ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARSinstruction Manual SkyQuest xx12g, SkyQuest xx14g, SkyQuest xx16g Instruction Manual
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Orion® SkyQuest™ XXg
GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonians
#10148 XX12g, #8964 XX14g, #8968 XX16g
XX14g
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
Customer Support:
www.OrionTelescopes.com/contactus
Corporate Offices:
89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076 - USA
IN 461 Rev. D 06/13
Upper optical
tube section
Navigation
knob
2" Dual-speed
Crayford focuser
2" DeepView eyepiece
EZ Finder II
Truss poles
Captive
clamping
knobs (x12)
1.25" eyepiece adapter
2" extension adapter
Eyepiece rack
12.5mm Illuminated Plössl
Top groundplate
Bottom groundplate
Captive base
connecting bolts (x12)
Figure 1. Overview of SkyQuest XXg Dobsonian (16" shown)
Altitude motor and
encoder housing
Altitude
clutch knob
Lower optical
tube section
Handle
Hand controller
bracket
GoTo hand
controller
Azimuth motor and
encoder housing
2
Congratulations on your purchase of an Orion SkyQuest XXg GoTo Dobsonian. These revolutionary Dobs
combine large-aperture optical performance with state-of-the-art computerized GoTo pointing capability. Moreover, these big telescopes were designed by Orion to be remarkably transportable – both their
base and optical tube break down into easily manageable components that can fit into any standard size
vehicle. Setup for an observing session takes just minutes, and the views are spectacular! We know you
will enjoy many years of rewarding observations with your SkyQuest XXg GoTo Truss Dobsonian.
Please read these instructions thoroughly before beginning assembly and subsequent use of the telescope.
1. Unpacking
Table of Contents
1. Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. The GoTo Hand Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4. Collimating the Optical System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5. Using Your Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6. Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun through your
telescope or its finder scope – even for an instant – without a professionally made solar filter that completely covers the front of the instrument, or permanent eye damage
could result. Young children should use this telescope
only with adult supervision.
The SkyQuest XX12g is packed in three boxes, one containing the optical tube assembly (OTA), truss poles, and accessories; a second containing the unassembled Dobsonian
base; and third containing the primary mirror and mirror cell.
The XX14g ships in four boxes, with the truss poles and counterweights contained in a separate box. The XX16g is packaged in five boxes, with the base components divided into two
separate boxes to keep the weight and size of the individual
boxes more manageable.
Before beginning assembly, unpack each box and confirm
that all of the parts in the Parts List below are present. The
parts are listed by the box they should arrive in, but some of
the parts may be in different boxes than indicated below. Be
sure to check all boxes carefully, as some parts are small. If
anything appears to be missing or broken, immediately call
Orion Customer Support (800-676-1343) or email support@
telescope.com for assistance.
3
Parts List
Box #1: Optical Tube Assembly and Accessories
(Figure 2)
Qty. Description
1 Lower optical tube section
1 Upper optical tube section
2 Optical tube dust covers (one for each tube section)
4 Truss pole pairs (XX12g only)
1 DeepView 28mm eyepiece, 2"
1 Eyepiece extension adapter, 2" (not shown)
1 Illuminated 12.5mm Plössl eyepiece, 1.25"
1 EZ Finder (with bracket)
1 Collimation cap
1 Eyepiece rack
2 Eyepiece rack wood screws (20mm long, color black)
2 Hex keys (2mm, 2.5mm)
1 Tube connecting knob
1 SynScan AZ Hand controller
1 Hand controller cable (coiled)
1 Azimuth motor connection cable
1 RS-232 computer interface cable
1 Hand controller bracket (with 2 mounting screws)
3 Counterweight mounting bolts (XX14g, XX16g)
1 Cooling accelerator fan with battery holder
(XX12g only)
1 Instruction manual (not shown)
1 Starry Night CD-ROM
Lower
optical tube
section
Upper
optical tube
section
a.
Figure 2. Contents of the optical tube box. a) The larger
components. b) Accessories and hardware.
b.
Cooling fan and
mounting screws
(XX12g only)
Battery pack
(XX12g only)
Starry Night
Special Edition
CD-ROM
EZ Finder II
Hex keys
Bracket for hand
controller and
mounting screws
Tube
connecting
bolt
Quick collimation cap
Dust covers
12.5mm Illuminated
Plössl eyepiece
with illuminator arm
DeepView 28mm
2" eyepiece
Eyepiece
rack
mounting
screws
Eyepiece rack
Counterweight
mounting bolts
(XX14g and
XX16g only)
4
Box #2: Primary Mirror and Cell (Figure 3)
Qty. Description
1 Parabolic primary mirror (XX12g, flat back; XX14g and
XX16g, convex back)
1 Mirror support cell
3 Collimation knobs
3 Nylon washers (3/4" outer diameter)
3 Springs
Box #3: Truss Pole Assemblies and
Counterweights (XX14g and XX16g) (Figure 4)
Qty. Description
4 Truss pole pairs
6 Counterweights, 2.2 lbs. each (XXX14g only)
9 Counterweights, 2.2 lbs. each (XXX16g only)
Primary mirror in
mirror support cell
(XX12g)
a.
b.
Mirror
retaining
clips
Collimation
knobs
Springs
WashersCenter mark
XX12g
XX14g
and
XX16g
Figure 3. Contents of the primary mirror box. a) The primary
mirror, mirror cell, and collimation hardware for the XX12g. b) The
primary mirrors and mirror support cells for the XX12g (top) and
XX14g/XX16g are quite different.
Figure 4. Contents of the truss pole and counterweight box.
