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7.3. Troubleshooting
The following suggestions may be helpful with operation of the SmartStar
®
Cube-A
mount or telescope.
The power indicator light on the mount does not come on or there is no response when
pressing hand controller’s arrow keys:
(1) Verify that the power switch on the mount is in the ON position.
(2) Verify that the hand controller cord is firmly connected to the HBX port on the mount,
or switch the cord to the other HBX port.
(3) Check the power source, which include:
• Using the battery? Are the batteries installed correctly? Are the batteries fresh?
How long have they been used? (frequent slew and GOTO will deplete battery
power very quickly)
• Using AC or DC adapter? Check the plugs to the mount and to the power outlet.
• Using extension cord? Make sure the cord is in good condition. Power drop along
the extension cord was known to cause the problem. Also check all the plugs and
connections.
(4) If the telescope does not respond to commands, set the power switch to OFF and
then back to ON.
(5) If the telescope does not slew after power is applied or if the motor quits or stalls,
verify that there are no physical obstructions that would impede telescope movement.
Cannot seem to focus (No image appears in the eyepiece):
(1) Confirm that the dust cap has been removed from the telescope.
(2) Keep turning the focus knob. Your telescope has a fine focusing mechanism which
allows you to focus an image very precisely. However, this means that you may have
to rotate the focus knob 20 to 40 complete turns to achieve focus, particularly the first
time you use your telescope. After that, fewer turns will be needed.
Images through the eyepiece appear unfocused or distorted:
(1) The magnification used may be too high for the seeing conditions. Back off to a lower
power eyepiece.
(2) If inside a warm house or building, move outside. Interior air conditions may distort
terrestrial (land) or celestial images, making it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a
sharp focus. For optimal viewing, use the telescope outside in the open air instead of
observing through an open or closed window or screen.
(3) If viewing a land object on a warm day, heat waves distort the image.
(4) The optics within the telescope need time to adjust to the outside ambient
temperature to provide the sharpest image. To "cool down" the optics, set the
telescope outside for 10 to 15 minutes before observing begins.
Error Message “Warning! DEC. (or R.A.) driver motor over current. Please check
balance.”
(1) Check if the mount or OTA is blocked by any obstructions.
(2) Try to operate the mount without an OTA.
(3) Check the power supply. This is a common reason for this message and
unexpected slew behavior or movement. which include:
• Batteries:
Are the batteries fresh? How long have they been used? (frequent
slewing and GOTO will deplete battery power very quickly)
• AC or DC adapter:
Check the plugs to the mount and to the power outlet.