I'd recommend using a DC power supply to sort the issues - pot vs motor
vs cable. Disconnect the controller. It doesn't take much voltage
(<12v DC) and current to get the Yaesu motor turning. Then ohm the pot
with an analog meter to see if it behaves - a few ohms to less than 500
w/o glitches. Troubleshooting with a controller (RT21 or Yaesu) can't
separate the issues given the position feedback control.
Some rotators have small drain holes at the bottom. Always seemed like
a good idea to me even if condensation is the only source. There is a
3/16" hole in the Yaesu bottom casting, (I have 800, 1000, 2x 2800) so
it is unlikely there is standing water inside, unless covered somehow.
The Nanoboshi connectors are pretty good IMO. I use some heavy silicone
grease on the threads to help keep water out plus a wrap of the butyl
self amalgamating material from Andrew Heliax waterproofing kits,
sealing as best I can against the casting.
The voltages and pot ohms are so low it seems unlikely to me that water
between the pins would show a dead short. But?? Pin corrosion is
different and silicone connector grease can help prevent it.
Grant KZ1W
On 9/25/2022 10:34, Bill via TowerTalk wrote:
I know that water intrusion into the connection plug at the base of the 2800 rotor can be an
issue. So when I installed my 5 2800s I used Dap bathtub caulk to seal the front of the
"boot" that slides the female plug. I also caulked the end of the boot that slides
over the cable.
All was good for about 9 months. I have developed issues with 3 of the
rotors...flakey readings on the meters, as well as slow/eratic rotation...all signs
of water intrusion.
First step was to switch out the bad control boxes with the good ones...no change. Next, I went up the tower and remove the caulk and boots from the 3
"bad" rotors. All 3 had some degree of leakage. Not much but enough to cause an issue. I used Q-tips to dry the male plug in the
rotor. The female plug connected to the cable was shaken to nremove any water, (very little came out) and then I blew hard quite a few times to blow any
moisture left. I then reconnected the cable to all three. Before caulking again, the xyl rotated all 3 antennas...all was normal, so I
recaulked everything. No rain that night, but the next day flaky operation was back. I repeated the same fix a couple days later and all was good,
for a day. I knw the cables are good because it works fine after cleaning out the connection., The cables when not connected to the rotor
after fixing show no shorts, but when there is an issue with the rotors they do show shorts. Is it possible for the water to intrude into the 2800, where it
would act as a reservoir for water? Any thoughts on this would help.
73 Bill K4XS/V31XX
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