Partly dead DiSEqC motor

[satellitestuff]

I seem to be unlucky with these, as the second one has just died on me - and it's not really been used too much over the three-or-so years that I've had it!

I noticed a few months ago that it was struggling to move intermittently, but just thought it was because I'd extended the cable with an F-connector coupler. Just assumed that there wasn't enough voltage getting to it (especially on H transponders). After messing around, I tested the cabling with a multimeter and saw that just over 18v was getting to it - so all seemed OK. I also noticed that when controlling the motor directly with the buttons on it, that it needed a bit of convincing (a little shove) to get past some parts of the arc where it was struggling. Anyway, since the weekend, it now only seems to move West! It just made a click when doing the double-press thing to turn it East.

After reluctantly taking the dish down and motor off, I opened it up and noticed that one of the capacitors on the board looking a bit iffy and coroded. Could this be the culprit? It doesn't really seem that watertight in there due to the rubber bung things that cover up the LED. I've bought a new motor now, but would like to ressurect the knackered one as a spare if possible. Any suggestions? Think it's a Technomate model 3.

 

[Ferret]

Capacitors are cheap it is worth a try bud.

 

[satellitestuff]

Still not yet tried to replace the capacitors, but will attempt it soon!



Meanwhile, I've got an other weird problem with the replacement Technomate TM-2300 M3...



Are the mechanical limits set differently on each motor? The reason I'm asking is because I was going crazy trying to align the dish to track the arc for ages. I could get a great signal on everything between 45w to 50e but struggled to pick anything but a weak or no signal on 52e. If I readjusted to get a strong signal on 52e, the rest of the arc would get shafted.



After tearing my hair out for the last 3 days, I've come to realise that the motor won't actually go past about 50e!! Pretty sure my last one went to around 55 or 56e. On a much older motor, the installer took off the limits and I got to about 66e. Don't really fancy opening up the new motor...yet.



Is it all a bit random where the limits of set to from motor to motor (even on the same model)? Or is the new motor faulty?

 

[mike p]

Still not yet tried to replace the capacitors, but will attempt it soon!



Meanwhile, I've got an other weird problem with the replacement Technomate TM-2300 M3...



Are the mechanical limits set differently on each motor? The reason I'm asking is because I was going crazy trying to align the dish to track the arc for ages. I could get a great signal on everything between 45w to 50e but struggled to pick anything but a weak or no signal on 52e. If I readjusted to get a strong signal on 52e, the rest of the arc would get shafted.



After tearing my hair out for the last 3 days, I've come to realise that the motor won't actually go past about 50e!! Pretty sure my last one went to around 55 or 56e. On a much older motor, the installer took off the limits and I got to about 66e. Don't really fancy opening up the new motor...yet.



Is it all a bit random where the limits of set to from motor to motor (even on the same model)? Or is the new motor faulty?

@ satellitestuff,
I had a TM2300 super a few years back and there was two limit sliders one for west and one for east. These are set to factory default of 70 degrees. I had a similar issue with mine where it would stop short of 42e but had no issue in west sats. It turned out to be the limit slider set to 40 east. It will be awkward to verify though if this is the issue whilst the dish is attached to the motor arm. Hope this can be of sone assistance.
Regards,
Mike.

 

[satellitestuff]

Thanks Mike. Yeah, it does maybe seem that the limit has been set in the wrong place when it was built. As another test before opening it up at some point in thr future, I might try switching from USALS to Diseqc in case my location settings are limiting it somehow. Doubt it, as that's never been a problem in the past (and I've been using 2 different receivers when driving the dish around the arc) - but maybe worth a quick try.

 

[mike p]

Thanks Mike. Yeah, it does maybe seem that the limit has been set in the wrong place when it was built. As another test before opening it up at some point in thr future, I might try switching from USALS to Diseqc in case my location settings are limiting it somehow. Doubt it, as that's never been a problem in the past (and I've been using 2 different receivers when driving the dish around the arc) - but maybe worth a quick

@ satellitestuff,
I honestly don't believe it will make any difference but worth a try. If it's easy access to where the dish is located you could try a reset of the motor. There is normally a reset switch you can access via a pin hole. You can also try to drive the motor manually by the east switch in the motor in your case. I still have a feeling it's the east limit slider set to in your case about 50 east. Of course I maybe wrong but in my experience this normally seems to be the case.
Regards,
Mike.

 

[satellitestuff]

Spot on about the sliders mate! Thanks! I reluctantly went back up and took the motor arm off, and yes, both sides were at about 50°. Seems crazy that the limit it set quite low. I guess the manufacturer either (a) don't want people to crash their dish into the wall, or (b) aren't to confident that the motor can handle the extremes!

 

[mike p]

Spot on about the sliders mate! Thanks! I reluctantly went back up and took the motor arm off, and yes, both sides were at about 50°. Seems crazy that the limit it set quite low. I guess the manufacturer either (a) don't want people to crash their dish into the wall, or (b) aren't to confident that the motor can handle the extremes!

Hi satellitestuff,
so glad you got sorted. Let's hope it's point A and not B as you say .
Regards,
Mike.