AlfaRadio AlfaSpid, Instruction Manual

Page 1: ...Copyright AlfaRadio Ltd 2002 2006 2006 01 09 www alfaradio ca 780 466 5779 AlfaSpid Rotator and Controller Instruction Manual ...

Page 2: ...unction Mode 9 Normal Operations Mode 10 Half Auto Mode 10 Auto Mode 10 Preset Mode 10 Setup Mode 11 Programable High Limit 11 Programmable Low Limit 12 Programmable Reset Value 12 Preset 1 6 12 Mouse Controller 14 Trouble shouting and testing 15 Using the AlfaSpid Rotator with LONG Cable Distances 17 Warranty 19 Notes 20 This manual is for use with units sold by AlfaRadio Ltd of Edmonton Alberta ...

Page 3: ... to pipe or on an optional adaptor plate for conventional in tower mounting It can also be mounted outside of the tower on the mast or used in a side mount configuration Rotator 1 Controller 1 1 GMA Fuses 2 Optional Custom Mouse 1 Input Voltage Typical 12 24 Volts DC Input Current Nominal Draw 3 4 Amps Motor 12 24 Volts DC Fuse 8 0 Amp GMA Rotation Speed 120 sec 12 V 60 sec 24 V Turning Torque in ...

Page 4: ...fa Radio Ltd 11211 154 St Edmonton Alberta Canada T5M 1X8 780 466 5779 Buttons Left Decrease Right Increase Setup Function Indicators Overlap Not currently used 7 segment 4 digit display Multifunction display Front Panel Front Panel Front Panel Control Panel ...

Page 5: ... 5 of 21 www alfaradio ca AlfaSpid Rotator Alfa Radio Ltd 11211 154 St Edmonton Alberta Canada T5M 1X8 Fuse Holder Power Cord Power Switch Terminal Strip DB 9 connector male DB 9 connector female Rear Panel ...

Page 6: ... even for relatively long distances Length Gauge Motor 10 m 32 18 1 19 mm 30 m 100 16 1 42 mm 60 m 200 14 1 75 mm Remove cover from the motor body as shown and make connections as follows 1 Motor Drive to 1 on controller terminal 2 Motor Drive to 2 on controller terminal 3 Impulse Sense to 3 on controller terminal 4 Impulse Sense to 4 on controller terminal TIP Before final installation of equipme...

Page 7: ...up to approx 24V to the control unit is beneficial A simple way to estimate if the voltage to the motor is adequate is by timing the rotation Under no or a very small load the 360 degree rotation time with 12V DC at the motor is about 120 second 2 minutes With 24 V DC is about 60 second 1 minute A DC Ammeter in the motor lead is also useful it should indicate between 1 and 3 amps with a small load...

Page 8: ...ding i e 30 degrees with the left or right arrows the display reading can be changed with out turning the rotator in this mode this feature can be used if for any reason the direction of the antenna becomes incorrect This may be caused by antenna to mast slippage or incorrect initial alignment The Rotator to mast will not slip unless there is improper installation See Heading Adjust numbers blinki...

Page 9: ...age to your coax and or antennas The AlfaSpid controller has multiple modes of operation You will need to become familiar with these modes to be able to make full use of your rotator Function Mode The button steps through the function menus The leftmost character on the display indicates the function mode you are currently in Normal Operations Mode Half Auto Mode Auto Mode Preset Mode Controller O...

Page 10: ...g is shown on the display release the key Approximately of a second after no key presses have been detected the display will revert back to the actual beam heading and rotation towards the desired heading will take place Pressing any key while in transit to the desired heading will cancel the action Auto Mode In Auto Mode the controller will respond to commands from control software running on an ...

Page 11: ...Default not flashing DOT 180 Programmable Reset Value 0 or 180 Preset 1 Preset 2 Preset 3 Preset 4 Preset 5 Preset 6 Program Simulation Heading Adjust numbers blinking Programmable High Limit The Programmable High Limit is a user adjustable clockwise travel limit value By reducing this value the maximum clockwise rotation travel can be restricted Use the and buttons adjust the value These limits c...

Page 12: ...e restricted Use the and buttons adjust the value Programmable Reset Value The Programmable Reset Value can be set to either 0 degrees or 180 degrees This is the beam heading set when a power on reset event is triggered If you wish to reset your rotator to south set this value to 180 Preset 1 Preset 6 These 6 presets are user adjustable values that map to the 6 preset buttons on the optional mouse...

Page 13: ...brand selected If your favourite software supports a rotator chances are the AlfaSpid will be able to interface to your software There are 4 modes available Spid AlfaSpid Orion Hygain Yaesu Heading Adjust numbers blinking This setting can be used to make minor heading adjustments without causing the rotator to turn If you notice that the heading displayed on the controller to a known signal source...

Page 14: ...top also the wheel between left and right buttons In addition to the above controls you will find 6 programmable preset buttons on the mouse Programmable preset buttons are only available via the optional mouse controller Preset headings are programmed via the Setup Mode The mouse ball serves no function the mouse simply provides an ergonomically pleasing case in which to mount the controls Mouse ...

Page 15: ... out any damage that may have been caused by the shipping company Check the Limits PH and PL settings and rule out overlap Simple resistance tests can reveal incorrect or shorted wiring Pins 1 and 2 are the motor winding and will have a low resistance Typical 2 3 ohms Pins 3 and 4 are the sense lines and typically will have either an open circuit or have about 1200 ohms depending on the status of ...

Page 16: ...rotator is working connect an ohm meter to the senses lines pins 3 and 4 apply 12 volts to the motor lines pins 1 and 2 you should see the ohm meter reading alternate between open circuit and about 1200 ohms Pin on Rotator not controller Typical Reading Your reading Pins 1 to 2 About 2 to 4 Ohms __________ Depends on the length of wire to rotator Pins 3 to 4 Open or 1200 Ohms __________ Depends on...

Page 17: ...mpractical or both I have one tower that is over 1700 feet approx 500 meters away and running large cable out there would be very expensive My solution is to use this rotator controller s output voltage to control another set of relays that will feed a higher voltage DC to the motor In the above mentioned example I find a voltage between 60 to 80 volts gave suitable performance This is a pretty ex...

Page 18: ...the motor rotates incorrectly simply reverse the leads to the motor or from the External DC Supply The controller also has the capability to with a small modification allow you to input your external DC voltage into the unit and use the internal relays to control the rotator as usual This information is presented as a guide to help the user realize a solution to the long cable run situation If you...

Page 19: ...person misuse accidental damage lightning strikes use of the equipment for purpose other than those for which it was designed and the like are NOT COVERED by this limited warranty Repairs therefore will be subject to normal service charges 3 Repairs and replacement parts are covered under this limited warranty only for the remaining term of the original limited warranty 4 Under no circumstances is...

Page 20: ...___________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ _________________...

Page 21: ...Page 21 of 21 www alfaradio ca AlfaSpid Rotator Alfa Radio Ltd 11211 154 St Edmonton Alberta Canada T5M 1X8 Typical travel of the AlfaSpid Rotator ...