David,

Suggest, for openers, that you call Meade...use this toll free number 1 800
626 3233. There's a good chance that an electronic swap will put you back
in business. In this case, the swap will cost you only $200 and about a 30
day turn around time. The scope will not need to be shipped to Meade...just
the electronics. Good luck!

Al
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2001 9:54 PM
Subject: [M]: I fried my LX200


> I have a 10" LX200 that is polar aligned on a permanent pier. I had
> visitors and showed them my observatory, but stupidly forgot to turn
> the scope off afterwards. It kept tracking the sky until it was
> pointing down! It bent the power plug to the illuminated recticle
> eyepiece badly, which stopped the scope in its tracks.
>
> Needless to say, I feel terribly stupid about not turning it off.
>
> When I try to start the scope now, everything comes on and the hand
> controller says "Meade" on it, but it only goes about one or two
> seconds into the regular startup procedure. I noted that the hand
> controller was *not* hot after it had been on so long, and that makes
> me think I fried something.
>
> Something *might* be wrong with the Dec motor. I don't know. When I
> twist the knob after power up, it doesn't budge, but causes the power
> meter on the scope to fluctuate. I never tried this when the scope
> was happy and fuctional, so I'm not sure if this means anything.
>
> I would do just about *anything* to get around sending the scope back
> to Meade. I did this once, and know what a hassel it is, and the
> expense of shipping.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions for tests?
>
> Is it possible that the keypad just got fried? I know a couple people
> around here with the same scope, and if safe I might be able to
> borrow their keypad to try on my scope. If it was that, it would be
> an easy repair. But that may be a big if.
>
> Any thoughts or advice would be most gratefully received.
>
> With many thanks,
>
> David Fideler
> --
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> David Fideler
> Concord Grove Observatory
> http://www.concord-grove.org
>
>

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