Meade RCX400 instruction manual Home Position and Balancing the OTA

HOME POSITION AND BALANCING THE OTA

After power is applied and Autostar has initialized, press

32 MODE to move to the vertical home position (32).

CAUTION: BEFORE DISASSEMBLING, THE TELE- SCOPE MUST BE PUT INTO THE HOME POSITION.

Before using the telescope, you will need to balance it in both the RA and Dec axes. Before you balance, attach the eyepiece assembly, the viewfinder and all the acces- sories you will be using with the telescope (cameras, guide scopes, etc.). In other words, you need to balance

33 the unit with all the "weight" that will be attached to it.

TO BALANCE THE RA ASSEMBLY:

First you will balance the RA axis. You will balance it, first, with the telescope positioned at a 45° angle and then at a 90° angle perpendicular to the home position).

Use the scroll keys to position the RA axis at 45° (33).

Go to the Utilities menu.

34 Scroll down to "Balance Scope." Press the down arrow key to see the two choices available: Balance RA and Balance Dec. With "Balance RA" displayed, press

ENTER.

With "Balance RA" displayed, press ENTER (34). The telescope assembly will move back and forth slightly on the RA axis. It is now determining the torque needed to move on this axis.

35 A balance readout will be displayed on the handbox. The readout will display fractions close to the number one. For example, ".95" and ".91."

Move the bottom adjustable counterweight one-half to one full turn (35). You will only need to move the weights in small increments. Then move the other adjustable counterweights to butt up against it (Note: The tele- scope will continue to move back and forth, while you adjust the weights).

22	Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the
	Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.