freely and may do so with a high angular velocity when
the mount’s payload is even slightly out of balance.
In both cases, the rotating internal shaft creates a potentially
dangerous pinch point with the outer declination axis
assembly that can cut, crush, or sever fingers.
Always keep fingers clear during mount slews and use extreme
caution when routing cables through the mount or aligning the
declination shaft’s “through-hole” during polar scope
alignment.
Declination Axis Encoder Cover
Paramount ME mounts shipped after about mid-2017 have small aluminum cover attached to bottom of
the declination axis that can be used to access the optional absolute on-axis encoder module.
• If your Paramount ME is equipped with absolute on-axis encoders, the encoder cover incorporates
a small slit that allows light from the encoder module LED to be visible without removing the
cover. Green light emitted from the encoder module’s LED indicates the encoders are functioning
normally; yellow means the encoder is operational, but the signal from the module is not ideal;
red means the module is not working properly and may need alignment. Contact Software Bisque
support for information how to proceed.
• If your Paramount ME is not equipped with absolute on-axis encoders, the encoder cover is solid
and does not incorporate the light-emitting slit. The cover need not be removed, unless you are
curious to see what is underneath.
Configurable Hard Stop Positions (Paramount ME Only)
The Hour angle locking holes also provide access bolts that define the Paramount ME’s configurable hard
stop position. For each “side of the meridian”, there are six different positions where a physical hard stop
mounting bolt can be installed.
After placing the two-position switch in the Balance mode, rotate the hour angle access and look down
one of the hour angle locking holes. As the axis is rotated, you see five threaded holes, and the sixth, at
the maximum hard stop limit, with a bolt installed. The position of this bolt defines the maximum
allowable rotation for the axis in this direction.
Normally, the hard stop position need not be altered, and the configurable slew limits (page 146) are used
to prevent the mount from slewing to undesired positions.
To change the position of the hard stop, remove the hard stop bolt using a square-ended hex wrench. A
square-ended hex wrench bolt captivates the socket head cap screw so that it can be extracted from the
Hour angle locking hole. Once removed, the socket head cap screw can be placed at the desired hard stop
position.
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