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Re: [TowerTalk] Troubleshooting HamIV rotor and controller

To: Gary Slagel <gdslagel@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Troubleshooting HamIV rotor and controller
From: Skip via TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Reply-to: Skip <kj6y@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 17:53:25 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
If the the meter stays on the left, check the 1/8 amp fuse

Skip, KJ6Y.
Communications Service Co
Sent from my IPhone

> On Jul 12, 2020, at 4:08 PM, Gary Slagel via TowerTalk 
> <towertalk@contesting.com> wrote:
> 
> I was in the calibrate position... reattached the rotor wires and turned it 
> off and the meter was staying on the far left when I powered up.  For a few 
> seconds the meter was moving and it looked like it was going to work, then 
> the meter took a couple big jumps and quit moving leaving me at about a SE 
> position.   Now its back to acting like its in calibrate (meter jumps to full 
> right side on power up) and no movement.  Tried jumping terminal 5 to 8 and 
> then rocking it but no good.   Bad to worse, I'm not sure if I was actually 
> turning the antenna when the meter was moving!  I think it ended up 180 
> degrees from where it was but I'm not 100% sure its not in the original 
> position.  
> Feeling a little foolish and will wait till morning to jump back in hihi
> Gary KT0A
>   
> 
>    On Sunday, July 12, 2020, 04:12:45 PM MDT, Dave Hachadorian 
> <k6ll.dave@gmail.com> wrote:  
> 
> You may have opened the clockwise limit switch AND the brake wedge may be 
> stuck.  The usual way to overcome a  stuck brake wedge is to rock the 
> antenna in one direction or the other to free the wedge.  If the Cclockwise 
> limit switch is open, you can't rock the rotor clockwise.
> 
> To bypass the Clockwise limit switch, jumper terminals 5-8 on the 
> controller.  Then you can briefly rock the antenna clockwise, and then turn 
> it CCW out of the limit switch.
> 
> Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
> Big Bear Lake, CA
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Gary Slagel via TowerTalk
> Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2020 1:49 PM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Troubleshooting HamIV rotor and controller
> 
> Hi guys,
> I have a HamIV rotor that's 4 or 5 years old and a companion controller that 
> has an aftermarket brake release delay installed on it.  Yesterday the 
> rotor quit turning.  When I turn on the rotor control the light comes on, 
> the needle swings to the far right which is right where the rotor is turned 
> to.
> I've checked the fuse and its good.  I've been through the HamIV manual 
> troubleshooting section and measured voltages and resistances and come up 
> with the following anomalies:
> With controller plugged in and powered on and all terminal wires removed: 
> manual says the needle should remain on the left hand S but mine swings to 
> the right
>         All other voltages described in manual look good except terminals 3 
> and 7 should show 13VDC but show zero
> 
> With controller unplugged and terminal wires removed:          Resistance 
> across line cord is 4.5 ohms with brake lever depressed
>         All other resistances seem consistent with troubleshooting 
> suggestions except they are low (1.5 instead of 4)
> 
> Resistances measured on the control cable:      These all seem reasonable 
> compared with where the manual says they should be except the resistance 
> across the entire pot switch (term 3 and 7) is 290 instead of 500. 
> Resistance across Pot Arm to +end and -end total 290 ohms at 1 ohm and 289 
> ohms.
> 
> Just hoping someone might have an idea where to look next.  My next idea is 
> crank down the tower, look at connections and listen for noise when hitting 
> the brake and turning levers.  Next, beam off and rotor onto the bench to 
> see if it works with another cable.
> Thanks for any thoughts
> Gary SlagelKT0A
> 
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