Rotator module version 3.3

This revision is from 2016/03/29 11:27. You can Restore it.

← Web page

Components of Multi rotator controller server

Order

Previous version

3.2 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 2.0

Circuit diagram

Planting plan

  • PCB 3D View 8MB

Part list

Main and LCD PCB two PCB
C1,C2,C3,C4,C5, C6 capacitor 4n7
D1,D2,D3,D4 diode 1n4148
L1 inductor 150uH
L2 inductor 220uH
R1,R2,R3,R5 resistor 1k
R9 resistor 4k7
R4,R6,R7,R8 resistor 510R
RV1 potenciometer 1k
Q1,Q2,Q3 transistor BC547
S1,S2,S3 LED switch
RL1,RL2,RL3 Relay
U1 LCD 16X2
U3 preset encoder with knob
J1 DB15-F + DB15-M
CON1 pin array 5x2
P2+P1, P3+P4 strip 9+13 pins 90°
P5 pin array_3x2
P6, JP1 pins + jumper
U2 Arduino nano 3.0 + socket

✔ All components

❏ Solder R4 R6 R7 R8 (marked in blue)

❏ 13 and 9 pins 90° strip

❏ 16 pins strip to LCD

❏ Insulating spacer washers between LCD and PCB

❏ LCD module to PCB

❏ CW, CCW and START switch (marked in blue) and preset encoder, Now front panel is final

❏ Next R1 R2 R3 R5 (marked in black) and R9 solder on main board

❏ D1 D2 D3 D4 (marked in red)

❏ L1 (marked in green) R9 (marked in red)

❏ Q1 Q2 Q3 and Arduino socket

❏ C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 and C6

❏ JP1 P6 CON1

❏ L2 RV1

❏ RL1 RL2 RL3 J1

❏ solder front panel via pin strip

❏ Last solder Arduino Nano pins

❏ Plug Arduino Nano to socket U2

❏ after power up, preset LCD contrast with potentiometer RV1

Single unit enclosure

Assembly instructions

Firmware

Next step - you need upload firmware to arduino nano.

For beginners Getting Started with Arduino

You can configure firmware from master tree Arduino firmware by K3NG

Or download preconfigured version

You must configure the firmware, because it contains the settings of your rotator, such as azimuth range, etc.

Please read author documentation

  • If the LCD displays instead of the character degree (°) lower case "alpha" (α), find in source code all string 'char(223)' and replace to 'char(178)'.

Power

The entire module can be powered from USB only, but there is a voltage drop, it is better to use an external +5V source, or a DC/DC converter and cut the power to the attached USB cable.

Pin 3 in CON1 (+5 volts input to supply measure the azimuth)- input stabilized voltage from power board This pin may be short connected (as picture below) with pin4 CON1 (+5 volts to interface), then the voltage measurement uses a common 5V voltage from the power supply module.

Connect DC Rotator (DB15 female) and power inputs

  • Need three jumper
    • short DC position P6 jumper switch
    • short JP1 jumper
    • short PHASE-SW (center) position CON1
  • connect example
    • Yaesu G800
      pin DB15      G800 unit
-------------------------
     1+2  ->  5
     3+4  ->  4
      15  ->  1
      14  ->  2
     GND  ->  3

Connect AC Rotator (DB15 female) and power inputs

Diagram for the common AC and +5V ground

  • Need one jumper
    • short AC position P6 jumper switch

Solutions for HAM IV rotator by VA2NG

External addon for use with grounded center potentiometer like HAM IV rotor.

Comparsion output voltage of the pot with 200 ohms and 1500 ohms resistor. The curve is more flat = less position error.

Other inspiration potentiometer with grounded center

  • Resolving without compromise - the solution is mechanically remove grounded center and connect by three wire
    • first to insulate the notch
    • second add new wire for the middle of the potentiometer
  • hardware addon.
  • Add resistor with grounded two wire potentiometer - this solutions produce nonlinearity voltage. You can use calibration table

Diagram for the different AC and +5V ground

Two wire azimuth potentiometer hardware addon from DM2RM

  • R1 = your Azimuth potentiometer
  • Vaz = about 3,75V (input 5V - loss on controller)
  • R2 = R1/(Vaz/1,25-1)
  • Accurate measurement can be achieved by reducing voltage AREF input to the maximum value of the azimuth potentiometer (Vaz).
  • LM317 rezistor online calculator

Ten turn azimuth potentiometer (one turn used)

  • Need negative and positive voltage source
  • Set potentiometer bridge from 0 to +5V output
    • Left trimmer set a 0V after full CCW rotate
    • by right trimmer, set the +5V after full CW rotate
    • Repeat until the voltage agree
  • Circuit

Control software