Kim: Sorry for all the aggrivation. Have you looked online for cures? The Meade Advanced Products Users Group? There is also a very small group on Yahoo groups for the 650 and 750. The MAUPAG group has a ton of information about the old handbox (which are getting as rare as hens teeth) but most applies to the LX200's. Cloudy Nights has several members who own or have owned 750's and 650's. You might try some of these leads if nothing else. Steve
From: kimharch@cut.net To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:01:53 -0600 Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Meade mount
Response to questions that I couldn't get to yesterday:
The mount is an LXD 650, "computer drive system, LX quartz - DC servo motor, smart drive." When it last worked properly both motors were running fine, then it suddenly began to slew wildly and hasn't worked properly since. I suspect, therefore, that the problem is in the electronics or "smart drive" system (whatever that is). Some of you may recall that Meade, being ever-so-contraire, built all their drives during that period to run on 18V DC rather than 12V DC. (Do they still do that?) I've tried powering it from both a 12V source and from house current with a Meade 18V transformer, but no difference. Meade actually sent a second hand controller some time back so I have two; neither works. The mount will power up and the hand controller light up but nothing will function. Again, I suspect internal electronics are the problem. Chuck, I'll get back to you off-list. I may want to sell or see if someone with the know-how can make it operable. At this point I don't care if I have go-to capability or not.
Kim
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