Lidl LXD75 telescope help thread

Frank,
did you do
CALIBRATE MOTOR and TRAIN DRIVES. If that doesn't work, do a RESET, CALIBRATE MOTOR, and TRAIN DRIVES. and
Have you selected the right telescope model and mounting mode in the Autostar?
Also, not putting the telescope in the proper HOME position, not setting the proper telescope/mounting mode, etc. If you have done all those, then try redistributing the lubrication: unlock the axis locks, move the tube back and forth, several times, from hard stop to hard stop, in all directions
Low batteries also cause it as will a bad/crap AC mains adapter.

got this off Weasners lxd site..

have a quick look at
irishastronomy.org/boards/viewtopic.php?...0a33c080a30768cb8c01

Yup.
Did all that...to no avail.

I'm wondering about something....
In nearly all the ads I see for Meade scopes they
state thier Telescopes are 'Manufactured in the USA'

On my scope there is a quite large plaque that says 'Made in China'

Are they skirting with the law here?
Do they make the parts Stateside then assemble them in China
and sell those ones to us?

Thats got to be it.
How else can they compete with the markets outside of the US?
Would'nt that be why if you buy a scope from the US direct they won't guarentee it.

They have to compete somehow with our stupid import and VAT taxes.
'Made in China' is how.

'Made in the USA' probably means 90% quality controll.
'Made in China' ....... 20% ?

I feel your pain Frank, but conspiracy theories aside, Meade make their higher end scopes in the US, the LX, RCX scopes and so on. They make the ETXs and LXDs and eyepieces and accessories in China, thats just the way it is.
I got meade binoculars and the etx70 (all china) last year and had no problems, although some did. Unfortunately, you are one of those few.

i'd bet and hope that the optical encoders are covered in grease, if so we can fix it, if not its a new scope from Germany.

Sorry to hear that your new scope is causing you such problems.

Did you check for any loose connections. I understand that the scope moves for a bit and then gives the error. Could it be a wire that is being caught and loosing contact as the motor turns. I presume also that you have checked all the contact points between the cord and the base/autostar. Also what are you using for powewr the scope, batteries, power tank etc. I understand it should be 12v and >1 amp to slew at top speed. Can you try powering it from the mains to eliminate any posibility of it being a power problem.

I know you have probobly thought of this before but..........

Can you bring it back to LIDL and get a quick replacement? or refund

Still no news of anyone getting one that works.

Also what are you using for powewr the scope, batteries, power tank etc. I understand it should be 12v and >1 amp to slew at top speed. Can you try powering it from the mains to eliminate any posibility of it being a power problem.

The LXD is very sensisitve to bad power, if you're using a power supply (PSU) make sure it's regulated, it'll say regulated on the box, an unregulated or overloaded PSU can cause major preoblems, even mildly weak batteries mess up the scopes motors apparently, the ETX70 suffers form this problem also.

i'd bet and hope that the optical encoders are covered in grease, if so we can fix it, if not its a new scope from Germany.

They tend to just replace the motor unit from what I've read.