw.ca
Hi there, I had a very similar problem with my lx200 the scope would
"run away" in DEC when I first started my scope and would not stop. I
managed to contact someone on the Yahoo lx200 group named Alan
Sickling who helped out alot. Your problem isnt as bad as it seems.
try following the information in message #22366 in the Classic group.
I had mine fixed in about half an hour using a multimeter and a test
harness I made up in a few minutes. I don't know how old your scope is
but I'm guessing it's got a few years on it like mine. the
potentiometers controlling the signals from the encoders get slightly
corroded with age and need to be readusted.
Don't send it back to Meade there are a couple of places you can send
your scope or boards tofor repair if you really have to. There is
also alot of information at this web site www.mapug-astonomy.net
phelan....@gmail.com
Thad Floryan
<http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LX200-Classic/>
The culmination of all the world's experts and repair companies
dealing with the LX200 Classic is in that Yahoo group and there's
of information in the MAPUG archives which I host here:
<http://thadlabs.com/MAPUG/>
The Yahoo group is very active daily. There is no active Usenet
group catering to the LX200 Classics or the LXD650 and LXD750 GEM
mounts.