On Aug 30, 2004, at 9:46 AM, Tower (K8RI) wrote:
Going to less likely
The cable could have been pinched if the tower has been raised and
lowered or it could have been pulled loosening one of the connectors.
Failure in the cable itself such as a pinch or cut.
Poor solder joint to the screw terminal strip on the rotor.
Loose crimp on spade lug to wire on terminal strip.
Even less likely would be a connection or the meter itself.
I'm not a fan of quick disconnects unless they are absolutely needed.
The wires to the rotor on my system go direct. My reasoning is each
addtional joint, splice, or connector contact are another source for
failure.
I just have to pipe up here. Just last night I had the same thing, and
it turned out to be the Jones connector which has been out in the
weather for a long time, after being re-used from my last QTH.
Rob
Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
N833R, World's Oldest Debonair (S# CD-2)
www.rogerhalstead.com
Fellow Tower Talkians:
I've got a Ham IV (1987 vintage that has been overhauled three years
ago by Norm's Rotor Service). But I still seem to have problems with
it such as wild meter swings, etc.
A few months ago I completely replaced the rotor cable with one that
has
2 16 ga and six 18 gage wires in about a 75 foot total run. Now it
seems to be on the fritz again. Can't get any readings from the
rotor itself at the control box, per using the Telrex/Hygain manual.
SHould I step up to a higher gauge wire, which would probably be
overkill at such as short distance of 75 ft. total. The cable is
attached to my Tri-Ex 50 foot crankup by 3 standoffs bought with the
tower.
The connectors on both ends are 8 plug trailer disconnects from
Wireman and are each wrapped first in heat shrink tubing, then
Scotchcoted, then wrapped in Scotch 33 tape and Scotchcoated again,
and finally in a piece of sticky butyl rubber made for
weatherproofing large outdoor connectors, and this is Scotchcoated
again. I don't think moisture is the problem, just can't seem to
isolate what is the problem though.
The system is wired so I can take the rotor control box direct to the
rotor and plug it into the rotor pigtail I ran from the 8 screw
terminal board to the trailer disconnect.
May have to pull the whole thing down and start over as far as
cabling is concerned, However, I will crank the tower down and take
the rotor box to the rotor and connect them directly to see if the
problem is somewhere in the 75 foot run of rotor cable.
Any suggestions gladly accepted.
Tom, WW5L
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
"Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
"Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
--
Rob Frohne, Ph.D., P.E.
E.F. Cross School of Engineering
Walla Walla College
http://www.wwc.edu/~frohro/
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|