On 12/11/2023 8:19 PM, john@kk9a.com wrote:
From your post is sounds like your rotator is either stuck or does not have
enough voltage to turn.......
.............
It is a long run, broken at the tower base with easy to inspect connections.
If the connections are easy to inspect at the tower base, start there
with your trusty DVM; you might have to borrow the XYL or your kid to
manipulate the controller controls inside. If possible, measure the
motor current with a clamp-on ammeter, whichever it uses, AC or DC. If
you get it running while down below, you should be able to measure the
voltage across the reed switch as it rotates and detect whether the reed
switch is switching consistently and smoothly. If all seems hunky-dory
down below, then you have no recourse but to go up the tower to the
rotator and repeat your measurements, which will likely mean having to
make some sort of extension cable by which to access the connector
connections.
If you get it running again during this time. try shaking the cable and
wriggling the connections at the base both going up the tower, as well
as leading back to the shack, then again in the cable going up the
tower. Also, try loosening and tightening all the connections at the
tower base; perhaps one has corroded.
And perhaps it's as simple as someone, somewhar, just plain forgot to
solder one of the motor connections in the connector... =8-/
SOMETHING, somewhar, is loose and/or intermittent. I would find it VERY
hard to believe that just a DB36 would be enough to overload and stop an
OR-2800, unless the mast is severely binding while going through the
upper thrust bearing. And it's always possible, although unlikely, that
the thrust bearing, itself, has frozen up somehow. Possibly, it gets
moisture inside which freezes and gums up the werks; ask folks like
K1TTT or W3LPL or other northeasterners how that happens. You should
have a moisture shield over the thrust bearing to help keep moisture
out, even if you don't normally get snow or ice up there, just on the
principle of it.
73,
Steve K0XP
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|