I was bored today with all the rain keeping me inside.I started making the following trouble shooting guide for personal use but realized that it could be useful for many others new to FTA.So look it over and let me know of anything that should be added or corrected.
Initial info taken from chaparral.net. *Model specific info removed to provide a more generalized set-up.* Additional info taken from other online sources.
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****Different Satellite Systems vary.Not all tips apply to every setup.****
Dish does not return to the same position each time a satellite is selected
1) Loose mechanical connection between the actuator and mount. Tighten mount and actuator hardware.
2) Sensor wires loose. Check and tighten.
3) Magnet wheel loose. Tighten or replace.
4) Sensor positioned too far from magnet wheel. Move sensor to within 1mm of magnets.
5) Defective sensor. Replace sensor.
6) Dish has been moved off track. Realign dish, re-program dish position.
7) Water in actuator. Clean and re-seal actuator tube and motor housing. Redrill drain holes in proper places.
8) Determine if receiver returns dish to same memorized satellite position number. If it does, it is very likely that the receiver is working properly and that it is being given improper counting information by the actuator counting circuit.
9) Determine if the dish is falling short when moving between two assigned satellites or going past the desired position. Example: Satellite G1 is known to be at a position of 5000, F4 at a position of 4700. As you move from F4 to G1, the dish
position shows 5000, but it is necessary to move the dish to (i.e.) 5005 to actually be on G1. This is evidence that it fell short of G1 and that stray (extra) counts are being picked up, possibly radiated into the actuator sensor or cabling.
Foil shielded cable with an electrical drain wire connected to ground will be necessary to solve this problem. As you move from F4 to G1, the dish position shows 5000, but it is necessary to move the dish to 4995 to actually be on G1. This is
evidence that it went past G1 and that the sensor is dropping counts. Check positioning of the sensor, or an improperly polarized, or broken magnet wheel.
10) Some actuators do not produce clean pulses or well defined counts which will look like a single count instead of two separate ones. This is symptomatic of a “dropped” count and will cause the 2nd scenario. Replace actuator with different brand.
11) Add a .01uf 50v cap. between the two motor leads on the actuator motor.
Dish Stops on satellites correctly when moving one direction, but is always off a few numbers when moving in the other direction
1) End-play in actuator tube, check for excessive play. Replace tube or actuator if necessary.
2) Slop in mount, adjust as necessary.
Dish moves short distance, stops, and jack error message is displayed on TV screen
1) Sensor wire(s) broken or not connected. Check and reconnect actuator sensor wires.
2) Magnet wheel loose or broken. Replace magnet wheel.
3) Defective sensor. Replace sensor.
4) Mount or actuator binding. Check and correct mount hardware.
5) Mechanical Actuator limits reached. Set dish limit before Jack Error is displayed.
Dish does not move
1) Actuator Breaker is popped out. Reset.(On positioner?)
2) Actuator fuse/ckt breaker blown. (On positioner?)
3) Limits are set together.
4) Motor wire is disconnected.
5) Look for water damage in the motor or defective motor end cap with a loose retainer clip.
6) Poor connections. Check and correct mount hardware.
7) Mount or actuator binding. Check and correct mount hardware.
8) Remove motor from tube to insure that it is easy to move the tube manually with a screwdriver or hand crank.
9) Actuator frozen. After thawing, remove water from actuator tube and motor housing.
10) Actuator fully extended or retracted and mechanically locked up. Remove motor and move tube off limits manually using a small wrench or screwdriver.
Dish stops in mid-stroke
1) Actuator clutch slipping due to overloading. (If applicable)
Dish moves very slowly across the arc
1) Actuator rusty or worn down.
2) Receiver,Positioner, or cable not allowing enough voltage to pass to the actuator. Check for 24 or 36 volts at the actuator with a voltmeter.
Dish moves in opposite direction and/or the pulse count reads incorrectly.
1) Actuator motor power wires switched on receiver or Positioner.
Initial info taken from chaparral.net. *Model specific info removed to provide a more generalized set-up.* Additional info taken from other online sources.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""'
****Different Satellite Systems vary.Not all tips apply to every setup.****
Dish does not return to the same position each time a satellite is selected
1) Loose mechanical connection between the actuator and mount. Tighten mount and actuator hardware.
2) Sensor wires loose. Check and tighten.
3) Magnet wheel loose. Tighten or replace.
4) Sensor positioned too far from magnet wheel. Move sensor to within 1mm of magnets.
5) Defective sensor. Replace sensor.
6) Dish has been moved off track. Realign dish, re-program dish position.
7) Water in actuator. Clean and re-seal actuator tube and motor housing. Redrill drain holes in proper places.
8) Determine if receiver returns dish to same memorized satellite position number. If it does, it is very likely that the receiver is working properly and that it is being given improper counting information by the actuator counting circuit.
9) Determine if the dish is falling short when moving between two assigned satellites or going past the desired position. Example: Satellite G1 is known to be at a position of 5000, F4 at a position of 4700. As you move from F4 to G1, the dish
position shows 5000, but it is necessary to move the dish to (i.e.) 5005 to actually be on G1. This is evidence that it fell short of G1 and that stray (extra) counts are being picked up, possibly radiated into the actuator sensor or cabling.
Foil shielded cable with an electrical drain wire connected to ground will be necessary to solve this problem. As you move from F4 to G1, the dish position shows 5000, but it is necessary to move the dish to 4995 to actually be on G1. This is
evidence that it went past G1 and that the sensor is dropping counts. Check positioning of the sensor, or an improperly polarized, or broken magnet wheel.
10) Some actuators do not produce clean pulses or well defined counts which will look like a single count instead of two separate ones. This is symptomatic of a “dropped” count and will cause the 2nd scenario. Replace actuator with different brand.
11) Add a .01uf 50v cap. between the two motor leads on the actuator motor.
Dish Stops on satellites correctly when moving one direction, but is always off a few numbers when moving in the other direction
1) End-play in actuator tube, check for excessive play. Replace tube or actuator if necessary.
2) Slop in mount, adjust as necessary.
Dish moves short distance, stops, and jack error message is displayed on TV screen
1) Sensor wire(s) broken or not connected. Check and reconnect actuator sensor wires.
2) Magnet wheel loose or broken. Replace magnet wheel.
3) Defective sensor. Replace sensor.
4) Mount or actuator binding. Check and correct mount hardware.
5) Mechanical Actuator limits reached. Set dish limit before Jack Error is displayed.
Dish does not move
1) Actuator Breaker is popped out. Reset.(On positioner?)
2) Actuator fuse/ckt breaker blown. (On positioner?)
3) Limits are set together.
4) Motor wire is disconnected.
5) Look for water damage in the motor or defective motor end cap with a loose retainer clip.
6) Poor connections. Check and correct mount hardware.
7) Mount or actuator binding. Check and correct mount hardware.
8) Remove motor from tube to insure that it is easy to move the tube manually with a screwdriver or hand crank.
9) Actuator frozen. After thawing, remove water from actuator tube and motor housing.
10) Actuator fully extended or retracted and mechanically locked up. Remove motor and move tube off limits manually using a small wrench or screwdriver.
Dish stops in mid-stroke
1) Actuator clutch slipping due to overloading. (If applicable)
Dish moves very slowly across the arc
1) Actuator rusty or worn down.
2) Receiver,Positioner, or cable not allowing enough voltage to pass to the actuator. Check for 24 or 36 volts at the actuator with a voltmeter.
Dish moves in opposite direction and/or the pulse count reads incorrectly.
1) Actuator motor power wires switched on receiver or Positioner.
