LX200 12" weight

I have a Meade 8" lx200 and I am thinking of upgrading to a 12" lx200. I usually only set it up in my backyard or just out of the back of my Tahoe. My only concern is the wieght of the unit. I currently have no problem setting up the 8" but I have heard that the 12" is a two man job. Does anyone else out there have a 12" lx200 that they set up themselves? :S

I have helped set up a 12" and it is a handfull for one person. The tripod is high and a bit hard to hang the scope. If a Landing Pad is used it is easier, but still it is heavy. Total Net Telescope Weight 125 lbs (12") 150 lbs with tripod and everything.
Not impossible, but not a piece of cake either. We have tow of them in the club and usually someone helps to assemble them.

I have a 12" LX200 and I set it up by myself all the time. It is heavy, but with some careful lifting it's manageable (I'm 6"2 and 190lbs, but I'm certainly no body-builder :-). I can't remember the exact weights but I think the tripod comes in around 50lbs and the OTA is closer to 70...

I have the soft carry-case which makes it a lot easier to haul around and I have one of those Peterson additions for the top of the tripod which is a must-have to help center the fork base on the tripod.

As always, the only way to be sure is to try-before-you-buy. Anyone you know already have one that you could help set-up?

Steve

I had one and used to set it up by myself all the time. You just need to be focused on what you're doing when you are doing it.

[QUOTE]Don Stowe said:

I have a Meade 8" lx200 and I am thinking of upgrading to a 12" lx200. I usually only set it up in my backyard or just out of the back of my Tahoe. My only concern is the wieght of the unit. I currently have no problem setting up the 8" but I have heard that the 12" is a two man job. Does anyone else out there have a 12" lx200 that they set up themselves?

I have owed a few 12" LX-200's they will make a 8" seem like a lightweight! I set my 12" up on a counter top, that way i dont have to bend down or up to lift it,or set it down.

Also get a scope saver both of thses tips will save your back!

Chas

Hello Don,


The OTA and Fork is 78 lbs. If you use a device to get it centered on the tripod the first time then I have not found it so bad. As soon as you get a comfortable way of grabbing it, then it becomes second nature. I use a JMI hard case to wheel it right up to my tripod because I don't like carrying it for more than a few feet. Carrying it across a yard will get old after awhile.

I also put it on a wedge by myself, and this is a more interesting experience than alt-az. However, after a few times you get used to it as well. The key is getting a standard approach of lifting it that works for you.


Kirk

Don:

As other's have said, it's a handful.

There's 3 guys who sometimes show up at my "Secret Spot" with a 12 inch LX-200 GPS. They enjoy the routine of setting it up, it takes them an hour or so, but I think they have more fun setting it up, what with their 4 page check list and all, than they do actually observing.

One time another fellow showed up with one, I helped him and it was quite a chore. At one point, I excused myself, went to the motor home, got a soda, setup my 12.5 inch DOB and was back in couple of minutes.

I have seen others, young guys to be sure, set them up in 15 minutes or so by themselves.

My suggestion: These are indeed big, heavy awkward scopes to setup, certainly in a different league than your 8 inch LX-200.

Before purchasing one, go somewhere and take a look a look at one and get a feel for the heft.

The 11 inch Celestron SCT was designed to be portable and is considerably lighter and easier to setup, might be a reasonable alternative.

jon

A year and a half ago I had the same type of decision. I was lucky enough that my local telescope shop had both a Nexstar 11 and 12" LX200 in stock. They let me pick up both scopes. Needless to say, I purchased the N11.

If you absolutely need the lx200 (for its features), it is a great scope, but to me, the N11 was the scope that I knew would be used more frequently.

Good luck. A great decision to have!

Brock

I have a 12gps and agree with a lot of whats already been said. If you wheel a flight case to the tripod and restrict the 'portable' aspect to one lift its pretty easy. I think the 'get-a-grip' handles are a must have, they simplify the lifting immensly. That said the routine of doing this soon wears off, I quickly tired of lugging the thing outdoors, setting everything up and waiting for the inevitable cool down (if you keep the thing in an unheated shed that helps here), and repeating this all again many hours later. I've decided if I am to keep the scope the only way is an observatory, which I'll hopfully complete in a month or two. Failing a full observatory I think I would have opted for a permanent pier and wedge. As I've said, carrying the OTA is no big deal with the peterson handles fitted.

Ed
UK