Junk Bond Observatory operates a Meade 16" LX-200 that played a pioneering role in the deployment of ASCOM technology and demonstrated the practicality of small observatory robotic control systems using inexpensive, off-the-shelf components.
JBO has continued to develop and test high level ASCOM control suites and makes the results freely available to astronomers worldwide.
JBO is currently developing the site for a 32" Ritchey, provided by Optical Guidance Systems.
In June, 2001, JBO's Meade telescope suffered a motor failure. This was the sixth or seventh failure of electrically-operated equipment on this telescope in three years. Meade Instruments asked for the scope to be returned for repair, and refused to send a new motor for our installation. We ordered a replacement motor from Pittman and installed it ourselves successfully. We operated until August, 2001, when the telescope was struck by lightning. Meade again insisted on us shipping the telescope to them for repair.
In view of the reliability history, we decided this would be throwing away good money after bad. We removed all Meade electrical and electronic equipment from the telescope, and installed a Bartels drive system.
The mechanical installation was accomplished by Tim Doyle and Ward Sherwood. Here are a few pictures of their handiwork:
This is an image of the original Meade motor, pulley, drive belt, and mounting system. This is the declination assembly, but the RA assembly is essentially identical. I apologize for the fuzzy image; I'm still learning how to control the so-called "autofocus" on our digital camera.
This is the new motor, motor mounting plate, pulleys, and drive belt for the RA drive. The old drive belt is about 3/16" wide. The new one is 3/8" wide and a lot more robust. The drive pulleys are also substantially larger and heavier-duty, and are different sizes. They provide roughly a 3:1 reduction.
This is the new declination motor, mounting plate, belt, and pulley assembly. The size of the motor dictated that it be carried outboard of the declination housing, and consequently this adds about six inches of profile over the old housing.
This is a view of the declination assembly from a different angle.
For safety, a wooden box was built to enclose the declination motor. This will keep peoples' hair from getting caught up in the pulleys and belt. It is made of thin stock plywood and has a primer overcoat.