Optical Actuator - Wiring Help

[moonbase]

Hi,

I wish to connect an 36V actuator with an optical sensor to a positioner but am not 100% confident of the wiring. The terminals on the units are as below:

Positioner connectors in 2 rows
[+Motor] [+5V] [GND]
[-Motor] [] [Sensor]
The middle connector on the 2nd row is not labelled and is directly below the [+5V] connector


Actuator connectors in 5 terminal block
[+5V] [Sensor] [GND] [M2] [M1]

The motor wiring is straightforward but it is the optical sensor in the actuator that I am not sure about. The connections I think are correct are:

[+5V] to [+5V] and [Sensor] to [Sensor]


I would be grateful if anyone could confirm the wiring for the above.

Thx & Rgds

[Gerry55]

Hi Moonbase
All you need is M1 & M2 for the motor ( swap the wire`s over if the dish goes the wrong direction)

And pulse & GND for the reed switch

[Magwitch]

Looks OK how you have it Moonbase.

@ Gerry55 - +5V is needed for an optical sensor.

Magwitch

[moonbase]

Magwitch,

Thx for the confirmation.

One final point, I read on one of the satellite equipment suppliers web sites that for an optical sensor a 5th connection was required, I have pasted below a copy of the text in italics


Motor control cable. 5 core.
Our 4 core motor control cable (above) can also be used as 5 core cable.
Simply use the screen round the sensor wires as the earth wire. Works perfectly.
(5 core cable is normally used for optical sensor motors like the
inclined orbit jack on the 1224EL H to H motor)

Reading the above on their web sit has confused me re the need for a 5th core. Is the 5th connection required and if so how is it made, is it [GND] to [GND]?.

I am OK wiring up a reed sensor actuator but the wiring for the optical sensor actuator is causing me apprehension as I do not wish to blow any circuitry etc.

Any additional help most appreciated

Thx & Regards

[Magwitch]

Shielded core from sensor terminal of actuator to sensor terminal of positioner

Shield from sensor GND terminal to GND terminal of positioner.

[pipino]

but do you still need 2 separate units(positioners) to drive both motors or a decoder like Manhattan Plaza or echostar 7000 could do the job for both motors?

[moonbase]

Magwitch,

Many thanks for your help, I have set it up and a quick test confirms it is OK. I have a final question if you are able to assist?

Q1. At the end of the actuator extending arm there is an anchor point that connects to the mount. However, the bolt hole in the actuator extending arm is not a type of hollow ball joint, rather, it is just a plain bolt hole. On other actuators I have used (18" and 24") the equivalent anchor point has a type of ball joint that the bolt passes through. The ball joint allows a limited amount of "out of plane" movement but it is not available in my 6" actuator.

Is the hollow ball joint anchorage not required on small "stroke length" actuators due to the lesser movement of the extending arm? There is a ball joint allowing some movement in the clamp that grips the extending arm sleeve that also attaches to the mount which seems normal.

Thx & Rgds

[Magwitch]

Hi moonbase,

I should think the bearing play in the sleeve clamp should be adequate to allow enough movement with a small actuator. Indeed, I had had a seized arm ball joint on my 15" actuator for a while without any undue stress at the dish limits. Which says something for the enduring quality of my Swedish Microwave installation (16 years continuous use and still working fine). I suppose it depends on the different ways in which actuators/polar mounts/dishes are assembled.

Magwitch

[pipino]

but do you still need 2 separate units(positioners) to drive both motors or a decoder like Manhattan Plaza or echostar 7000 could do the job for both motors?

anybody?

[moonbase]

pipino,

I have an Echostar DVR 7000 as the primary motor positioner. This unit does not have the option to manage two motors via 36V connections.

As far as I am aware, there are no current digital satellite receivers that will power two 36V motors. There are dedicated dual axis positioners available such as the RC2000C which will power two 36V motors but they are not receivers as commonly used for TVRO.

I think that Manhattan had a dual 36V motor receiver some years ago but as far as I am aware it was analogue and not digital. If there are any digital satellite receivers that will power two 36V motors for TVRO use then I would be grateful for the info. There may possibly be options using a VBox with Disecq/USALS but I prefer a 36V motor to receiver connection.

Rgds