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7. Maintenance and Servicing
7.1. Maintenance
The SmartStar
®
Cube-A mount or telescope is a precision instrument designed to yield a
lifetime of rewarding applications. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument,
your telescope will rarely require factory servicing or maintenance. Maintenance guidelines
include:
1. Using wet cloth to clean the mount and hand controller. Do not use the solvent.
2. Leave the dust cap on while not operating the telescope. 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 a reason to clean the lens.
3. When absolutely necessary, dust on the front lens should be removed with gentle strokes
of a camel hair brush, a soft glass clean cloth or blown off with an ear syringe (available at
any pharmacy). Do not use a commercial photographic lens cleaner.
4. Organic materials (e.g., fingerprints) on the front lens may be removed with a solution of 3
parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. Use soft, white facial tissues or cotton balls
and make short, gentle strokes. Change tissues often. Do not use scented, colored, or
lotioned tissues as damage could result to the optics.
5. If your telescope is used outdoors on a humid night, telescope surfaces may accumulate
water condensation. While such condensation does not normally cause any damage to the
telescope, it is recommended that wait the entire telescope be dried before being packed
away. Do not wipe any of the optical surfaces. In addition, the dust cap should not be
placed back on to the optical tube until the telescope is thoroughly dry.
6. If your telescope is not to be used for an extended period, perhaps for one month or more,
it is advisable to remove the batteries from battery holder, if they are installed. Batteries
left installed for prolonged periods may leak, causing damage to the telescope’s electronic
circuitry.
7. Do not leave your telescope 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.
7.2. Storage and Transport
When not in use, store the telescope in a cool, dry place. Do not expose the instrument
to excessive heat or moisture. It is best to store the telescope in its original box with the altitude
lock knob unlocked. If shipping the telescope, use the original box and packing material to
protect the telescope during shipment.
When transporting the telescope, take care not to bump or drop the instrument; this type
of abuse can damage the optics or affect the GOTO tracking accuracy.