Jump to content

Recommended Posts

I have a Meade ETX 125. When I plug the controller in it does a "Test" then says there is a fault on the motor, has any one else had any experience of this ? Could there be a fault with the controller ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello, have you had the ‘scope long? If there any whirring of motors? If you then press the cursor keys, I’m assuming nothing happens. If you loosen the locking mechanisms, can you slew the ‘scope around? If it finished up against one of the stops, it might be what’s causing the problem. I have an ETX90 and stripped it down when I had a problem without much trouble. Weasner’s Might ETX Site is still live, though inactive. It is a mine of useful info. 😊

Edited by bingevader
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted (edited)

Hi thank you for your reply, When I plug in the "Autostar controller it asks me to "press Mode for Menu or 0 to Align" No matter what I press it slews a little then comes up with "testing Motors" Then there is no response from any of the buttons. If I plug in the little hand set all the buttons seem to work, the scope slews and moves up and down. I have had the scope for a few yrs. but have had very little time with it.   When I first got it the motor was slipping rather badly I had a look inside and could see some of the teeth were stripped and the motor mountings were broken. I managed to repair the mountings and get a new motor. At this time I did not have the Autostar Controller, it's only recently that I acquired the Autostar Controller.   

Edited by Sheffield Col
Additional txt.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1.  Is the power supply adequate ? 

The "Test" briefly slews the motors and will Fail if the power supply is poor.

2. Have you selected ETX125 in the menus, it may be setup for a different Meade mount ?

3. If you get it working, do the Train Drives routine.

The instruction manual is available online.

Michael

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi thank you for your reply, I was using a 12v 1.5 amp power supply, I don't know if this is any good but it seems to work. I don't know how to get to the menu's or "do the Train Drives routine". Can you tell me how to find the instruction manual please. Thank You. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"I was using a 12v 1.5 amp power supply, I don't know if this is any good but it seems to work"

But did it work, because you got a motor fault, which can be blamed on poor power supply ?

An Unregulated 12V 1.5A power supply may supply too many volts when just tracking.

And not supply enough volts under the load of slewing at high speed.

Check it's a Regulated Power Supply.

Michael

Edited by michael8554
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Apologies in advance if I appear negative.

If your ETX-125 motors carry on being problematic, you may have to ‘bite the bullet’ and de-fork it. It can be done, but requires a bit of effort and patience to separate the OTA from the forks.

They are good scopes optically, let down by poor quality drives and nylon/plastic gears in the drive train.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 21/04/2024 at 14:02, michael8554 said:

 

An Unregulated 12V 1.5A power supply may supply too many volts when just tracking.

And not supply enough volts under the load of slewing at high speed.

Check it's a Regulated Power Supply.

Hi thanks, I will look for a proper power supply and see if it helps. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 21/04/2024 at 16:42, RT65CB-SWL said:

Apologies in advance if I appear negative.

If your ETX-125 motors carry on being problematic, you may have to ‘bite the bullet’ and de-fork it. It can be done, but requires a bit of effort and patience to separate the OTA from the forks.

They are good scopes optically, let down by poor quality drives and nylon/plastic gears in the drive train.

Yes you could be right, but hopefully I will get it sorted.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Hi Sheffield Col,

I just joined this forum so hello to all!

I had the same problem and got a 2nd hand controller which didnt last long! As RT65CB-SWL said above - it is a good scope let down by a poor mount!

In the end I bit the bullet and deforked it. Got myself a new visual back from https://wegatoptical.com/ in the US, and bought a iOptron cem26 mount.

Telescope is now on a mount it should have had all along. Also the world of decent 2" SCT accessories becomes open to you. (I broke the Camera port on mine also).

All the best

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted (edited)

Hi @V-Ger and welcome to SGL. :hello2:

A few questions…

  • What do you use for tube rings? 
  • Were they off the shelf/ready made? or did you have the custom made? 

Reason I ask is because I found my ETX-105 does not use ‘standard’ size tube rings, and require a substantial  amount of packing out for a snug fit. I have secured a dovetail bar directly underneath with some padded Jubilee/hose rings. [images below].

small_IMG_0385.JPG..jpg.96b510aeac1ce230208486066271a09d.jpgPIC011.JPG.d44aaf7659477cb4cf6a80da07ee9215.JPGPIC012.JPG.3b3b2b4aaf9826a35f9fd23345ee7b76.JPG

I ordered some 125mm tube rings and nylon tipped screws via aliexpress. The rings are a lightweight alloy and the threads are not very substantial and soon wear. I am waiting for FLO to get stock of the ADM ones and see if they are any better.

The replacement visual back on my ETX was made for me by a local engineering workshop a few years before Wegat Optical made ones specifically for the ETX-105.

Edited by RT65CB-SWL
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, RT65CB-SWL said:

Hi @V-Ger and welcome to SGL. :hello2:

A few questions…

  • What do you use for tube rings? 
  • Were they off the shelf/ready made? or did you have the custom made? 

Reason I ask is because I found my ETX-105 does not use ‘standard’ size tube rings, and require a substantial  amount of packing out for a snug fit. I have secured a dovetail bar directly underneath with some padded Jubilee/hose rings. [images below].

small_IMG_0385.JPG..jpg.96b510aeac1ce230208486066271a09d.jpgPIC011.JPG.d44aaf7659477cb4cf6a80da07ee9215.JPGPIC012.JPG.3b3b2b4aaf9826a35f9fd23345ee7b76.JPG

I ordered some 125mm tube rings and nylon tipped screws via aliexpress. The rings are a lightweight alloy and the threads are not very substantial and soon wear. I am waiting for FLO to get stock of the ADM ones and see if they are any better.

The replacement visual back on my ETX was made for me by a local engineering workshop a few years before Wegat Optical made ones specifically for the ETX-105.

Hi @RT65CB-SWL

Thanks for the welcome!

I was in the same boat as yourself in that I couldn’t find any suitable rings. This led to an eye watering wallet bashing thanks to some PrimaLuce 150mm rings that I got from 365 Astronomy.

https://www.365astronomy.com/primaluce-lab-145mm-plus-tube-rings

I measured the outside diameter of my ETX125 and got a measurement of 146mm OD. I thought there would be a little leeway so ordered the 145mm rings.

Thanks to a website mixup, the owner (A Guy called Zoltan who was very helpful), called me to say that even though their website said the 145mm rings were in stock - they weren’t!

Instead he recommended the 150mm rings which meant that I would had to lose 4mm somewhere! This turned out to be a good call. I used some strips of my dew shield which I cut to the same width as the rings. I then placed the strips on the top of the scope instead of all the way around, so the bottom of the scope rests on the ring felt. This provided a secure fit without any movement.

I did begrudge paying £286 (yes you read that right) for some machined Aluminium ring but they are very good quality and there is very little options out there. I like the various mount options also.

I do like the "Fast APO refractor look" that they provide! If you go the "ready made" route - try to get rings 2-4mm max larger that your scopes OD.

It's a shame BCF Astro engineering no longer trade - they used to make loads of Accessories for the ETX range. Good quailty also!

Apologies to the OP for straying off topic - If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t have bothered to try to keep the ETX's original mount going. It would have saved me alot of money also.

There are so many good options out there now.

All the best!

 

IMG20240602114224.jpg

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.