Changing LNBs

[Titanium]

What type of power requirements and signaling will be used to control the new feedhorn changer?

 

[RimaNTSS]

What type of power requirements and signaling will be used to control the new feedhorn changer?

Usual positioner with 5V. I do not have your, state-of-the-art positioner

 

[Titanium]

Cool!

LOL! So no special voltage or amperage requirements? Uses the standard pcm servo protocol?

 

[RimaNTSS]

This is motor from satellite dish (up to 90cm), has optical sensor inside and turns from 36V (could also be 24V or even 12V). It is pretty simple, just electrical motor and couple of cogwheels.

 

[Titanium]

Neat project!

OK, Motor powered by 12Vdc - 26Vdc and sensor by 5Vdc.

Will you run separate motor power and sensor wires like used for an actuator? How will the feedhorn positions be saved and recalled?

 

[RimaNTSS]

I think for this I will need 2 positioners (1 for polar-mount, another one for LNB-changer). In first positioner will be stored all satellite positions, and same position numbers will be stored in second positioner. Both positioners will be connected by coax in chain. End result will be if I push button on receiver's remote than dish will torn to needed satellite and proper LNB will be placed in the focus.

 

[Titanium]

Perfect solution! The simple solution is usually the best. I have used shared DiSEqC commands for multiple motor control on dual axis mounts. Works great.

 

[Babadem]

Wow!! Very inovative concepts.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Installed new changer to my experimental Channel Master 1,2m. Video and some photos.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Another VIDEO when antenna is turning and LNBs are changing

 

[armadillo_115]

Cool stuff,Rimantss! I've been pondering making an lnb mover that uses a linear track with a small geared motor to shuttle lnb's back and forth rather than spinning them.Since I have a polar mount,I'd want the system as small as possible so as to not block out signal. Whether I ever go past the thinking stage is the question.Kudos to you for putting theory to practice.

 

[RimaNTSS]

More or less I am finishing with this small project (at least do not plan to do major changes to the mechanism). Made additional slot in motor's cogwheel , so now each pulse is equal about 0,9* turning of the axis. Turning axis is now located inside the bottom feedarm. On the VIDEO dish travels from 19,2*E to 12,5*W with stops on 9*E, 4*W and 11*W. LNBs are changing as needed. Do not have proper feedhorn for C-band LNB, but even without it possible to lock some C-band circular signals.

 

[RimaNTSS]

I have decided to restart my LNB-changer project, in the garage this time . Motor, which turns LNBs has optical sensor inside, therefore I need positioner with
+5V. I took the simplest positioner from Sadoun sales, changed transformer to work on 220V. Transformer was little bit bigger than original one, so made a hole in the lid and covered it with metal plate. Then soldered red wire for +5V and blue wire for ground. Now this positioner is optical sensor capable.