Rotator module version 3.3

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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

For beginners Getting Started with Arduino

  1. Download and install Arduino IDE
  2. Install library
  3. Download firmware from master tree Web | GitHub.
    1. requires disable in rotator_features.h (TNX GI1MIC)
      #define DEBUG_DUMP
  4. Or download preconfigured version
    1. 2019-01-03.zip (TNX GI1MIC)
    2. 2015-02-24-4RQ.zip - modified version for used with RemoteQTH server web interface.
    3. 2015-02-24.zip
    4. 2014-07-08.zip
    5. 2013-10-26.zip
  5. Configure by author documentation - contains the settings of your rotator, such as azimuth range, etc.
    1. Version 2019-01-03 - If do not show degree character (°), change in file rotator_settings.h settings to
      #define DISPLAY_DEGREES_STRING "\xB2"
    2. Version 2015-02-24 - 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)'.''
  6. Connect USB cable cable between interface and PC
  7. Select menu Tools/Board:Arduino Nano
  8. Select menu Tools/Processor: ATmega328P (Old Bootloader)
  9. Select menu Tools/Port/YOUR-CONNECTED-PORT
  10. Upload firmware

Third party software

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

CDE/HyGain HAM IV (grounded center potentiometer)

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