[TowerTalk] Rotator Voltages and Other Issues

[Don]

Like most hams using rotators in the past and present, I just ran old 
standard rotor cable from places like HRO or other ham outlets  from the 
standard control box to the rotator. Didn't think much  about it. Worked 
and it seemed problems, if any, were issues other than turning the 
little buggers.

Looking at all the discussion about rotators on this site, particularly 
the varying and often dissimilar conclusions about their problems, (take 
a breath) and with the influx of a lot of new rotors over the last 
couple of decades, I wondered if anyone had put together a chart that 
detailed, for each rotor, from the lowly CD-44 to the new biggies which 
I've never even seen, the operating voltages they best operate, their 
upper and lower V limits, current draw (and related to the rotor cable 
available at most ham sales sites), what the proper wire size should be 
used for each over length? For example, I use T2X's because I have them. 
But the rotor cables I purchased 40 years ago I notice have different 
wire sizes than the last length I purchased recently (hell of a lot 
stiffer too, a problem to consider for crankups when the looping 
arrangement is selected vs just dropping the cable on the ground).

I know there is no guiding info in the HyGain manuals, old or new, about 
the latter.

My question is further piqued by a friend back east who felt his rotor 
(not a T2X)  was 'slow' so ramped the voltage up. Rotator failed shortly 
after. Don't know where he went with V and whether the wire sizes were 
adequate for the current draw.

A comprehensive rotor chart with little details not given out by the 
manufacturers but learned by the users would be a great help I'd think 
to new hams and even those with some experience with a few but not all 
rotators.

Maybe it already exists?

don W7WLL

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