Instruments Telescopes Instruction Manual RCX400

MAINTENANCE

RCX400 telescopes are precision optical instruments designed to yield a lifetime of

rewarding applications. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, your

RCX400 will rarely, if ever, require factory servicing. Maintenance guidelines include:

Avoid cleaning the telescope’s optics: A little dust on the front surface of the tele-

scope’s correcting lens causes virtually no degradation of image quality and

should not be considered reason to clean the lens

b. When absolutely necessary, dust on the front lens should be removed with gen-

tle strokes of a camel hair brush or blown off with an ear syringe (available at any

pharmacy). DO NOT use a commercial photographic lens cleaner.

c. Organic materials (e.g., fingerprints) on the front lens may be removed with a

solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. You may also add 1

drop of biodegradable dishwashing soap per pint of solution. Use soft, white facial

tissues and make short, gentle strokes. Change tissues often.

Caution: Do not use scented or lotioned tissues or damage could result

to the optics.

d. Do not, for any reason, remove the correcting plate from its machined housing for

cleaning or other purposes. You will almost certainly not be able to replace the

corrector in its proper rotational orientation and serious degradation of optical

performance will result. Meade Instruments assumes no liability for damage

incurred to the telescope in this way.

e. If the

RCX400 is used outdoors on a humid night, water condensation on the tel-

escope surfaces will probably result. While such condensation does not normally

cause any damage to the telescope, it is recommended that the entire telescope

be wiped down with a dry cloth before the telescope is packed away. Do not, how-

ever, wipe any of the optical surfaces. Rather, simply allow the telescope to sit for

some time in the warm indoor air, so that the wet optical surfaces can dry unat-

tended.

f. Do not leave your

RCX400 inside a sealed car on a warm summer day; excessive

ambient temperatures can damage the telescope’s internal lubrication and elec-

tronic circuitry.

Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the

Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.