Meade Magellan II User manual

Meade Instruments Corporation
16542 MILLIKAN AVENUE, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92714-5032 USA [phone]
FAX: [phone]
LX50 - Magellan II
I. LX50 Encoder Installation
A. Components
.050 Allen wrench (1)
1/16 Allen wrench
(1)
1/8 Allen wrench (1)
4-40x1/4 button head screws
4-40x5/8 button head screws (2)
10-32x3/4 button head screw
(1)
#10 Washer
Cylindrical Stand-off
(2)
RA Encoder Assembly (w/cabling) (1)
RA Gear (144 tooth, Alum.) (1)
RA Gear Shoulder Spacer
(1)
DEC Encoder Ring Gear
DEC Encoder Assembly (1)
DEC Coil Cord
Handbox Coil Cord (1)
Magellan II Handbox
(1)
B. DEC Encoder
1.) Remove the declination setting circle, beauty
cover, and setting circle spacer, indicated by ‘A’ in the
diagram below, from the left fork arm by unscrewing
the declination knob. The left fork arm has a socket
labeled “ENCODERS” near its base.
2.) Using the 1/16 Allen wrench, unscrew the four
button head screws of declination cover plate and
remove the plate.
3.) Slip the end of the cable of the RA Encoder
Assembly with the Spin connector through the back
side of the rectangular opening in the declination
housing. Cut the tie strap on this cable only if you are
installing on the 10” telescope .
4.) Plug the S-pin connector to the base of the
encoder on the DEC Encoder Assembly.
NOTE: Be sure the connector fits over all the exposed
pins and that the wires from the connector are oriented
away from the bracket.
5.) Inside the declination housing, there are two pads
with tapped holes on either side of the rectangular
opening. If these pads are only about 1/8” high, it will
be necessary to use the two Cylindrical Stand-offs
and the 4-40x5/8 button head screws when mounting
the DEC Encoder Assembly. Otherwise, discard the
Cylindrical Stand-offs and use the 4-40x1/4 button
head screws.
6.) Position the holes of the DEC Encoder mount
bracket over the tapped holes of the two pads and
attach with two 4-40 screws. Note that one of the
holes in the bracket is slotted.
7.) Slide the DEC Encoder Ring Gear over the
setting circle spacer indicated by ‘A’ in the drawing.
8.) Slip the stud of the declination knob through the
spacer/ring gear. To ensure a snug fit, wrap some tape
around the stud. Screw this assembly completely into
the DEC housing.
9.) Adjust the position of the DEC Encoder Ring
Gear to match the gear of the encoder assembly, then
tighten its two set screws with the 1/16 Allen wrench.
10.) Next, adjust the DEC Encoder Assembly by
rotating it through the slotted hole of the bracket until
the gears mesh smoothly.
11.) Remove the declination knob. Slip the stud of the
declination knob first through the beauty cover, then
the setting circle, and then the setting circle spacer
(with the DEC Encoder Ring Gear firmly locked in
place). Thread the stud into the DEC housing.
Remember to align the setting circle before tightening
firmly.
12.) Replace the declination cover plate.

C. RA Encoder
D. Connecting to Magellan
1.) Remove the RA Encoder Cover Plate found on the
drive base by unscrewing the two screws that hold it in
place.
2.) Using the 1/8 Allen wrench, remove the center bolt
from the polar housing and discard. Be sure to leave
the remaining large bent washer in place.
3.) Take the 10-32x314 button head screw and slip
first the #10 Washer’, then the RA gear, and then the
RA gear spacer onto the screw. Make certain that the
shoulder of the RA gear spacer fits into the hole of the
RA gear. Insert the screw assembly into the polar
housing and tighten firmly.
4.) Position the holes of the RA Encoder Assembly
mount bracket over the tapped holes on the recessed
ledge oriented such that the encoder cable can easily
exit through the notch in the polar housing and attach
with two 4-40x114 screws (see diagram below).
5.) Adjust the position of the gear on the RA Encoder
Assembly to match the height of the RA Gear, then
tighten its two set screws with the .050 Allen wrench.
8.) Next, adjust the RA Encoder Assembly by
rotating it through the slotted hole of the bracket until
the gears mesh smoothly
7.) Place the RA Encoder Cover Plate back over the
polar housing and re-attach the two screws that hold it
in place.
1.) Coming down the inside of the left fork arm is the
encoder cable. Plug its 8-pin phone connector into the
socket near the base on the inside of the fork arm and
tuck the black shrink wrapped electronics board inside
the fork arm.
2.) Connect the 8-pin DEC Coil Cord into the plug on
the LX50 power panel labeled ‘Encoders”. Plug the
other end if this cord into the socket label
“ENCODERS” on the left fork arm.
3.) Plug one end of the Handbox Coil Cord into the
Magellan II Handbox, and plug the other end into the
4-pin phone socket labeled “Handbox” on the Magellan
I I power panel.
F. Troubleshooting
If the encoder display of the hand box shows no
change when the telescope orientation is moved,
check the following.
1). Make sure the batteries are fresh and connected
properly.
2.) Check the connections of all the cables. Loose
wires will inhibit performance.
3.) Tighten the set screws on the DEC Encoder Ring
Gear and the gear of the RA Encoder Assembly. Be
certain that any telescope movement turns the
encoder shafts.
4.) Firmly tighten the 10-32x3/4 center bolt in the
polar housing.
Version 05-96-l Part number 14-0254-00