[TowerTalk] Long Run rotor problems

[Dave AA6YQ]

On the topic of chewing critters, I just had to replace my 250' rotator
motor cable again. I started out with using multiconductor cable for the
motor and position sense signals (for an M2 rotator). The first awful time
that I initiated rotation but nothing happened, I tracked the problem to a
loss of connectivity on one of the motor power signals, and switched it to
one of the unused wires in the cable. Every year or two, I'd lose a power
signal. When I ran out of spare conductors, I replaced the multiconductor
cable with two runs of 12/2 UWB -- one for the motor control signals, and
one for the position sense signals. This lasted several years...until
earlier this week.

Am I just lucky, or do critters have a preference for conductors that
occasionally carry power? Any way to make these conductors less appetizing?

    73,

       Dave, AA6YQ/1 (near Boston)



-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Tom Frenaye
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 12:29 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Long Run rotor problems



>On Wed, 1 Aug 2007 09:22:45 -0500, Gary Jones wrote:
>
>>I am looking for alternate solutions to get some more voltage out to the
rotor motors.

I have towers that are 450, 445 and 435 from the house to the rotator (T2X,
Ham4, and Ham4 replaced by AlfaSpid).   I have had no problem using the
large rotator cable from WB0W or DavisRF, other than the critters that chew
once in a while.   You have heavier gauge cable than that. I do mount the
rotator start capacitor at the tower.

I agree with the suggestion to make sure it is a voltage at the rotator
problem - it might be something else.

           -- Tom


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e-mail: frenaye at pcnet.com    YCCC 30th anniversary --> http://www.yccc.org/
Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444


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