[amsat-bb] Elevation meter Rotor YAESU G-5500 stopped working

[W3AB/GEO]

Didn't catch that he was using a tracker. Did he bypass it?

⁣___
Sent from my two way wrist watch
73 de W3AB/GEO​

On Jul 18, 2017, 17:04, at 17:04, Norm n3ykf <normanlizeth at gmail.com> wrote:
>If the box is driving the tracker (that's what he says), it's not
>external. Time to get the screwdriver.
>
>
>
>
>
>On Tue, Jul 18, 2017 at 8:01 PM, W3AB/GEO <w3ab at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Norm,
>>
>> He should make sure it is not an external issue before he dives into
>the
>> internal circuitry.
>>
>> He should also check that the controller is operating before opening
>the
>> controller.
>>
>> Albert, take a VOM, set it on AC and the 50V range if it isn't
>autoranging.
>> Turn on the controller. Put 1 lead on pin 6 of the terminal strip,
>the other
>> lead on pin 4 and operate the up/down switch. Do the same for pin 5.
>If the
>> controller is operating correctly you should measure ~30V. If not,
>you have
>> an internal failure and follow Norm's advice.
>> ___
>> Sent from my two way wrist watch
>> 73 de W3AB/GEO
>>
>> On Jul 18, 2017, 16:50, at 16:50, Norm n3ykf <normanlizeth at gmail.com>
>wrote:
>>>Albert,
>>>
>>>Take EXTREME CARE working on equipment that has power applied.
>>>
>>>You'll need a copy of the schematic. Preferably the one that came
>with
>>>the controller/rotator. There are at least two different power op-amp
>>>power supply layouts. One with a pass transistor and zener diodes,
>the
>>>other a 75L10 regulator.
>>>
>>>Unplug the control box.
>>>
>>>Remove the top cover. Remove the front two screws from the bottom
>>>cover. This will let the face (meters, circuit board and switches)
>>>free. (still wired to the rest)
>>>
>>>Get two books. Turn the front face down on top of the books, switches
>>>between the books. (to allow the assembly to sit level and not
>>>press/break the switches)
>>>
>>>
>>>MAKE SURE THE UNIT IS UNPLUGGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>>
>>>
>>>Q4 is one half of a 4558 op amp pair(two on one chip, the other runs
>>>AZ output for the aux jack).
>>>
>>>Find Q4.
>>>
>>>You're mission is to check the various components making up the drive
>>>circuit for the EL meter for trouble.
>>>
>>>Could be:
>>>
>>>Shorted capacitor
>>>
>>>Open diode
>>>
>>>Short or open via other means.
>>>
>>>MAKE SURE THIS IS UNPLUGGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>>
>>>Use an Ohmmeter to look for capacitors that aren't open (Should look
>>>close to it, at least the values in the circut. Electrolytics are a
>>>different story...) Look for open diodes. Meter anything reasonably
>>>accessable, starting from the wiper on VR2 on the back panel. Some
>>>things are best looked at with respect to ground, others point to
>>>point reading the components in between.
>>>
>>>DANGER!!! DANGER!!!! DANGER!!!
>>>
>>>This part of the test requires making power on voltage measurements.
>>>Here be dragons, or a trip to your eternal reward!!!
>>>
>>> Locate L2 and L4. Those components (each in their seperate circuit)
>>>form the power supplies (rails) for the EL op amp. See C1 (the
>voltage
>>>output) next to L2? C2 likewise next to L4?
>>>
>>>Check the pins 8(C1) with respect to ground and 4(C2) of Q4. These
>are
>>>the power supply rails (should be +/- 12 volts or so).
>>>
>>>Before plugging it in to test, make sure no bare wires are touching
>>>things they should not be.
>>>
>>>Plug it in (you did leave the power switch on, didn't you??). Test
>>>away. UNPLUG IT AS SOON AS YOU'RE DONE!!!!
>>>
>>>Have fun and don't break anything. A fire here is a failure.
>>>
>>>Norm n3ykf
>>>
>>>On Tue, Jul 18, 2017 at 5:56 PM, Albert van Deursen <avdeur at home.nl>
>>>wrote:
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> All of a sudden the elevation meter stopped working of my Yaesu
>>>G-5500 rotor
>>>> controller unit .
>>>>
>>>> No issue with the AZ meter. Rotor itself keeps on steering /
>working
>>>> without any problem in EL &AZ (via interface EA4TX ARS-USB) so all
>>>still
>>>> working fine (fortunately !)  for satellite work.
>>>>
>>>> Looks like a component failure in the controller unit  or the meter
>>>itself ?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> A physical check (opening the controller unit) didn't show any
>>>anomaly.
>>>> Being a not too tech ham was wondering if any of you Yaesu rotor
>>>users had
>>>> seen this problem before / around ?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Possibly anyone to hint/ indicate at a quick check in the schematic
>>>wire
>>>> diagram to where to start looking for this failure ?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks beforehand for yr appreciated advice
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>>
>>>> Albert
>>>>
>>>> PD0OXW
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>_______________________________________________
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