4O3A Rotator Genius User manual

Rotator Genius Manual
During the time of writing the firmware and app versions are 1.4.3
Revision 4.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction and overview................................................................................................................................... 2
2. Power Supply...................................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Buttons and Controls.......................................................................................................................................................3
2.2 Network / Offset Setup....................................................................................................................................................4
3. onnecting and Wiring The Rotors..................................................................................................................... 5
3.1 DIP1 Low Range or High Range....................................................................................................................................6
3.2 DIP2 CW and CCW Reversed........................................................................................................................................6
3.3 DIP3 Prop Pitch..............................................................................................................................................................6
3.4 DIP4 Rotor Brakes..........................................................................................................................................................7
3.5 DIP5 Soft Start................................................................................................................................................................7
3.6 DIP6 AC or DC...............................................................................................................................................................7
3.7 DIP7 and DIP8 Voltage Configuration...........................................................................................................................8
3.8 Rotor Connection Examples............................................................................................................................................9
3.8.1 Low Range DC Rotors............................................................................................................................................9
3.8.2 Low Range AC Rotors..........................................................................................................................................10
3.8.3 Single Phase High Range AC Motors...................................................................................................................11
3.8.4 Three Phase High Range AC Motors....................................................................................................................11
3.8.4 Prop Pitch Motors.................................................................................................................................................12
3.9 Testing and Verifying.....................................................................................................................................................12
4. The Electromagnetic Sensor............................................................................................................................. 12
4.1 Sensor Correction..........................................................................................................................................................14
4.2 Recalibrating the sensor.................................................................................................................................................15
5. ontrol software................................................................................................................................................ 15
5.1 Windows App.................................................................................................................................................................15
5.1 Windows App – new features in 1.3.0...........................................................................................................................18
5.2 Android App...................................................................................................................................................................19
Abbreviations:
RG Rotator Genius
PSU Power Supply Unit
IPv4 Internet Protocol version 4
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1. Introduction and overview
A diagram of a typical Rotator Genius setup with a single sensor, controlling a single rotator:
① Rotator Genius is wired to the rotor motor. It is mounted on the base of the tower in a waterproof housing.
Alternatively it could be hung on a wall in the shack.
② Rotator Genius Sensor is an electromagnetic compass. It features a waterproof housing and is mounted on
a boom. It is connected to the Rotator Genius by a standard at5 Ethernet cable.
③ You can use a typical Small Office Home Router found in homes worldwide to connect Rotator Genius to
your local network. A “dumb” switch will also work. RG uses IPv4 and is compatible with most switches and
routers on the market.
④ You can control and interact with RG using a wireless Android or Windows device.
⑤ Most users will use the same shack Windows PC running various other control and logging software.
You can control your RG remotely over the internet as well. Setting this up requires some understanding of your
networking equipment and technology. You must use a VPN connection since there is no security implemented
on the device.
2. Power Supply
RG will work with any power supply between 13.8V and 48V D . hoose a power supply with at least the same
voltage as the rotor you intend to control.
You can choose a bigger power supply as well. RG can supply 100%, 75%, 50% or 25% of your power supply
voltage to the rotor motors. This will be covered in more detail in this in the 3. Connecting Rotators and 3.8
Rotator onnection Examples sections.
Screw in your power supply wires to the terminal block green terminal block.
onnect the terminal block to the D IN connector. + and - are marked on the pictures below.
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As soon as you power the device the LED display will show azimuth values for the connected sensors. If the
sensors are not connected, azimuth values will be shown as N/A (not available).
2.1 Buttons and Controls
The bottom of the device features three buttons. The buttons have dual functions. They are used for either
manual control of your rotors or configuration.
①Select Rotator Pressing and releasing this button instantly (releasing under one second) toggles rotor
selection. If R1 is selected it will select R2 and vice versa. On the front L D display you will see the ➡ symbol
next to the selected rotor (# was used in earlier versions). On the picture below R1 is currently selected.
②CW Pressing and holding this button rotates the currently selected rotor in clockwise direction. The green
W led on the front of the device will light up, and the arrow on the display next to the selected rotor will start
moving.
③CCW Pressing and holding this button rotates the currently selected rotor in counter clockwise direction. The
green W led on the front of the device will light up, and the arrow on the display next to the selected rotor will
start moving.
④M NU Press and hold this button for two seconds to enter the settings menu. RG app will be offline and you
won't be able to control your rotors while using this menu. Details about these settings are covered in the next
chapter.
⑤▲ Pressing and releasing this button instantly while in the settings menu scrolls trough the menu items in the
right direction. If a value is selected it will increment the selected value.
⑥▼ Pressing and releasing this button instantly while in the settings menu scrolls trough the menu items in the
left direction. If a value is selected it will decrement the selected value.
