Meade 114ST EQ-D instruction manual Introduction, Standard Equipment

Leg lock knob

Sliding inner leg extension

Fig. 3: Adjust the height of the tripod.

32

33

Fig. 2: Tripod leg brace support assembly.

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INTRODUCTION

The Meade 114ST EQ-D is an easy-to-operate, high performance 4.5" (114mm) reflecting telescope, intended for astronomical observing. Equipped with a deluxe equatorial mount and aluminum tripod, the telescope’s motion is continuously adjustable for tracking celestial objects. Your telescope comes to you ready for adventure; it will be your companion in a universe of planets, galaxies, and stars. Please note that the Meade 114ST EQ-D is a Newtonian reflecting telescope optimized for astronomical observing performance, and is not intended for terrestrial observing.

We recommend that you take a few minutes to read all of this manual before making first observations through the telescope. As you read this manual, the technical terms associated with telescopes will be made clear.

Standard Equipment

•Complete optical tube assembly with a 4.5" (114mm) diameter primary mirror, viewfinder mounting bolts with mounting nuts and rack-and-pinion focuser. Mirror focal length = 1000mm; f/8.8

•Equatorial mount with aluminum tripod and leg braces.

•Accessories: MA 25mm (40x) eyepiece (1.25"O.D.), MA 12mm (83x) eyepiece (1.25"O.D.)

2x Barlow lens

5 x 24 viewfinder and bracket Counterweight with counterweight shaft Flexible cable controls for both telescope axes Accessory tray with mounting knob

Astronomy software (separate instructions supplied in software package

UNPACKING AND ASSEMBLY (Numbers in brackets below refer to Fig. 1)

1.Remove and identify the telescope’s components, using the listing above.

2.Attach the 3 aluminum tripod legs (6, Fig. 1f) to the base of the equatorial mount (15, Fig. 1g) with the 3 leg braces supports (32, Fig. 1f) facing inward. Three bolts each about

2.5"" long, with washers and wing nuts (35, Fig. 1g), are provided for this purpose in a hardware package. Stand the telescope upright, spreading the tripod legs evenly apart so that the accessory tray can be positioned to attach to the 3 leg braces.

3. Use the provided 3 short screws, washers and bolts to attach the

accessory tray (36, Fig. 1f) to the tripod. Line up one of the leg braces (32, Fig. 1f) between the opening of one of the tripod leg brace supports

(33, Fig. 1f) on the tripod so that one of the short screws will be able to

pass through the holes of the leg brace support and the leg brace. Using a Phillips-head screwdriver, thread one of the short screws through the

hole. Place a washer on the other end, followed by the matching nut.

Tighten to a firm feel. Repeat this procedure until all 3 leg braces are mounted on the 3 leg brace supports. See Fig. 2.

4.To attach the accessory tray (36, Fig. 1f) to the leg braces (32, Fig. 1f), place the round accessory tray over the over mounting bolt hole (38, Fig. 1b). Threading the attachment

knob into the the mounting hole on top of the tray and turning the knob

clockwise. Tighten to a firm feel, but do not overtighten—you will need to remove the tray if you wish to collapse the tripod. To remove the tray, just rotate the knob counterclockwise and remove the knob. You can then lift and remove the tray.

5. Extend the sliding center portion of the adjustable height tripod leg to the desired length for all 3 legs. Lock the tripod legs by tightening the leg lock thumbscrew to a firm feel. See Fig. 3.

6. Holding the counterweight (5, Fig. 1a) firmly in one hand, slip the counterweight onto the counterweight shaft (6, Fig. 1a). Attach the counterweight and counterweight shaft, by supporting the unlocked

counterweight firmly in one hand while threading the counterweight shaft into the base of the Declination axis of the telescope’s equatorial mount (41, Fig. 1a). Once firmly attached, slide the counterweight about 2 inches from the bottom of the counterweight shaft and secure it in place with