Meade ETX-125EC Electronic Controller Functions, Light Blinking Off, Indicator Light Key

Electronic Controller Functions

Fast

Medium

Moderate

Slow

Light No. Light Status

Fig. 3: Electronic Controller. (1) Arrow Keys; (2) Indicator

Lights; (3) SPEED Key; (4) Coil Cord; (5) MODE Key; (6) OUT

Key; (7) IN Key.

The Electronic Controller provides you with the means to control the telescope motors from a compact handbox. The Electronic Controller (Fig. 3) has soft-touch keys designed to have a positive feel, even through gloves.

The primary functions of the Electronic Controller are to move (slew) the telescope to an object, indicate the slew speed, and to operate the optional #1244 (ETX-90EC or ETX-105EC) or #1247 (ETX-125EC) Electric Focuser (see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 20). Other functions are also possible when using the MODE key. A detailed description of the functions and operation of the Electronic Controller is found in ADVANCED ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER FUNCTIONS, page 26.

Arrow Keys (1, Fig. 3): Press one of the four Arrow keys to slew the telescope (i.e., up, down, left, and right) at any one of four slew speeds (see SPEED KEY below).

Important Note: If you reverse directions while using the Arrow keys to slew to objects, there may be a slight pause as the telescope motors compensate for the reversal of the internal gears.

Indicator Lights (2, Fig. 3): The four red LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights indicate the current slew speed of the telescope.

Light 1

Light 2

Light 3

Light 4

On

Blinking

Off

Note: For purposes of this manual, the lights are identified as 1 through 4, with 1 being the top light and 4 being the bottom light.

SPEED Key (3, Fig. 3): Press the SPEED key to change the speed at which the telescope slews to an object. Each press of the SPEED key changes the slew speed to the next slower setting. If the controller is already on the slowest slew speed (light 4), pressing the SPEED key cycles back to the highest speed

Indicator Light Key

The procedures in this manual identify the status of the four indicator lights as depicted above: on, blinking, or off.

(light 1). Slew speeds are signified by the indicator lights (2, Fig. 3).

Coil Cord: Plug into the HBX connector of the Computer Control Panel.

MODE Key (5, Fig. 3): Press and hold the MODE key to place the Electronic Controller into the Mode function (see APPENDIX A, page 26).

OUT Key (6, Fig. 3): When using the optional #1244 (ETX-90EC or ETX-105EC) or #1247 (ETX- 125EC) Electric Focuser (see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 20), press the OUT key to move the focus point outward.

IN Key (7, Fig. 3): When using the optional #1244 (ETX-90EC or ETX-105EC) or #1247 (ETX-125EC) Electric Focuser (see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 20), press the IN key to move the focus point inward.

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