[TowerTalk] Rotor control cable connectors

[Ken Beals]

You can buy the exact connector that MFJ/Hygain uses at Mouser. Much cheaper than from MFJ. The metal plate and cable clamp on the bottom on the rotator are pretty cheap direct from MFJ. Add a short piece of 8 wire cable and you can do the whole conversion for under $20. Takes about an hour to replace the wiring inside the rotator.


Needless to say I’ve done several conversions and it is well worth the effort. Not as simple as your solution but it keeps the rotator in standard configuration.


Ken K6MR






From: Patrick Greenlee
Sent: ‎Sunday‎, ‎18‎ ‎May‎, ‎2014 ‎13‎:‎49
To: towertalk at contesting.com






I was looking for connectors to add to older HY-Gain rotors using 8 
wires.  My new production unit came with connectors  but the older units 
use an 8 position terminal strip that is not so wonderfully weather 
proofed.  So you get your unit refurbed or it is still working fine  but 
still has the old terminal strip... not satisfactory...

So I'm searching Mouser, Digi Key etc and then...  and then... the 
little over my head light came on, dimly but noticeably illuminated.  
Flat 4 pin trailer connectors for hooking up the lights on a trailer to 
be towed.  Need 8 pins.  Connector has 4 pins. One side is 3 males and a 
female and the mating connector is 3 female pins and a male. Take one of 
each male and female and using the supplied pigtails put on ring 
terminals and install the pair of flat connectors to the terminal 
strip.  Flood the terminal strip with Silicon rubber (RTV) or your 
favorite weather proofer and put on the cover.  Another pair of 
connectors terminates your cable run at the rotator end.

This gives you polarized connector action. You can't plug the cable run 
from the controller into the wrong connectors at the rotator. The 
trailer type flat 4 pin connectors are made to be exposed to the 
elements in their normal application.  I like belt and suspender type 
weather proofing so...  Wrap the connectors with tape or coax seal or 
whatever you prefer to boost the weather resistance if you are worried 
that these inexpensive connectors could do a good job. Electrical tape 
and a little RTV does a marvelous job and is easy enough to remove if 
the need arises.

I kinow, I know, no material certs, no mil-spec, NIH, too inexpensive to 
be good etc etc...

73,

Patrick NJ5G
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