[TowerTalk] Ham-IV rotator brake noise

[Dave - W3NP]

Not much you can do about the brake solenoid...just the nature of the 
beast.  I just spent part of the day fixing up an older Ham IV (Clean, 
lube, replace the 8 terminal strip with a connector, etc).  With it on 
the bench and the bells removed it is not that loud. I have found over 
the years that it is the tower itself that makes the brake seem so loud. 
The metal tower picks up the noise by conduction and mechanically 
"amplifys" it. Some installations are noisier than others.

I just replaced the Ham IV on my larger tower with a Spid RAK that is a 
worm drive unit and it has no brake....very quiet.  That wasn't the 
reason I changed it out though. I live out in the woods in WV and don't 
care how much noise it makes!!

73, Dave - W3NP


On 1/19/2021 6:49 PM, Ralph Parker wrote:
> I've often puzzled over my urban neighbour's lack of complaints about 
> my Ham-IV, clanking away day and night as I contest, DX, whatever, 
> over the last 20 years or so. Loud enough to wake the dead, I've often 
> thought. Why aren't they mad at me?
>
> Is there any way to quiet that beast?
> I've thought of perhaps some gradual application/release of power to 
> the brake, to ease it into/out of position?
> A different brake material might not stand up to the rigours of 
> constant use.
>
> I know there are tricks to ramp up/down the start/end of the rotation 
> cycle, but I don't think that they affect the application/release of 
> the brake.
> I've just moved, and don't want to annoy a whole new set of neighbours.
> Any ideas?
>
> VE7XF
>
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