Research Concepts RC2000A - Manual (Page 53)

RC2000A Dual Axis Antenna Controller Chapter 6 Troubleshooting 53
to be shielded. This is seldom necessary, but if it is, follow the rules for connecting the shields as
outlined in Section 3.2.
THE CONTROLLER RETURNS TO APPROXIMATELY THE CORRECT POSITION BUT MUST BE
PEAKED MANUALLY TO ACHIEVE A GOOD SIGNAL
This is generally an indication of mechanical hysteresis (slop) in either the actuator or the mount. When
this occurs the antenna will peak up at one position when approaching the satellite from the azimuth
clockwise direction and another when approaching the satellite from the azimuth counter-clockwise
direction. To test for this, move the antenna well past the satellite in the azimuth clockwise direction
and then manually move the antenna counter-clockwise at slow speed until the peak is reached.
Repeat the procedure approaching the satellite from the opposite direction. The difference in azimuth
position between the 2 peaks is the mechanical hysteresis. If mechanical hysteresis exists try to
eliminate the it. If this is not possible, always approach each satellite from the same direction as it was
approached when the satellite was originally programmed into memory.
THE ANTENNA AZIM ERROR or ANTENNA ELEV ERROR OCCUR
To determine the cause of this error, go the RESET mode. One of the following error messages will be
displayed: JAMMED, RUNAWAY, or DRIVE. Here are the likely causes of each of these errors:
JAMMED
This error indicates that the drive was commanded to move, but movement was not sensed. This can
be caused by an mechanical jam at the antenna, or the antenna may be moving but position feedback
pulses are not getting back to the controller. Determine which condition exists.
If the antenna is not moving there may either be a faulty motor, a wiring problem, a mechanical limit
switch has been encountered, or the breaker in the drive circuit has tripped (the breaker may be reset
from the back of the unit). If the antenna is moving but position pulses are not reaching the controller,
check the sensor wiring of the sensor module in the antenna actuator.
RUNAWAY
This error occurs when position pulses are recorded but the antenna has not been commanded to
move. Check the items listed in Section 3.2 - Azimuth and Elevation Position Sense. If this error
occurs just after the antenna has been moving and the drive signals are released, review the
'Deadband CONFIG mode items described at the end of section 4.10.8. Also see the paragraph in this
section entitled ‘CONFIGURING THE RUNAWAY SENSING SYTEM’.
DRIVE
This error indicates that the controller's electronic over-current sensing has detected an over-current
condition and has shut the drive down. There are pots which control the level at which the electronic
over-current sensing trips. These pots may have to be adjusted. Please consult the factory. Under no
circumstances should the load current supplied by the controller be allowed to exceed 8 amps for more
than several seconds.
THE AUTOPOL SYSTEM DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY
This error is usually caused by the horizontal and vertical polarizations for a given satellite being
programmed at the same position. If you turn off the AutoPol function and the controller does not toggle
the polarization position as the H and V keys are depressed in MANUAL mode, the polarization
positions have probably been programmed at the same value. Other AutoPol problems result from not
having a ground wire connected between the satellite receiver and the controller. Please refer to
figures 3.2 and 3.3. The AutoPol system should not be enabled when the controller is used with feeds
that receive both polarizations simultaneously.
WHEN A SATELLITE IS SELECTED VIA AUTO MODE THE CONTROLLER DISPLAYS THE
MESSAGE 'ENTRY SELECTED HOLDS INVALID DATA'.
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