ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS SkyQuest GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonians XXg... User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
IN 461 Rev. B 10/12
Customer Support [phone] • E-mail: [email protected]
Corporate Offices [phone] • 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076
© 2010-2012 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
Orion® SkyQuest™ XXg
GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonians
#10148 XX12g, #8964 XX14g, #8963 XX16g
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
OrionTelescopes.com
XX14g

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Figure 1. Overview of SkyQuest XXg Dobsonian (16" shown)
Navigation
knob
Captive
clamping
knobs (x12)
Upper optical
tube section
12.5mm Illuminated Plössl
Eyepiece rack
2" extension adapter
1.25" eyepiece adapter
Top groundplate
Bottom groundplate
Captive base
connecting bolts (x12)
EZ Finder II
2" DeepView eyepiece
2" Dual-speed
Crayford focuser
Truss poles
Lower optical
tube section
Handle
Altitude motor and
encoder housing
Altitude
clutch knob
GoTo hand
controller
Hand controller
bracket
Azimuth motor and
encoder housing

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Congratulations on your purchase of an Orion
SkyQuest XXg GoTo Dobsonian. These revolu-
tionary Dobs combine large-aperture optical per-
formance with state-of-the-art computerized GoTo
pointing capability. Moreover, these big telescopes
were designed by Orion to be remarkably transport-
able – both their base and optical tube break down
into easily manageable components that can fit
into any standard size vehicle. Setup for an observ-
ing session takes just minutes, and the views are
spectacular! We know you will enjoy many years
of rewarding observations with your SkyQuest XXg
GoTo Truss Dobsonian.
Please read these instructions thoroughly before
beginning assembly and subsequent use of the
telescope.
1. Unpacking
The SkyQuest XX12g is packed in three boxes, one contain-
ing the optical tube assembly (OTA), truss poles, and acces-
sories; a second containing the unassembled Dobsonian
base; and third containing the primary mirror and mirror cell.
The XX14g ships in four boxes, with the truss poles and coun-
terweights contained in a separate box. The XX16g is pack-
aged in five boxes, with the base components divided into two
separate boxes to keep the weight and size of the individual
boxes more manageable.
Before beginning assembly, unpack each box and confirm
that all of the parts in the Parts List below are present. The
parts are listed by the box they should arrive in, but some of
the parts may be in different boxes than indicated below. Be
sure to check all boxes carefully, as some parts are small. If
anything appears to be missing or broken, immediately call
Orion Customer Support (800-676-1343) or email support@
telescope.com for assistance.
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun through your
telescope or its finder scope – even for an instant – with-
out a professionally made solar filter that completely cov-
ers the front of the instrument, or permanent eye damage
could result. Young children should use this telescope
only with adult supervision.
Table of Contents
1. Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. The GoTo Hand Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4. Setup for AutoTracking or GoTo Mode . . . . . . . . 18
5. Using the Telescope in AutoTracking Mode . . . . 18
6. Alignment for GoTo Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
7. Using the Telescope in GoTo Mode . . . . . . . . . . 20
8. Collimating the Optical System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
9. Using Your Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
10. Care and Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
11. Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Appendix A: Time Zones of the World . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Appendix B: RS-232 Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Menu Tree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Star Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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Parts List
Box #1: Optical Tube Assembly and Accessories
(Figure 2)
Qty. Description
1 Lower optical tube section
1 Upper optical tube section
2 Optical tube dust covers (one for each tube section)
4 Truss pole pairs (XX12g only)
1 DeepView 28mm eyepiece, 2"
1 Eyepiece extension adapter, 2" (not shown)
1 Illuminated 12.5mm Plössl eyepiece, 1.25"
1 EZ Finder (with bracket)
1 Collimation cap
1 Eyepiece rack
2 Eyepiece rack wood screws (20mm long, color black)
2 Hex keys (2mm, 3mm)
1 Tube connecting knob
1 SynScan AZ Hand controller
1 Hand controller cable (coiled)
1 Azimuth motor connection cable
1 RS-232 computer interface cable
1 Hand controller bracket (with 2 mounting screws)
3 Counterweight mounting bolts (XX14g, XX16g)
1 Cooling accelerator fan with battery holder
(XX12g only)
1 Instruction manual (not shown)
1 Starry Night CD-ROM
Figure 2. Contents of the optical tube box. a) The larger
components. b) Accessories and hardware.
a.
b.
Upper
optical tube
section
Lower
optical tube
section
Dust covers
Battery pack
(XX12g only)
Cooling fan and
mounting screws
(XX12g only)
Tube
connecting
bolt
Hex keys
Counterweight
mounting bolts
(XX14g and
XX16g only)
Eyepiece
rack
mounting
screws
Eyepiece rack
Quick collimation cap
DeepView 28mm
2" eyepiece
Bracket for hand
controller and
mounting screws
Starry Night
Special Edition
CD-ROM
12.5mm Illuminated
Plössl eyepiece
with illuminator arm
EZ Finder II

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Box #2: Primary Mirror and Cell (Figure 3)
Qty. Description
1 Parabolic primary mirror (XX12g, flat back; XX14g and
XX16g, convex back)
1 Mirror support cell
3 Collimation knobs
3 Nylon washers (3/4" outer diameter)
3 Springs
Box #3: Truss Pole Assemblies and
Counterweights (XX14g and XX16g) (Figure 4)
Qty. Description
4 Truss pole pairs
6 Counterweights, 2.2 lbs. each (XXX14g only)
9 Counterweights, 2.2 lbs. each (XXX16g only)
Figure 4. Contents of the truss pole and counterweight box.
(The XX16g contains nine counterweights.) For the XX12g, the
truss poles are included in the optical tube box, and there are no
counterweights.
Figure 3. Contents of the primary mirror box. a) The primary mirror, mirror cell, and collimation hardware for the XX12g. b) The primary
mirrors and mirror support cells for the XX12g (top) and XX14g/XX16g are quite different.
a. b.
Primary mirror in
mirror support cell
(XX12g)
Mirror
retaining
clips
Collimation
knobs
WashersCenter mark
XX14g
and
XX16g
XX12g
Springs