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I have this older ETX-90 telescope. It uses 3 AA batteries to power the motor for the clock-drive. Obviously the motor runs on 4.5 volts. What I would like to know is how much current the motor draws . . . probably in milliamps.
Thank you,
Gene A. Swanson
[email protected]
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This is usually caused by low battery power-- as the hand controller reported. DO NOT USE rechargeable batteries they do not have enough volts. Use alkaline batteries only.
This can also be caused by a broken gear or a failed internal motor. You can return these to Meade for repair.
Here is the contact number: http://www.meade.com/support/index.html
You can send it back to Meade but they will charge you several hundreds of dollars.
Why not just buy a separate 12 volt power pack and run the scope using that and the proper cigarette lighter style power plug. That's what I do on my ETX125 and I never even put any batteries inside -- the scope will perform better with a solid 12 volt power supply.
No, just one--- this scope runs off of 12 volt DC battery like a car starter battery pack-- that has a cigarette lighter style 12 volt cable. This plugs into the power console on the telescope. You need the proper 12 volt cable which you can get from Meade and other telescope retailers--
You did Train the drives and CALIBRATED motors using the same power source you will use outside?
Do not run off of the internal batteries UNLESS they are brand new. Once the batteries drop below about 70% the hand controller goes a little crazy. That's why most people use an external power pack.
1. Replace the batteries, and do a Calibrate motors.
If you can clean up the battery terminals with sandpaper, then you will need to try an outside power source.
Buy either the 110 volt adapter or BETTER but a 12 volt power pack at Wal Mart (the kind you use to start a car) make sure it has a 12 volt cigarette lighter style plug.
You can buy either the 12 volt power cable or tthe 110 volt adapter from www.scopestuff.com. I never use the internal batteries, always a 12 volt power pack. The ETX likes steady 12 volt current.
If it does not work with the outside power source then something is burned out on the main board. You will need to return it to Meade for repairs. Here are several links you need.
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html
http://scopestuff.com/ss_cig1.htm the 12 volt cable
The manuals are all available to download from www.meade.com.
If your scope has the motor drives and a control panel into which a controller could be plugged, then you just need to buy an Autostar 497 - always available on eBay for about £85. However, there are older models of the ETX which only have one motor or as a spotting scope for terrrestrial use with no motors - Autostar cannot be connected to these.
Look at the pictures of scopes on eBay which come with Autostar - if your looks like these, Autostar will fit. Else you are out of luck!
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