Hi all, Look at the controller on web pages following . This will use 1.) pots, 2.) z-index incremental encoders 3.) absolute http://www.w2drz.ramcoinc.com/ http://www.w2drz.ramcoinc.com/encoders.htm pulse encoder "MUST" be quadrature data or will not count correctly. The system is 100% error free, also capable of .001 degree accurate or better This is partial explain how this system PULSE TYPE ENCODERS works. z-index incremental encoders quadrature data (100% error free) http://www.w2drz.ramcoinc.com/rj45.htm#RS485%20Converters hope this will enlighten those of on going error problem of "simple pulse counting", that type can not be fixed for the count error. W2DRZ Tom ----- Original Message ----- From: "g4bao" &lt;john(a)g4bao.com&gt; To: &lt;ukmicrowaves(a)yahoogroups.com&gt; Cc: <microwave@r on web page. .com>; &lt;moon(a)moonbounce.info&gt;fo>; "Moon-Net" &lt;moon-net(a)mailman.pe1itr.com&gt; Sent: Friday, June 09, 2017 5:59 AM Subject: Re: [Moon] [ukmicrowaves] Fitting MAB25 type encoders to a Spid RAS --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com

I have had some success in adapting my SPID RAS to my W2DRZ controller using incremental encoders. First I removed the plastic cap covering the original sensor housing. Then I removed the magnetic switch and standoff connector board. That exposes the worm gear from the motor and the ring gear that drives the second worm gear. By some fortunate luck, the second worm gear is drilled out. It takes about a 7 mm rod. I used a bolt with the head cut off. I measured the depth of the drilled out hole. At a location on the rod where it can fit flush against the ring gear when the rod is inserted into the hole, I spot welded a washer that was a tight fit to the rod. Then fortunately there is a drilled and tapped hole in the ring gear. 4 mm I think, don't remember. I drilled a hole in the washer and fastened the assembly flat to the ring gear with a screw. I then carefully drilled a hole dead center in the original plastic cover. I made the rod long enough so that it protruded through the cover enough to accept a shaft coupler. I tapped two of the original cover mounting holes to accept machine screws. Then I cut two aluminum rods that were long enough to offset the incremental sensor from the rod shaft so that a coupler would fit between the two shafts. The sensor is mounted on an aluminum plate which I drilled to line up with the rods. The rods are tapped on each end for machine screws. I used studs on the bottom ends. You could use rubber pipe for the shaft coupler if you are unsure about alignment or if the shafts are two different sizes. Then I installed power poles on the motor wires and reconnected them. I need to waterproof them at a future date, but for now I am just using a zip lock plastic bag to cover the whole thing, The sensor is an inexpensive Chinese incremental model. Costs about $14 on eBay. Is 600 pulses per revolution. At first I was using one of the original encoders, 2500 p/r, but at the 90 to 1 gearing at the SPID access point, it was overloading the PIC processor with pulses. Pulses were being missed. I have a 100 p/r sensor on order with z pulse. I have not tested a z pulse yet. I plan to do that as soon as the sensor arrives. But I am not worried about it right now as I am so happy with the results. It's really nice to have some confidence that you know where the dish is pointed. I am using the original 2500 p/r inclinometer on the elevation. It seems to work okay. When I was first testing, I left the magnetic reed switch hooked up. I calibrated both to the same reading. Within only a few minutes of jockeying the elevation, the SPID controller was off 4 degrees. I would be interested to hear what others have done. Maybe there is a better way. I have only had the system operating for a few days, so I don't have a lot of experience with it yet. And now I have to go out of town for two weeks, but I thought I would post this now to stimulate others to think about how to do this. There may be better hardware or a better design. I am negotiating now to buy an HR upgrade for my other dish (I have one each at my summer home and my winter home). I think, but I am not sure, that they are using encoders of some kind on the upgrade, but it is extremely hard to get any information from SPID or SPID suppliers. With the system I have now, I know I will be able to get parts and maintain it. WA3RGQ 73s ________________________________ From: moon-net-bounces(a)mailman.pe1itr.com &lt;moon-net-bounces(a)mailman.pe1itr.com&gt; on behalf of g4bao &lt;john(a)g4bao.com&gt; Sent: Friday, June 9, 2017 5:59:25 AM To: Ukmicrowaves (ukmicrowaves(a)yahoogroups.com) Cc: microwave(a)lists.eclectechs.com; microwave valinet; moon(a)moonbounce.info; Moon-Net Subject: Re: [Moon-Net] [ukmicrowaves] Fitting MAB25 type encoders to a Spid RAS Yes I've successfully completed the mods and will write up the work in due course. 73 John On 9 Jun 2017 10:01, "Donald Hawbaker donaldhawbaker@yahoo.com<mailto:donaldhawbaker@yahoo.com> [ukmicrowaves]" <ukmicrowaves@yahoogroups.com<mailto:ukmicrowaves@yahoogroups.com>> wrote: Have you made any progress on this project? I recently began using a DRO Machine readout for elevation. It's the only way I can tell where my elevation is pointed. After only a few minutes of bumping the elevation up and down, the SPID readout is off by 6 degrees. Don't have a solution for azimuth. I am experimenting with the higher bands now, so something has got to be done. I guess I will first take a look at what is going on, what do the pulses look like, do I have excessive noise. I have already moved the sense circuits to a seperate cable, but no help. It still miscounts. Maybe look at shielded cable, but in such a system, it's hard to tell exactly where is ground. 73 Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad<https://yho.com/footer0> On Thursday, February 9, 2017, 12:58 PM, g4bao john@g4bao.com<mailto:john@g4bao.com> [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@yahoogroups.com<mailto:ukmicrowaves@yahoogroups.com>> wrote: Befefore I reinvent the wheel this spring and before I strip down my RAS, has anyone out there fitted absolute rotary encoders of the MAB 25 style to a SPID RAS and more importantly documented it? Also if anyone has stripped down and rebuilt a RAS I'd be interested in any tips, pitfalls and gotchas. I used to regularly strip down and rebuild a a Suzuki T500 charger engine in my youth,so I'm not scared to have a go but I had a Haynes manual! You could save me a lot of time and headscratching. Also an exploded diagram of the rotator would be nice Answers on a postcard to....... 73 John G4BAO __._,_.___ ________________________________ Posted by: Donald Hawbaker <donaldhawbaker@yahoo.com<mailto:donaldhawbaker@yahoo.com>> ________________________________ Reply via web post<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ukmicrowaves/conversations/mess… • Reply to sender <mailto:donaldhawbaker@yahoo.com?subject=Re%3A%20%5Bukmicrowaves%5D%20Fitting%20MAB25%20type%20encoders%20to%20a%20Spid%20RAS> • Reply to group <mailto:ukmicrowaves@yahoogroups.com?subject=Re%3A%20%5Bukmicrowaves%5D%20Fitting%20MAB25%20type%20encoders%20to%20a%20Spid%20RAS> • Start a New Topic<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ukmicrowaves/conversations/new… • Messages in this topic<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ukmicrowaves/conversations/top… (2) ________________________________ [https://s.yimg.com/ru/static/images/yg/img/megaphone/1464031581_phpFA8bON] Have you tried the highest rated email app?<https://yho.com/1wwmgg> With 4.5 stars in iTunes, the Yahoo Mail app is the highest rated email app on the market. 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