[TowerTalk] Antenna Rotor Speed

[DF3KV]

I found 40 seconds for one rotation real nice for contesting after I built
my own rotator.
I turned a christmas tree of 5 element yagis 20-10m + 3L FS on 40m without
problems, but the stress on the double worm gearbox is quite heavy.
I used finally a 50mm drive shaft to flange to the rotating mast, 25mm
sheared off immediately the first time the rotation stopped.
On my present installation with slew ring drive it takes 90 seconds to
travel 360° which I find a bit too slow.
Higher speeds are no problem for antennas built to survive storms.

73
Peter, DJ7WW

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Kipton Moravec
I am building an antenna rotor for a HF antenna.

How fast should the antenna rotate?

Looking at the motor/gear they have now it looks like it will rotate at
10 RPM, which means 6 seconds to go end to end. That seems too fast to
me. If I change gear sets I can go to a 4 RPM which is 15 seconds to go
to one end to the other. That still seems a little fast. On the other
hand if it goes too slow people will not like it.

For you folks that like contesting, what speed is reasonable? 

Or maybe I should ask what is the slowest speed you would not complain
about? :)

Kip
-- 
Kipton Moravec AE5IB .- . ..... .. -...

"Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
--Mark Twain


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