telescope not working HELP!!!

Okay lads went out tonight 4th time to use the telescope. I put in brand new energiser battries today....Its giving me motor failure error.....It wont move up it will go left it will go right it will even go down but it wont go up. Its not slewing right and really stressing me....any ideas the viewing is very good here in leitrim at the moment but the scope is knackered Its says it must try to realign after the message it resets itsself and does it alover again????

okay I went back out and used my hands to move around....seen saturn..its so clear....any how the motor starts working again....what gives???? why is this happening, should i return it??.... sorry to ask so many questions...

I'm afraid that does sound like a return to shop job to me. I'm no expert on Meade ETX's but that does not sound promising.

Motor failure error is bad news i'm afraid.

Hopefully some ETX owners will have more info for you.

Hi rossa,

i was using an LXD 75 mount last week and i got the same problem motor failure fault....i got some replies to check the power source that low voltage plays havoc with the electrics an cause the mount to do strange things, you said you putting new batts so maybe its an alignment problem if you dont align it right off two stars it can slew weird it has happend me or maybe see if theres a problem with your worm gears?

i was using the mount lastnight and no problems or failures so dont panic yet try the obvious first worked for me

Hi Rossa.
All may not be lost.
The ETX is VERY sensitive to power levels.

Seeing as the thing is working ok now I'm guessing that
it's not a fatal flaw and that it's just because you changed the batteries.

Every time you change the battery or power source,
you must do a 'Calibrate Motors' in the setup.
Then align as normal.

(this is why I use a big rechargeable car starter battery,
see here

it lasts for weeks with the ETX and I dont have to be fiddling
with the underneath of the scope to change batteries or doing 'calibrate motors' etc..)

Few other tips.
Never over tighten the locks, this puts strain on the
gears and motors and can cause the 'motor error' message.

May well be low battery voltage due to low temperature - alkalines really don't deliver much current when they're cold. Frank's solution is the best one - you can't beat good old-fashioned lead-acid!

Hi

Sorry to hear you are having such problems.

Try do a RESET to the factory defaults, then RECALIBRATE MOTORS. Maybe it was just a change you did by accident and this will clear it out.

Make sure you have tightened the alt and dec locks to a FIRM FEEL only, but not too loose either.

I think ETX s need to be placed in the home position before they are alligned at the start. Make sure you do this as there is a "stop" point futher then which the ota will not turn due to the internal wiring of the scope.

It can also happen that bits of stuff can get snagged in the gears inside in the scope. Mayby the motors could just have needed some lubrication and you moving it round by hand did the trick.

Either way if it happens again I would try and get a replacement one if possible while in waranty.

DB