Subject:	ETX 125 Reverse Polarity
Sent:	Tuesday, May 22, 2012 09:46:05
From:	Ron (nh6wl@sbcglobal.net)
I went out to Bledsoe, Texas for the Annular Eclipse.  I took the ETX125
as a backup Scope with a plan to use my DSI III with a Net top to image
using my LXD 75.  I set up power cables with that in mind.

On arrival the West Texas wind and dust changed the plans and the
computer plan was shelved.  I decide to set up the ETX 125 for others to
watch the Eclipse.  When changing the power connectors I didn't ensure +
was set to tip.  Result was no LED lit at the power panel and a
recognizable smell.  I turned The power off.  I knew I couldn't effect a
field repair.  I used the ETX as I could by setting the sun in the FOV
by hand between paying attention and watching/photographing through my
LXD75/SN6 with a DSLR.

We returned to the San Antonio area yesterday, Monday, after a long
drive. Being tired I waited until today, Tuesday, to open the base.  By
the way No AutoStars were harmed in this act of being dumb.

I found the trace (hopefully a fusible link) blown off the power board
between the power jack or switch and Pin 4 on the AUX jack.  I connected
the AutoStar and power then I jumped over the trace.  The AutoStar
beeped.   No further trouble shooting at this point.

MY question is probably for those who know, maybe Dick and/or Andrew, if
this path will be a good place for the protective diode that I found on
this site when I searched for reverse polarity?  I will have to jump
over the trace anyway and now would be a good time to insert the diode
as the jumper. After jumping over the burned trace I will continue
troubleshooting.

I looked at your pictures and they are nice.  We had clouds in the way
of 1st and 2nd contact but did get some nice pictures at or very near
annularity and 3rd contact.

Thanks for any help.

Ron Hillstromb 

And:

I had read that thread but was trying to get a determination if I could
use a diode as the jumper and protect the ETX across the blown trace.  I
got a pair of N4001 50 volt 1 amp with forward Voltage drop of 1.6 volt.
 This is pretty much inline with what Dick had in his email on that but
it was in the power cord.  I was trying for inside protection and
reestablishing the path at the same time.  I was using the information
on the Eagle Creek Observatory LX90 web page.  there is a page on the
LX90 power panel.  It is of a power panel probably not used with the
LNT.  Two of the jumpers have 4 pins where the ETX PE has one 6 pin and
one 4 pin jumper.  I got the difference when using your page trying to
determine my LNT problem.

It isn't working.  I think I know what is happening.  I think the LED
and resistor is dropping the voltage.  With the diode in line it drops
the voltage enough to not allow the system to function as designed.  I
have checked the diode and I have an open in one direct as it should be
and about .583 in the other direction.  These measurements were taken
with a multimeter with a diode checker and are the same as the second
diode that came in the package.

It looks like it will be a wire jumper between AUX  JP1 pin 4 and Pin 1
on JP3.

I did a wire jumper and the AutoStar comes on and goes through a full
startup and it does spin the motors in each direction.  I will count
myself as one of the VERY lucky ones that Dick speaks of in Reverse
Polarity cases at this point.   After the jumper is soldered in I will
give it a full test.

Thanks

Ron

And:

OK I will try that.   and getting a refresher on diodes in circuit
protection.  An education on things other than Astronomy but still
useful.

Ron

And more:

I think I have been following the flow of the power in the wrong
direction and I will do some more reading of the LX90 schematic and
proceed tomorrow.

Thanks for the pointers on where to look.

I will hopefully be able to advise of a final solution to my problem
here tomorrow.

I feel confident now that I was VERY lucky and didn't do any worse
damage to the ETX.

Have a good evening.

Ron Hillstromb

And:

I am going to try to keep everything positive and pun fully intended.

I will let you know my results tomorrow.

Ron

And an update:

I have successfully inserted the N4001 as the jumper over the burned
trace.

For future information if you desire to post it.

DISCLAIMER:  USE THIS INFORMATION AT YOUR OWN RISK.

The following comes from the LX90 (not LNT version) Power Connection
Board Layout.  It appears very similar to the ETX 125 PE power
connection board but with a 4 pin connector on JP5 and not the 6 pin
connector the ETX PE has.

Power from the center pin  Pin 3 PWR + goes to

Center lugs SW1

When SW1 is turned on then to

Top Lugs of SW1 to

One side LED to

4k7 Resistor to

EXT GND

Other side to pin 4 of JP1 (AUX) to

Pin 1 JP3 (to RA) to

Pin 1 JP5 (to DEC) to

Pin 4  JP2 (AUX) to Pin 1 JP4 (HBX -handbox)

Ron Hillstromb

And:

I am glad to be able to contribute to the site that has been quite
helpful to me.

As everyone says Why Meade didn't do more to protect us from ourselves
like a surface mount diode between the center pin and SW1 we will never
know.

The jumper is messy and I will go back in and make it presentable when I
get time.

I did a dummy alignment in the house then did a goto to the Sun then to
Polaris and they seem to have been close to the correct locations.

I don't have time now with the 3-day weekend coming up but I am going to
look at modifying the battery box cable using male/female DB connector
pins so I can easily disconnect the bottom when I have to get inside. 
My inside the head plan is to set them up with a male and female on one
side for correct polarity and use heat shrink tubing for insulation
shrinking only the part near the solder/crimp of the female.  I will
send an email with photos when complete if successful.

Thanks again

Ron

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