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2.2 Network / O set Setup
IP address configuration is done using the on device settings menu (using the device buttons and L D display).
Enter the menu by holding the M NU button for two seconds. Use ▲ and ▼ buttons to navigate between items.
When you navigate to an item in the menu this item will be considered selected.
Select Rotator will be abbreviated as Select.
Settings menu items:
LOCAL IP onfigures the IP address of the device. The default IP address is 192.168.1.250
When the LO AL IP item is selected press the Select button to edit the IP address.
The first octet (first three number portion of the address) will start blinking. This is 192 in the
default address case. Use ▲ and ▼ buttons to increase or decrease this value.
When done, press the Select button to move to the next octet. This is 168 in the default case.
Again use the ▲ and ▼ buttons to alter the value then press Select to move to the next octet.
Repeat the same procedure for the last two octets. The selected octet will always blink.
When done with all 4 no value will be blinking and the address will remain static.
Use ▲ to select the next item.
NETMASK onfigures the netmask of the device. The default netmask is 255.255.255.0
When the NETMASK item is selected press the Select button to edit the netmask.
The first octet (first three number portion of the address) will start blinking. That is 255 in the
default case. Use ▲ and ▼ buttons to increase or decrease this value.
When done, press the Select button to move to the next octet. 255 in the default case. Again
use the ▲ and ▼ buttons to alter the value then press Select to move to the next octet.
Repeat the same procedure for the last two octets. The selected octet will always blink.
When done with all 4 no value will be blinking and the netmask will remain static.
Use ▲ to select the next item.
GATEWAY onfigures the gateway address of the device. The default gateway address is 192.168.1.1
When the GATEWAY item is selected press the Select button to edit the IP address.
The first octet (first three number portion of the address) will start blinking. This is 192 in the
default address case. Use ▲ and ▼ buttons to increase or decrease this value.
When done, press the Select button to move to the next octet. This is 168 in the default case.
Again use the ▲ and ▼ buttons to alter the value then press Select to move to the next octet.
Repeat the same procedure for the last two octets. The selected octet will always blink.
When done with all 4 no value will be blinking and the address will remain static.
Use ▲ to select the next item.
PORT onfigures the T P port for the RG Windows app. Default port is set to 9006.
It is strongly recommended to keep it at its default value and change it only if necessary.
In case a service on your network uses the same port change it to some other value.
Remember to change it in the Windows application as well.
Again, use ▲ and ▼ to increase and decrease the value.
While in editing mode, the item will blink.
Press the Select button when done.
Use ▲ button to navigate to next item.
OFFSET R1 This is where you set the magnetic declination for Rotator 1.
This value varies depending on your current geographical location. You can calculate it online
using a service such as: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag- web/
It is a value to be subtracted or added to the azimuth value.
It will be subtracted if the value is negative.
It will be added if the value is positive.
Press the Select button to edit the item.
Use ▲ and ▼ buttons to increase or decrease its value.
Press the Select button when done.
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Use ▲ button to navigate to next item.
OFFSET R2 This is where you set the magnetic declination for Rotator 2.
This value varies depending on your current geographical location. You can calculate it online
using a service such as: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag- web/
It is a value to be subtracted or added to the azimuth value.
It will be subtracted if the value is negative.
It will be added if the value is positive.
Press the Select button to edit the item.
Use ▲ and ▼ buttons to increase or decrease its value.
Press the Select button when done.
Use ▲ button to navigate to next item.
SAVE&EXIT When this item is selected press the Select button to save the changes you made.
The device will return to the normal operating state.
If you made a mistake and don't want to apply changes you made either go back and modify the
values or power toggle the device.
3. Connecting and Wiring The Rotors
Rotator Genius can control five different categories of rotors:
1. Low Range DC motors - 3 to 48V, up to 15A of current.
2. Low Range AC motors - 3 to 48V, up to 15A of current.
3. High Range AC motors single phase - 110 to 220V.
4. High Range AC three phase motors - 110 to 380V.
5. Prop Pitch motors.
DIP Switches on the back of RG are used to configure the type of rotor you intend to control.
First RG series have wrong stickers if this is the case know that the DIP switches are always next to the Sensor
connectors as on the picture below.
The remaining 8 DIP switches next to the ethernet connector serve no purpose in the current version and are
reserved for future use.
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The table below briefly sums up each DIP switch function.
Details are covered in separate chapters.
OFF ON
DIP1: Low Range or High Range? Low Range Motor High Range Motor
DIP2: Reverse W and W W and W normal W and W reversed
DIP3: Prop Pitch Not using Prop Pitch Using Prop Pitch
DIP4: Using Breaks? Not using breaks Using breaks
DIP5: Using Soft Start? Soft Start Disabled Soft Start Enabled
DIP6: A or D motor? D Motor A Motor
DIP7 and DIP8: Percentage of the power supply voltage supplied to the rotor motor?
