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

Fri Jul 21 13:26:27 UTC 2017

I may have missed something but I gather from the past info, that your 
unit works, but the elevation meter doesn't indicate so? If this is the 
case, I usually found this problem to be 500 ohm adjustment pot. They 
are very light duty and will open up at small amounts of EMI (static 
discharge). I had similar problems with my G5400 and it was the 
elevation output voltage pot. Sometimes the op amps go as well. If you 
need it, I think I still have a ZIP archive file of various individual 
inputs of solutions from different people on their G5400/G5500 problems 
and also rebuilds if you want it.
You could have lost the 500 ohm pot in the rotator itself. You can test 
this by using a volt meter across the elevation rotator terminals as the 
unit runs, or ohm meter without power and check the resistance across 
the three terminals.

Good luck, hope you get it fixed.

Reid, W4UPD
Amsat: 17002

On 7/19/2017 6:41 PM, Albert van Deursen wrote:
> Hi GEO,
>
> Thanks feedback.!
>
> With the advices I  got from all of you I hasten to do some controller unit research by tomorrow.
>
> Let you know once more info available. Thanks so far !
>
> Best regards and 73 from The Netherlands
>
> Albert
>
> PD0OOXW
>
>   
>
> From: GEO Badger [mailto:w3ab at yahoo.com]
> Sent: 19 July 2017 20:38
> To: robert at k3rrr.com; Norm n3ykf; Albert van Deursen
> Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Elevation meter Rotor YAESU G-5500 stopped working
>
>   
>
> My elevation stopped working a while after I installed the LVB tracker. I disconnected the tracker, no joy. Checked the controller, it's putting out the right voltages on pins 4 & 5 relative to pin 6. My outer cover of the cabling to the rotor has disintegrated and I'm sure some of the wires have failed. I hope so. I'm going to try to replace the cable today.
>
>   
>
> BTW, I'm controlling a G-450 AZ and G-500 EL rotor with a G-5500 controller. I had to install a motor cap in the EL circuitry since the G-500 doesn't have one in the rotor like the later EL rotors do. I did this so I wouldn't have to mod the original controllers to use the tracker. I wanted PLUG & PLAY capability.
>
>   
>
> ---
> Ciao baby, catch you on the flip side.
> GEO
>
> http://www.w3ab.org
>
> Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana.
>
>   
>
>    _____
>
> From: Robert <robert at k3rrr.com>
> To: Norm n3ykf <normanlizeth at gmail.com>; Albert van Deursen <avdeur at home.nl>
> Cc: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2017 10:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Elevation meter Rotor YAESU G-5500 stopped working
>
>   
>
> Albert,
>
> I had the same kind of failure...in my case it was the LM/MC 7806C
> voltage regulator. At Mouser in the USA, it is a $0.62 part.
>
> https://www.fairchildsemi.com/datasheets/LM/LM7806.pdf
>
> Your problem may be something different...but wanted to give you one
> more place to investigate.
>
> 73 de Robert K3RRR
>
> ------
>
> 73 de Robert K3RRR
> K3RRR.com
> @K3TripleR
> YouTube.com/user/K3RRR
>
>
> On 7/18/2017 7:47 PM, Norm n3ykf 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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>   
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed
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> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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