Meade RCX400TM instruction manual Getting Started, Parts Listing, How to Assemble the Tripod

c

B

Fig. 7: Attach leg (1) to leg receptacle (2).

d e

Fig. 8: Rotate the leg until the trigger release pin (4) is next to the thruster bar (3).

d

f

e

Fig. 9: Slide thruster hook (4) into the slot of the trigger release pin (3).

g

Fig. 10: Tighten the leg adjustment lock (6).

f

Fig. 11: Press down the trigger lever

(5)so that you can adjust the height of the tripod.

16

GETTING STARTED

Parts Listing

Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts:

JRCX400 Telescope with fork mount system and GPS Receiver

JAutoStar II handbox and interface coil cord; handbox holder

J8 x 50mm viewfinder assembly

J2" diagonal mirror and 2” visual back barrel

JSeries 5000 UltraWide 24mm eyepiece

JVariable height tripod

JUSB cable and software CD ROM

How to Assemble the Tripod

Remove the parts of the tripod from the shipping carton. Assembly of the tripod will take just a few minutes.

To assemble the tripod:

1.Slide a tripod leg into a leg receptacle (Fig. 7). Rotate the leg until the trigger release pin is next to the thruster bar latch (Fig. 8).

2.Slide the thruster bar latch hook into the slot in the trigger release pin (Fig. 9).

3.Rotate the leg attachment lock to tighten the leg in place (Fig. 10).

4.To unlock the leg, press and hold down the trigger release lever (Fig. 11). While holding the lever down, slide the leg extension in or out to the desired length. Let go of the lever to lock the leg extension into place. Unhook the trigger release pin to lock the leg in place.

5.Repeat steps 1 through 4 for the other two tripod legs.

How to Assemble Your Telescope

The telescope’s fork mounting base attaches directly to the tripod. The telescope in this way is mounted in an “altazimuth” (“altitude-azimuth,” or “vertical-horizontal”) for- mat. It is recommended that two people attach the mount to the tripod.

Caution for 12” and 14” model users: Due to the weight and size of these products, please use extreme caution whenever assembling, disassembling, lifting, transporting or storing these products. Two or more persons should always be used whenever performing any of these tasks. Disregard for the above warning could result in serious injury or death.

Note: The field tripod also can be used in conjunction with the optional equatorial wedge (see your wedge’s instruction sheet for more information) for long exposure astrophotography.

The tripod base comes with a tangent arm attached for use with the superwedge.

To attach the mount:

1.Take note of the T-handle under the tripod base. The T-handle is spring-mounted into position. Note also that there is a hole on the bottom side of the mount base.

2.Lift the mount and position the mount base over the tripod base. Line up the hole on the mount base over the T-handle rod. When they are lined up, place the mount down onto the rod and the rod will “pop up” into the hole (Fig. 12).

3.Rotate the T-handle until the rod is tightened to a firm feel (Fig. 13).

To install the batteries:

Assembly of the RCX400 telescope requires eight C-cell (user-supplied) batteries or the optional RCX AC Wall Adapter to a standard 115v home outlet . Plug the adapter into the 12vDC In port of the computer control panel (B, Fig. 1d).

1.Turn the Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1a) counterclockwise to unlock the the optical tube (19, Fig. 1a). Move the optical tube to the position depicted in Fig. 1a and turn the Dec. lock clockwise to a firm feel to relock the position of the optical tube.

2.Remove the battery compartment covers (7, Fig. 1a) and carefully remove the battery holders, being mindful of the connector wires (Fig. 15). Insert four user- supplied C-cell batteries into each battery holder, oriented as shown on the dia- gram on the battery slots inside the battery holder. Return the battery holders to their respective compartments and replace the covers.