Clearline Technology Corporation supports Meade LX200 owners by using modern materials, components, and processes to create replacement parts for the venerable Meade LX-200 telescope. Among its current lineup are the Motor Encoder Board – LX200 Classic/LXD650/LXD750; Calibration Tool for LX200 Motor Encoder Board; and a Boot-Up Emulator for the Meade LX200 Hand Controller.
They have now introduced their Meade LX10 Main PCB, which offers a direct replacement for the original Meade LX10 front panel PCB, with all connectors and RA tracking motor control functionality. The new panel contains all new components and features a new control circuit designed to reduce temperature variation in tracking speed. It is priced at $38US.
They also recently introduced a second version of the company’s Power Panel PC Board for the Meade LX200 Classic. The board offers a replacement for the PC board behind the LX200 Power Panel and is compatible with all 8″, 10″, and 12″ Meade LX200 “Classic” telescopes. With the introduction the company now offers a base version and a plus version.
With the new base board iteration, the company has omitted the hand controller emulation capability of the board for users who don’t need that capability. The board still retains the other company improvements such as better current sensing and grounding. This new board is simpler that the company’s plus board and therefore less expensive at $65US.
This circuit design of both boards improves on the original by using a high-side current measurement approach that does not put additional resistance in the ground path.
In addition to the power panel boards the company offers other critical electrical replacement parts for the popular LX line. These include:
The Motor Encoder Board for the Meade LX200 Classic offers a replacement for the LX200 Motor Encoder Board. It is a newly designed circuit board replacement part for the original RA and DEC motor encoders in the 8″, 10″, and 12″ Meade LX200 “Classic” telescope, and also fits the Meade LXD650 and LXD750 telescope mounts.
The Calibration Tool for Meade LX200 Motor Encoder Board is a small device mounted between your motor encoder’s PC board and it’s mating cable, you can verify or adjust the output duty cycle for proper operation. It measures the duty-cycle in real time and changes colored LEDs to indicate how to adjust the encoder For 8″, 10″, and 12″ LX200 “Classic” telescopes.
The Boot-Up Emulator for Meade LX200 Hand Controller, when plugged into the “Keypad” jack, appears to the telescope as the Meade hand controller during initialization. This allows the telescope to complete its start-up process and ready itself for receiving commands over the RS-232 port. The “Boot-Up” emulator only functions during start-up, it has no buttons and cannot control any telescope functions by itself. For 8″, 10″, and 12″ LX200 “Classic” telescopes, and LXD650/750 mounts with version 3.xx software.
The company also has several new repair parts and replacement kits for the For the 8″, 10″, and 12″ LX200 Classic telescopes (these may also fit the LXD750/LXD650 mounts). These include:
– IR Component Scaffolds: Pre-tested assemblies, with wiring harness and PC boards, mounting two IR LEDs and two IR phototransistors, replacing the parts originally provided on one RA or DEC motor encoder housing. This helps make replacement easier and avoid stress on leads. They are sold as a set.
– Replacement Capacitor Kit: Set of 6 electrolytic capacitors to replace 5 original 25V tantalum capacitors (one extra). The capacitors are 6.8 uF, rated at 50V. Includes brief instructions.
– Replacement Optical Components: Set of IR LEDs with the corresponding phototransistors. These replace the optical components in the RA and DEC motor encoders. Includes 4 ea. Ligitek LIR2043, and 4 ea. Ligitek LPT2023, enough for both motor assemblies.
For more information visit the company’s website.
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