LX200 Classic Spares & S.wedge - not to be missed opportunity!
Rare opportunity to buy a spare set of LX200 electronics, and a Super Wedge.
I am selling all my LX200 classic components except for the OTA.
To summarise: I have two complete sets of elecronics, one set works perfectly and some parts are very new, the other set has a fault. I also have a Meade Superwedge for sale.
All components have been in my observatory for the last 10 years. There is the expected dust, rusty Meade bolts, occasional scratch or nick, all usual from 10 years of use. The LX200 has been mounted permently on my pier for this time, and has been treated very well (UPS protected, regular use, always run at max slew speed 4 or 5). The working kit has been happily running automated nights since last repair in 2007, and was before that.
The set of electronics with the fault has this symptom: Pressing NSEW buttons on the hand controller has no effect on the moment of the telescope. GoTo and other operations work. The cause of the fault is not in the Xilinx and is not the Hand Controller. The fault developed due to a lightning strike in 2007. This set was last tested in about 2008 and since then has been in a box in my observatory being saved for a "just in case" need.
Selling all items as I no longer need them (upgraded the mount, keeping the OTA).
If items do not sell as listed here, I will list elsewhere and then split it up more.
Items:
Meade Super Wedge (2000 vintage) with central compass knob, central bolt for mounting on a pier (surface rust but works), three mounting bolts to attach the base of the LX200 to the wedge, and a suitable hex key for the large bolts. $350
Complete set of Meade LX200 Classic components, fully functional, including:
- Fork arms and base suitable for 12" OTA
- All electronics including RA motor, main board, front panel, hand controller.
- Hand Controller was brand new in August 2007 (bought as a replacement for $250). As-new, barely touch appart form one Sync each night.
- Front Panel was brand new in August 2007 (bought as a replacement for $150).
- Main Board and motors are a second hand service kit received from BINTEL in August 2007 for $650.
- Power supply (new in 2007 from Jaycar)
- Original power cable with fuse)
Complete set: $700
Complete set of Meade LX200 Classic eletronics, with existing fault that NSEW buttons do not move the telescope, but GOTO's and other functionality works. Includes:
- LX200 Main Board (includes memory EPROMs with v4.341 software)
- Front Panel eletronics and display plate (fully functional, tested with working kit)
- RA Motor assembly
- Dec Motor assembly
- Hand Controller (fully functional, tested with working kit, but after 7 years of use the labellnig on the NSEW buttons is cracking and W and S have come off completely)
- Short power cable suitable to clamp on to a 6 amp hr SLA
- Spare Xilinx chip will be provided with the above faulty. From memory this chip is fine (tested in working kit) but I am not 100% certain of that so will not charge for it.
- Printed copy of schematics of LX200 electronics
Complete set: $400
I will soon have a 2D weight set for the 12" OTA avaialble too, so expressions of interest are welcomed on that, but I doubt it would be of use to anyone. Currently still in use for a week or so.
Shipping is extra, at the cost of the buyer. Obviously some items are bulky and heavy, and I'm not yet sure what the best way to ship them would be - I'll wait until I have someone interested before spending time on that.
