Meade 1244 operating instructions

Operating Instructions

Meade®#1244 Electric Focuser

For use with ETX-90 and ETX-105 Telescopes

The Meade #1244 Electric Focuser rapidly
focuses eyepiece images in all ETX-90 and ETX­105 telescope models. The #1244 includes coarse
and microfine speeds. The standard-equipment
focuser 3-button hand controller accepts one user­supplied 9-volt battery.

If used with an ETX-EC Astro Telescope, the
focuser functions are controlled directly with either
the Electronic Controller (standard with the ETX­90EC or ETX-105EC) or with the optional #497
Autostar Computer Controller, rather than with the
Focuser 3-button hand controller.

PARTS LIST

When opening the packing box for the first time,
carefully note the following parts:

• Electric focuser gearbox with attached coiled
cord

• Electric focuser 3-button hand controller

• Packed in a poly bag:

1.75”-long hex-head screw
1” diameter brass focusing gear
Mounting plate
Hex-wrench set (3 wrenches)

1

2

Fig. 1: Rear Cell of Telescope.
(1) Hex-head screw; (2) Focus knob.

5

4

1

3

2

INSTALLATION

To attach the #1244 Focuser to the telescope:

Use the medium hex-wrench to remove the

1.
hex-head screw (1, Fig.1) from the rear cell of
the telescope. The screw is located above and
slightly to the left of the focus knob (2, Fig. 1).

Use the small hex-wrench to loosen the set

2.
screw on the telescope’s focus knob (2, Fig.

1); remove the knob.

NOTE: Do not discard the hex-head
screw removed in step

1 or the focus knob
removed in step 2. If the #1244 Focuser is
ever removed, these items must be re­installed on the telescope.

3. Slide the center hole of the mounting plate
2, Fig. 2) over the focus shaft, so that the

(
flat side faces the body of the telescope
and the upper hole is aligned with the hole
from which the hex-head screw was
removed in step 1.

Fig. 2: Installation of the #1244 Electric Focuser.
(1) Focusing gear;
(4) Focuser gearbox; (5) Hex-head attachment screw.

4. Place the focusing gear (
focus shaft (

(2) Mounting plate; (3) Focus shaft;

1, Fig. 2) on the

3, Fig. 2) so that the hub of the

gear faces the body of the telescope and the
gear is approximately flush with the rear of the
shaft. Tighten the set screw on the focusing
gear with the small hex-wrench.

5. Carefully place the electric focuser gearbox

4, Fig. 2) over the focusing gear. To orient the

(
gearbox, the attached coiled cord should be
on top. Slide the gearbox shaft into the hole
from which the hex-head screw was removed
in step 1. The focusing gear (1, Fig. 2) fits into
the round slot in the gearbox.

6. Place the 1.75”-long hex-head screw (5, Fig. 2)

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into the hole in the rear of the focuser gearbox.
Tighten the screw to a firm-feel only using the
large hex-wrench.

7. Insert one user-supplied 9-volt battery into the
compartment on the rear of the hand controller.
Plug the coiled cord of the gearbox into the
hand controller.

The focuser is now ready for operation.

OPERATION

The #1244 Electric Focuser may be used with the
standard-equipment 3-button hand controller, with
the Electronic Controller handbox that is included
as standard equipment with the ETX-90EC or
ETX-105EC, or with the optional #497 Autostar
Computer Controller. See the appropriate
controller below for details.

NOTE: If using the Electronic Controller
or the Autostar Controller, detach the
coiled cord from the focuser 3-button
hand controller and plug it into one of the
AUX ports of the telescope’s Computer
Control Panel. Flip the power switch to
ON.

• Electric Focuser Controller: The hand

controller has two speeds of operation: coarse
and microfine. Press the SPEED key to change
the focus speed. The Left Arrow moves the focus
out and the Right Arrow moves the focus in.

• Electronic Controller: After power is applied,
the four LEDs flicker. Press any button so that
only one light remains lit. Press the SPEED key
to switch between the four available focus
speeds.

The focus speed is indicated by the four lights:
the top LED is fastest and the bottom LED is
slowest. Press IN and OUT to move the focus
in or out.

• Autostar Computer Controller: After power is
applied and Autostar has been initialized (

see

the Autostar instruction manual), press and

hold MODE for two seconds. The Focus menu
displays.

Press one of the Number keys to change the
focus speed:

1, 2: slow
3, 4, 5: moderate
6, 7: medium
8, 9: fast

The Down Arrow moves the focus out and the
Up Arrow moves the focus in.

Press MODE to exit the Focus menu.

If you have a question concerning use of the
Meade #1244 Electric Focuser, call the Meade
Instruments Customer Service Department at
[phone], or fax to [phone].
Customer Service hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM,
Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

Ver. 0202 Part no. 14-4010-15