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4009-33 Installation Manual
3.9.
Antenna Maintenance
61B
3.9.1.
The antenna and equipment frame are balanced at the factory however, after disassembly for shipping or
maintenance, balance adjustment may be necessary. The elevation and cross-level motors have a brake
mechanism built into them, therefore, power must be ON to release the brakes and DishScan and antenna
drive must be OFF to balance the antenna. . Do NOT remove any of the drive belts. Balancing is
accomplished by adding or removing balance trim weights at strategic locations to keep the antenna from
falling forward/backward or side to side. The antenna system is not pendulous so 'balanced' is defined as the
antenna remaining at rest when left in any position.
The "REMOTE BALANCE" parameter (located at the end of the Remote Parameters after REMOTE TILT) of the
ACU. When enabled, Remote Balance Mode temporarily turns DishScan, Azimuth, Elevation and Cross-Level
drive OFF. This function is required when trying to balance antenna systems that have a built-in brakes on
the elevation and cross-level motors.
Assure that Antenna power is ON and that the antenna has completed initialization.
At the ACU:
1.
At the Antenna:
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
3.9.2.
The DacRemP DISPTC graph chart provides a means for monitoring torque commands required for each
motor for diagnostic purposes and verifying antenna balance. By observing each trace, the required drive of
the antenna via the motor driver PCB may be established.
•
•
Balancing the Antenna
From the ACU - REMOTE BALANCE parameter: Enable balance mode (refer to your ACU manual).
The screen should now display "REMOTE BALANCE ON".
At the Antenna: Balance the antenna with the elevation near horizon (referred to as front to back
balance) by adding, or subtracting, small counter-weights.
Then balance Cross Level axis (referred to as left-right balance) by moving existing counter-
weights from the left to the right or from the right to the left. Always move weight from
one location on the equipment frame to the same location on the opposite side of the equipment
frame (ie from the top left of the reflector mounting frame to the top right of the reflector
mounting frame). Do NOT add counter-weight during this step.
Last, balance the antenna with the elevation pointed at, or near, zenith (referred to as top to bottom
balance) by moving existing counter-weights from the top to the bottom or from the
bottom to the top. Always move weight from one location on the equipment frame to the same
location on the opposite side of the equipment frame (ie from the top left of the reflector
mounting frame to the bottom left of the reflector mounting frame). Do NOT add counter-weight
during this step.
When completed, the antenna will stay at any position it is pointed in for at least 5 minutes (with no
ship motion).
Do NOT cycle antenna power to re-Initialize the antenna. Return to the ACU, which is still in
REMOTE BALANCE mode, and press ENTER to exit Remote Balance Mode. When you exit Balance
Mode the antenna will be re-initialized, which turns DishScan, Azimuth, Elevation and Cross-Level
drive ON.
Fine Balance and Monitoring Motor Drive Torque
To view the Torque Commands, select the
This chart displays the Torque Command errors for each axis via three traces, CL (Cross Level), LV
(Elevation), and AZ (Azimuth), at a fixed 0.195amps/vertical division.
3-12
Installation
graph chart.
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