If the power is on and the floor still won't move, try using the other floor control switches (either on the desk console or the telescope paddle). It is possible there is a wiring problem making one set of controls inoperative.

If the floor still won't move, contact a telescope technician or support astronomer, as the problem is probably with the compressor or hydraulic ram presses.

The second case, where the floor will go up but not down can be caused by two separate problems. It could be one of the buttons is failing to actuate. In this case simply try the down button on the desk console or telescope paddle. If the floor still won't go down, it means that the lower limit switch is stuck in the triggered state and the mechanism thinks the floor is already all the way down. You will have to go to the basement and find the limit switch (it is just below the floor level underneath the wrought iron stairs up to the catwalk) and exercise it to get it unstuck. If this fails the switch is likely broken and will need serving by a staff member.

The third case, when the floor will go down but not up can have three common causes. First, as above, the floor up button may have failed so try the up button on the desk console or telescope paddle. If the floor still won't go up, it may be that its limit switch is stuck in the up position. The upper limit switch for the floor is located on the telescope pier to the upper right of the desk at the catwalk level (it is difficult to access the limit switch when the floor is down because it is high on the pier). If the limit switch is not the problem, then the problem is with the compressor or hydraulic ram presses which raise the floor and a staff member will have to investigate the problem.