MAINTENANCE
Your ETX model telescope is a precision optical instrument designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding observations. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, the telescope will rarely require factory servicing or maintenance. Use the following guidelines:
1.Avoid cleaning the telescope’s optics: a little dust on the front surface of the telescope’s correcting lens causes virtually no degradation of image quality and should not be considered reason to clean the lens.
2.When absolutely necessary, remove dust from the front lens with gentle strokes of a
3.You may remove organic materials (e.g., fingerprints) from the front lens with a solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. A single drop of biodegradable dishwashing soap may be added per pint of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and make short, gentle strokes. Change tissues often.
Caution: Do not use scented, colored or lotioned tissues or damage could result to the optics.
4.In the very rare situation where cleaning the inside surface of the corrector lens becomes necessary, unthread the lens cell located at the front of the main tube. The entire correcting lens and secondary mirror system are mounted in this cell. You may use the
Caution: Do not touch the aluminized circular surface of the secondary mirror with a finger, a tissue or any other object. This will almost certainly scratch the mirror surface.
Note: When cleaning the inside surface of the correcting lens, leave the lens mounted in its metal cell throughout the process. Do not remove the lens from its metal housing or optical alignment of the lens will be lost, necessitating a return of the telescope to the Meade factory.
5.If your ETX model is used outdoors on a humid night, telescope surfaces may accu- mulate water condensation. While such condensation does not normally cause any damage to the telescope, it is recommended that the entire telescope be wiped down with a dry cloth before being packed away. Do not, however, wipe any of the optical surfaces. Rather, simply allow the telescope to sit for some time in warm indoor air, so that the wet optical surfaces can dry unattended. In addition, the dust cap should not be placed back on to the optical tube until the telescope is thor- oughly dry.
6.If your ETX model is not to be used for an extended period, perhaps for one month or more, it is advisable to remove the eight
7.The
8.Do not leave your ETX model outdoors on a warm day or inside a sealed car for an extended period of time; excessive ambient temperatures can damage the telescope’s internal lubrication and electronic circuitry.
9.A
•Small wrench (.05”): Use the small wrench to tighten the
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