Sorry,
I meant to send this to the group.
——-
Dave,
I had a problem with the Tic-Ring sensor pot at the same time I had a problem
with my M2 2800 reed switch.
I purchased the 4O3A Rotor Genius with 2 of their magnetic sensors.
The one controller can operate 2 rotors (but cannot move both at once).
I sold my RT-21 and M2 controllers to partially pay for it.
I have only the 4O3A Rotor Genius for a year but it has worked well.
It would be possible to use just the magnetic sensor but you would need to
home-brew a controller.
It could be as simple as setting up relays that could control power polarity /
turn on the power supply with a Node-Red flow to read the azimuth and turn the
rotors.
I went with the store-bought solution from 4O3A.
73,
George / W7GES
> On Nov 11, 2022, at 11:12 AM, Leeson <leeson@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> I've been using a TIC ring rotator here on a big 7el 10m Yagi for the past
> 20 years with good success, but it has a couple of well-known unresolved
> problems: In the high winds we have on our hilltop (147 mi/h 3s gust
> measured), it can jump a tooth on the motor or pot gear, which eventually
> makes the direction indicator pot totally out of sync, or even damages it.
> Since the ring rotor doesn't have physical limit switches, that has permitted
> over-rotation that parts the coax.
>
> Re direction indication, has anyone had any success with alternatives such as
> magnetic or microswitch gear tooth counters? Or a simple compass module with
> output that a Green Heron RT-21 can read (0-5 volts)? See G6EJD, KJ4JJH,
> K3NG. I'd like to have direction indication that mounts directly at the ring
> or antenna boom itself, rather than through a coupled gear. and it should
> work at zero speed.
>
> Second, has anyone had success with adding waterproof (IP67) limit switches?
> Honeywell, Omron, IP67 microswitches or cheaper imports? If a magnetic gear
> tooth sensor is used, what kind of spacing precision is required? With 360
> teeth, the 1° precision should be plenty for HF.
>
> I am aware of modifications and updates (e.g., N1CX) that may help prevent
> gear tooth skipping, but I want something bullet-proof that really gives me
> full confidence. Even a partial failure in a contest can compromise an
> otherwise winning effort; in our big HC8 station, we gave up on rotators and
> went with multiple antennas per band. But for my less complex setup here at
> home, I intend to try to resolve both of these problems when the weather
> permits, and am interested in hearing the experiences of list folks.
>
> BTW, I resolved the climb-over issue with a small 3-rung steel ladder mounted
> below it on the tower face. And if the limit switches work out, I'll add them
> to my prop pitches, as well.
>
> Thanks, Dave W6NL/HC8L
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
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