| This is a two-amp capacity DC step-up transformer designed for field operation of Meade #1664 and #1697 18 volt drive systems for APO refractors and 8" through 12" non-GPS 18 volt drive system Meade catadioptrics, plus the Meade 16" LX200, LX200 GPS, and LX200R telescopes only. It consists of a 12-volt to 18-volt transformer with a male DC cigarette lighter plug on the end of a short (3’) cable. This plugs into the female cigarette lighter output of an automobile or into the cigarette lighter output of a rechargeable 12-volt battery. It steps up the 12-volt DC output of these devices to the 18 volts DC required for proper operation of the 18 volt Meade drive motors. A high amp-hour capacity battery is required, due to the substantial current draw of the 18 volt and 16" scopes. A 17 amp-hour battery may not get you through a full night of observing, depending on the ambient temperature and the amount of dual-motor slewing done while observing. Also included is a 25’ power cord with an in-line protective 3 amp slow-blow fuse. One end of the 25’ power cord connects to the 1’ output cord of the transformer. The other end has a female pin jack that connects to the 18-volt DC input in the drive base of the scopes. If the scopes are connected to a 12-volt DC power supply without using the #1812A step up transformer, the scope motors will operate at a much slower than normal slewing rate and there may not be enough torque available to move an out-of-balance telescope. There is also the small but finite possibility of damage to the scope drive systems that would not be covered by the Meade warranty if they are connected directly to 12-volt DC. The #1812A is the only adapter approved by Meade for DC operation of the 18 volt and 16" LX200 scopes. Caution: This adapter is not for use with 12 volt drive system Meade scopes. Use with a 12 volt Meade drive system will void the Meade warranty.
| 
Printer friendly version
Email page link to a friend
Do you have a question about this product?
