Rotator module version 3.3
This revision is from 2017/03/25 17:44. You can Restore it.
- Power
- Connect DC Rotator (DB15 female) and power inputs
- Connect AC Rotator (DB15 female) and power inputs
- Connection examples
- Control software
Components of Multi rotator controller server
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 |
Assembly gallery
✔ 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
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
Master tree version now is big for Arduino Nano.
Download preconfigured version
* Newer code leaving support small atmega chip, therefore not possible running on Arduino NANO. 2015 code same functionality, but no more development.
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
Power inputs are available on both connector CON1 and DB15-J1.
Power inputs | CON1 | DB15-J1 |
AC | pin 9+10 | pin 9+10 |
DC | pin 7+8 | pin 7+8 |
+5V | pin 3+4 | pin 15 |
GND | pin 1+2 | pin 5+6 |
- 5V - 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.
- CON1 is for power distribution if use with Rapsberry PI gpio board in server.
- In sigle interface it is used only phase jumper (Pin 5+6) and short 3+4. All other pins available also in DB15-J1 connector - see on schematics.
- 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 pin 5+6 (center) position CON1
- short +5V pin 3+4 CON1
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
- short +5V pin 3+4 CON1
Diagram for the different AC and +5V ground
- Need one jumper
- short AC position P6 jumper switch
- short +5V pin 3+4 CON1
Connection examples
Use with original control box
- Yaesu G-5400B
- Yaesu G-2800DXA
- DF2LH solution with Kenpro G800-1000SDX
- Yaesu G800
pin DB15 G800 unit ------------------------- 1+2 -> 5 3+4 -> 4 15 -> 1 14 -> 2 GND -> 3
CDE/HyGain HAM IV (grounded center potentiometer)
- Resolving without compromise - mechanically remove grounded center and connect by three wire
- Solutions by VA2NA - external add-on
- Solutions by DM2RM - external add-on
- Add resistor with grounded two wire potentiometer - this solutions produce nonlinearity voltage. You can use calibration table - is not recommended.
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
- PstRotator for Windows
- RemoteQTH server image for Raspberry PI - web interface
- gRotor
- Even software supporting Yaesu GS-232 protocol...