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APPENDIX D: EC HANDBOX
Some LXD75 models (designated with an “EC,” for example, AR-5EC) come equipped
with an Electronic Controller (EC) handbox, rather than the Autostar Handbox. The
Electronic Controller provides you with the means to control the telescope motors from
a compact handbox. The Electronic Controller (
Fig. 49) has soft-touch keys designed
to have a positive feel, even through gloves.
The primary functions of the Electronic Controller are to move (slew) the telescope to
an object, to set operation for the Northern or Southern Hemispheres, and to indicate
the slew speed.
Users of the EC models should follow the procedures described in
GETTING STARTED,
BALANCING THE TELESCOPE, ALIGNING THE VIEWFINDER, CHOOSING AN EYEPIECE,
and OBSERVING BY MOVING THE TELESCOPE MANUALLY, pages 11 - 16. Other sec-
tions relevant to EC users include: OBSERVE THE MOON and SETTING POLAR HOME
POSITION, page 17, and PHOTOGRAPHY, OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, GENERAL
MAINTENANCE, SPECIFICATIONS,
and CELESTIAL COORDINATES, pages 36 - 39 and
46 - 51. LATITUDE CHARTS, page 57, and BASIC ASTRONOMY, pages 63 - 64, may
also be useful. Note that SLEW SPEEDS, page 16, refers to Autostar functions only.
Slew speed functions of the Electronic Controller are covered in this appendix.
The following numbers refer to
Fig. 49 above.
ᕡ Arrow Keys: Press one of the four Arrow keys to slew the telescope (i.e., up,
down, left, and right) at any one of four slew speeds (see
SPEED KEY below).
Important Note: If you reverse directions while using the Arrow keys to
slew to objects, there may be a slight pause as the telescope motors com-
pensate for the reversal of the internal gears.
ᕢ Indicator Lights: The four red LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights indicate the cur-
rent slew speed of the telescope.
Note: For purposes of this manual, the lights are identified as 1 through 4, with
1 being the top light and 4 being the bottom light.
ᕣ SPEED Key: Press SPEED to change the speed at which the telescope slews to
an object. Each press of the SPEED key changes the slew speed to the next
slower setting. If the controller is already on the slowest slew speed (light 4),
pressing SPEED cycles back to the highest speed (light 1). Slew speeds are sig-
nified by the indicator lights (2, Fig. 49).
ᕤ Coil Cord: Plug into the HBX connector of the Computer Control Panel.
Fig. 49: Electronic Controller. (1) Arrow Keys; (2) Indicator
Lights; (3) SPEED Key; (4) Coil Cord; (5) MODE Key; (6) OUT
Key; (7) IN Key.
Fast
Medium
Moderate
Slow
ᕡ
ᕢ
ᕦ
ᕥ
ᕤ
ᕧ
ᕣ
Fig 50: Indicator Light Key.
The procedures in this manu-
al identify the status of the
four indicator lights as depict-
ed above: on, blinking, or off.
Important Note:
The Electronic
Controllers available for
Meade's ETX and DS
telescope series are not
compatible and will not
operate with the LXD75
EC series models. Do
not plug in other
telescope series' EC
handboxes into the
LXD75 computer control
panel, nor plug the
LXD75 EC series
handboxes into any other
telescope series
computer control panel.
Light 1
Light 2
Light 3
Light 4
On
Blinking
Off
Light No. Light Status