[Towertalk] WX0B Six-Pack

Wed, 19 Jun 2002 21:32:45 -0300

Ok, not RF problem ,then. Was just a thought.
I still really like the "hammer solution"/ (my favorite!)

- Mike 'AA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim White" <k4oj@tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Mike & Coreen Smith" <ve9aa@nbnet.nb.ca>; "TowerTalk"
<towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Towertalk] WX0B Six-Pack

> don't think so...
>
> on my situation problem was apparent by the lack of "closure" [NO THUNK]
> with xcvr in receive or completely turned off...am wondering if it might
be
> some sort of wave soldering problem on the board - that side of the board
is
> hidden in the box....I tried adding jumpers from several of the relays to
> the terminal strip to make them "point to point" with the control cable's
> wiring....
>
> once again I reiterate that while this WAS a problem - it hasn't been one
> since upping the voltage...since then it works like a champ.
>
> K4OJ
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike & Coreen Smith" <ve9aa@nbnet.nb.ca>
> To: "TowerTalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 4:35 PM
> Subject: Re: [Towertalk] WX0B Six-Pack
>
>
> > What about RF getting into a relay maybe ?
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Guy Olinger, K2AV" <k2av@contesting.com>
> > To: "Bob Henderson" <bob@cytanet.com.cy>; "TowerTalk"
> > <towertalk@contesting.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 11:10 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Towertalk] WX0B Six-Pack
> >
> >
> > > 1) The design is not bad. Too many of them out there working FB for
> > > that.
> > >
> > > 2) You say relays, assuming you really mean more than one exhibits the
> > > problem.
> > >
> > > It is unlikely that six relays are all bad with the same problem
> > > unless there was a bad batch. As in Jay got a box full of 18 volters
> > > mislabeled 12 or some such. That would have showed up as a serial run
> > > of bad units, which he would have found about, and knowing him, would
> > > have quickly owned up to and offered a replacement unit. Jay would
> > > have been happy to get all the defective units back.
> > >
> > > So I will speculate that there is something wrong in the common
> > > return, or the power supply's output voltage is dropping drastically
> > > under load.
> > >
> > > Could be in the six pack box itself, as in solder joint, a bad piece
> > > of wire (yes, even 3 feet of wire could have a conductor problem
> > > inside the insulation. I once had a piece of zip cord that was MISSING
> > > a foot of wire inside the insulation, as came from the factory).
> > >
> > > With the voltage on one of the relays, measure the voltage AT THE
> > > COIL. And measure it at the power supply. Low at the power supply,
> > > chase the power supply problem. OK at power supply and low at the
> > > coil, start chasing a common ground path problem.
> > >
> > > Good luck & 73, Guy
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Bob Henderson" <bob@cytanet.com.cy>
> > > To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 2:17 AM
> > > Subject: [Towertalk] WX0B Six-Pack
> > >
> > >
> > > > I am wondering if any Six-Pack users out there are experiencing the
> > > same
> > > > problem I am.
> > > >
> > > > I have found my Six Pack to be rather unreliable.  The problem is
> > > that the
> > > > relays don't always operate in such a way that a reliable contact is
> > > made.
> > > > The typical failure is that one or other of the relays fails to pull
> > > in
> > > > properly.  I spoke to Jay at Array Solutions and he told me that the
> > > spring
> > > > tensions on the relays needed to be adjusted to ensure that there is
> > > enough
> > > > tension to cause the necessary wiping action on the N.O. contacts.
> > > At the
> > > > same time this tension has to be not so great that it overcomes the
> > > capacity
> > > > of the relay coil to cause the relay to close properly when power is
> > > > applied.
> > > >
> > > > I have adjusted endlessly but I have not been able to find a
> > > reliable
> > > > operating set-up through this adjustment.  It seems to me that when
> > > > increasing spring tension I find the point that prevents relay
> > > closure
> > > > before I find the reliable N.O. contact wiping tension.
> > > >
> > > > It seems to me, though Jay disagrees, that there is a design flaw in
> > > the
> > > > Six-Pack.  I have used DX-Engineering and Top Ten Devices switch
> > > boxes at
> > > > the top of towers in hostile environments for years and never had a
> > > problem.
> > > > This Six-Pack sits in the shack at the back of my operating desk and
> > > it is
> > > > so unreliable!  At least it is close enough so I can give it a kick
> > > when a
> > > > relay doesn't pull in properly.
> > > >
> > > > To me that the idea of a fine adjustment of relay spring tension to
> > > find a
> > > > position where the relay reliably closes but at the same setting
> > > will open
> > > > with the necessary force to properly wipe the N.O. contacts has no
> > > place to
> > > > be on an antenna switch.  Surely this is marginal design?
> > > >
> > > > On my previous antenna relays I have found that nominal 12V relays
> > > would
> > > > operate with as little as 8V applied which meant that with 12V
> > > applied the
> > > > really clunked in well.  With these units there was no delicate
> > > adjusting of
> > > > spring tension either....they wiped the N.O. contacts reliably from
> > > day 1.
> > > >
> > > > Does anyone share my experience or have I just got a one off
> > > unreliable Six
> > > > Pack?
> > > >
> > > > 73
> > > >
> > > > Bob 5B4AGN, P3F, ZC4ZM
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
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> >
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