RESEARCH CONCEPTS RC1500B Manual page 19

RC1500B Single Axis Tracking Antenna Controller
5) Optional – A removable, clamp style, 5 position connector (designated J4) that interfaces to
a rotating feed powered by a DC motor that employs a potentiometer for position feedback.
This connector will only be present if the RC2KPOL option is installed in the controller.
The RC2KPOL option is described in section 3.3. Terminal 1 of connector J4 is labeled.
6) Four potentiometers labeled AGC1 Gain, AGC1 Offset, AGC2 Gain, and AGC2 Offset.
The adjustment of these potentiometers is described in section 4.x.
7) A circuit breaker to protect the antenna drive (12 amps for a standard unit, 5 amps for a low
voltage model). When a circuit breaker of this type trips, it will protrude from its mounting
bezel. To reset a circuit breaker, turn the power switch off, wait a few minutes for the
circuit breaker to cool down, then depress the breaker so that it latches and is even with the
bezel.
3.2.1 Antenna Motor Drive
The antenna actuator motor drive is interfaced to the controller via the connector J2, terminals
4 and 6, labeled AZ1 and AZ2, respectively. In figures 3.2 and 3.3, these connections are to
the 'Azimuth Motor'. Note that the RC1500 only supports a single axis antenna – the
terminals labeled EL1 and EL2 on J2 are not active.
The conductors that interface the controller to the antenna actuator must be sized appropriately
so that sufficient voltage is supplied to the motors. The voltage supplied to the motors will be
the output voltage from the controller less the voltage drop caused by the resistance of the
wires.
The output voltage of the controller is a function of the current supplied to the motors. The
voltage drop in the wires connecting the controller to the antenna is determined by the wire
size, the wire length, and the current supplied to the motors.
Low voltage versions of the controller typically interface to feed translation type antenna
actuators. These actuators draw low current and can be interfaced to the controller via 16
AWG conductors.
Figure A-1 in the back of this manual shows the relationship between the controller output
voltage and load current (for the standard 36 VDC output controller).
The following tables show the separation between the controller (36 VDC output model) and
the antenna which will result in 28 and 22 volts being applied to the antenna drive motors as a
function of motor current and wire gauge. The tables take into account the controller output
loading and resistive losses in the conductors.
Research Concepts, Inc.; 5420 Martindale; Shawnee, KS 66218
Chapter 3 Installation/Setup
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