Reviews - Meade #1240 Electric Focuser for all Meade DS-2000 models 07076 Reviews - ME-TA-07076

Author: brokenjerry {!} , amatuer astronomer, from Fort Mohave, AZ on Jul 28, 2007
Pros:  Hands free focusing
Cons:  Hard to focus by hand
Would recommend:  yes

brokenjerry wrote:

I love this little focuser. It works with my 497 Autostar handbox and is easy to use. I have two 2000 type scopes, an 80mm and a 114mm and it works on both of them.

Author: walleye {!} from Minnetonka, MN on Jul 27, 2007
Pros:  Inexpensive and does what it advertises
Cons:  Very very loud, but again does what it advertises
Would recommend:  yes

walleye wrote:

Took a bit to get the gear mesh at the correct tension, does what it advertises however you can no longer turn by hand once installed but with fast speeds it does fine. Does do great getting the DS series to focus and focus well, the stock focuser is much to gross to get fine adjustments done but with this its a snap.

Author: daddyvortex {!} , retired and in amateur astronomy especially astrophoto for about 16 months. Have built an Exploradome observatory., from Frankfort OH on Jul 24, 2007
Pros:  Light, accurate, and runs on the Meade "Serial Bus" so it's adaptable to other Meade applications.
Cons:  Only two speeds on the manual handbox; clutch slips on occasion; no easy way to unclutch
Would recommend:  yes

daddyvortex wrote:

I bought the Meade #1240 intending to adapt it to a crayford focuser on a Meade SN10 on the usual LXD75 mount. The motor box of the focuser had to be fitted to a forward branching arm as few crayfords are flat and have screwed on plates covering the center of the adjuster axle. So the motor was turned around and engaged the plastic gear clamped by a nut on a hollow bolt that was setscrewed onto the shaft of the adjuster. The plastic eventually failed and a substitute was machined and drilled from a threaded steel bolt. This way, I can run the focuser from Envisage in Autostar Suite at the computer or any program that uses the ASCOM driver. The "fine" speed setting is very helpful in fine focusing although, if I had my druthers, I'd get an even bigger gear to put on the focuser knob shaft to get an overall lower and finer gear ratio.