(The XX16g contains nine counterweights.) For the XX12g, the
truss poles are included in the optical tube box, and there are no
counterweights.
5
Box #4: Dobsonian Base (Figure 5)
Qty. Description
1 Left side panel (with altitude motor and encoders pre-
installed)
1 Right side panel
1 Front panel
2 Side braces
1 Groundplate assembly (with azimuth motor and
encoders pre-installed) This is contained in a separate
box (Box #5) for the XX16g.
6 Base assembly wood screws (coarse thread, 47mm
long)
12 Base connecting bolts with hand knobs
12 Rubber retaining washers
12 Spacers for connecting bolts
1 Insertion tube for rubber retaining washers (~3" long)
2 Carrying handles
4 Handle mounting bolts (socket head cap screws,
25mm long)
3 Hex keys (size 2mm, 4mm, 6mm)
3 Plastic feet (XX12g only; feet are pre-installed on
XX14g and XX16g)
3 Feet wood screws (1" long; XX12g only)
Box #5: Dobsonian Base (XX16g only)
Qty. Description
1 Groundplate assembly (with azimuth motor and
encoders pre-installed)
Right side panel
Groundplate assembly
Left side panel
b.
Azimuth motor
connection cable
DC power cable
Handles
a.
Figure 5. Contents of the base box(es). a) The larger components,
b) Hand controller, cables, and other hardware.
Mounting bolts
for handles
Side brace Side brace
Front panel
Rubber retaining
washers
Base connecting
bolts (x12)
Spacers for
connecting
bolts (x12)
Insertion tube
Hex keys
Coil cable for
hand controller
Hand
controller
6
RS-232
cable
Feet (x3) and mounting screws
(Feet come pre-installed on
XX14g and XX16g)
Base assembly
wood screws (x6)
2. Assembly
Now that you have unpacked the boxes and familiarized yourself with all the parts, it is time to begin assembly.
Initial Assembly of the GoTo Dobsonian Base
The GoTo bases of the SkyQuest XXg Dobs are shipped partially assembled for your convenience. All the motors, optical
encoders, and gears are pre-installed at the factory. The two
round groundplates are preassembled and should not be
taken apart.
When fully assembled, the SkyQuest XXg GoTo Truss Tube
Dobsonians are big telescopes. But we designed them to
break down into easily manageable components, none of
which is too big or too heavy for a reasonably fit individual
to lift and carry (but for the XX16g a helper would be great!).
In fact, both the base and the optical tube can be quickly
disassembled into smaller components for transport and/
or storage, then reassembled – all without tools! We’ll get
to the tube later, but for the base you’ll see that it has four
main components: the groundplate assembly (top and bottom
groundplates and installed azimuth motor housing), the left
side panel with installed altitude motor housing, the right side
panel, and the front panel.
For the initial assembly of the base, you will need a Philips
screwdriver.
1. To install the feet (XX12g only; feet are pre-installed at
the factory on the XX14g and XX16g), turn the groundplate assembly upside-down and gently rest it on the azimuth motor housing on a clean, flat surface. Carpet is
good, or you may want to place a cloth under the azimuth
motor housing to avoid scratching it. Locate the three
starter holes on the perimeter of the bottom groundplate (Figure 6a). Insert the screws through the feet and
thread them into the predrilled starter holes (Figure 6b)
with a Phillips screwdriver until tight.
2. Connect the side braces to the side panels using three
base assembly screws for each panel (Figure 7). The
brace should be attached to the outside surface of the
side panel – the outside of the left side panel has the
altitude motor housing attached. The screws go through
the holes in the side panels and thread into the starter
holes in the side braces. Use the included 4mm hex key
to firmly tighten the screws, but be careful not to strip the
holes by over-tightening!
3. Now you will install the captive connecting bolts, each of
which is already fitted with a black hand knob. There are
12 connecting bolts altogether; refer to Figure 8 for locations. Start with the front panel, which has through holes
for six connecting bolts.
First, slide a spacer onto a collecting bolt. Then insert
the connecting bolt into the through hole, in the direction
indicated in Figure 8. Holding the knob with one hand,
use your other hand to press a rubber washer over the
threaded (protruding) end of the bolt. It will be a tight fit;
you may have to work the washer a bit to get it on. Push
the washer up on the bolt as far as you can with your
a.
b.
Figure 6. a) Starter holes for feet on bottom baseplate.
b) Attaching the base feet.
Side
panel
Side
brace
Figure 7. Attach a side brace to the outside of each side panel
using three base assembly wood screws and the 4mm hex key.
Figure 8. Locations for connecting bolts in the front and side panels
(one side panel not shown). Connecting bolts should be inserted in
the predrilled holes in the direction indicated by the arrows.
7
a.
Rubber
washer
Spacer (Don’t
forget this!)
b.
Insertion
tube
Figure 10. The completed side panel and front panel assembly.
Keyholes
c.
Figure 11. Place the large opening of the “keyhole” slots in the
eyepiece rack over the mounting screw heads, then push the rack
downward. To do this, leave the screw heads about 1/8" out from
the panel. After the rack is installed, you can tighten the screws to
secure it in place.
Hand controller
bracket
Figure 9. a) Place a rubber washer on the threaded end of the
connecting bolt and push it on as far as you can with your fingers.
b) Then use the included insertion tube to push the washer past
the threads and up into the counterbored hole in the wood. c) The
recessed washer will keep the bolt captive in the hole.
8
Figure 12. Find the two pilot holes and attach the hand controller
bracket – but don’t overtighten the screws!
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