[TowerTalk] Ham IV rotor

[Rob Frohne]

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 at 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 at 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/