DIP7 DIP8
OFF OFF 25% of power supply voltage to the rotor motor
OFF ON 50% of power supply voltage to the rotor motor
ON OFF 75% of power supply voltage to the rotor motor
ON ON 100% of power supply voltage to the rotor motor
3.1 DIP1: Low Range or High Range
High Range should be selected if your motor is single or three phase between 110 and 380V A .
Set DIP1 to ON to configure your rotor as High Range.
Low range should be selected if your motor is 3V to 48V A or D . Maximum current is 15A.
Set DIP1 to OFF to configure your rotor as Low Range.
Note that even though you can control 3V motors the minimum power required for Rotator Genius to work
properly is at least 12V (13.8V recommended).
3.2 DIP2: CW and CCW Reversed
Set DIP2 to ON to reverse the W and W direction.
This can be used to avoid rewiring if you connected your rotor the wrong way.
3.3 DIP3: Prop Pitch
Set DIP3 to ON if you are using a Prop Pitch motor.
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3.4 DIP4: Rotor Brakes
Breaks are commonly found on Low Range motors.
Voltage on the breaks must be the same as the voltage
on the rotor motor.
Set DIP4 to ON to enable using breaks.
Set DIP5 to OFF to disable soft start (these features are
not comparable).
Rewire your rotor to match the diagram below.
ommon wire of A motor is connected to the center
pin.
Motor ends are connected over the brake relays as
shown on the diagram below.
When you execute the W or W command the brake solenoid will be powered first about half a second
before the motor. When you release the command, the motor will stop being powered and the break will be
powered for half a second more. This enables the release of activation of the brake, by properly sequencing it.
3.5 DIP5: So t Start
Soft Start uses PWM to gradually start and stop your rotor instead of using full power for the entire time.
Soft Start is supported on Low Range A and D rotors.
Soft Start can not be used if the break feature is used.
Set DIP5 to ON to enable Soft Start.
3.6 DIP6: AC or DC
onfigure Low Range motor as A or D .
Set DIP6 as ON to configure the rotor as AC.
Set DIP6 as OFF to configure the rotor as DC.
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3.7 DIP7 and DIP8: Voltage Con iguration
You can use DIP7 and DIP8 switches to configure supplying 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of your power supply
voltage to your rotor. This only applies to Low Range motors.
Take a look at the table with examples of 12V, 24V, 36V and 48V:
If the 25% increments are not accurate enough, you can use a small potentiometer inside the device on the P B
for fine tuning.
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3.8 Rotor Connection Examples
The examples below are designed to provide you with a clear idea of how to connect your rotor to the RG.
Models may vary over time, so make sure you double check your rotors documentation before connecting.
3.8.1 Low Range DC Rotors
AlfaSpid (Spid in Europe) motors are mostly 12V D electric motors. This includes: BIG-RAK, BIG-RAS, RAEL,
RAK, RAS, RAU, SPID RING - 01 and SPID RING - 02 models.
Using a 24V PSU, the DIP Switch configuration and wiring look like this:
OFF ON
DIP1: Low Range or High Range? Low Range Motor High Range Motor
DIP2: Reverse W and W CW and CCW normal W and W reversed
DIP3: No Function none none
DIP4: Using Breaks? Not using breaks Using breaks
DIP5: Using Soft Start? Soft Start Disabled Soft Start Enabled
DIP6: A or D motor? DC Motor A Motor
DIP7 DIP8
OFF OFF 25% of power supply voltage to the rotator motor
OFF ON 50% of power supply voltage to the rotator motor
ON OFF 75% of power supply voltage to the rotator motor
ON ON 100% of power supply voltage to the rotator motor
A 16V PSU would have the same wiring and settings except the DIP7 and DIP8 would be set to 75% voltage
DIP7 DIP8
OFF OFF 25% of power supply voltage to the rotator motor
OFF ON 50% of power supply voltage to the rotator motor
ON OFF 75% of power supply voltage to the rotator motor
ON ON 100% of power supply voltage to the rotator motor
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Lastly a 12V PSU configuration would look like. DIP7 and DIP8 set power with 100% voltage:
In order to verify you connected the rotors correctly, use the W and W buttons on the device control your
rotor manually. Use Select to switch between the selected rotators.
3.8.2 Low Range AC Rotors
Low range A motors are A motors that use between 3V and 48V.
RG can convert the supplied D power to A for powering rotor motors.
Make sure to set DIP6 to ON to supply A voltage.
ommon wire is connected to PIN3 (pins are counted from left to right).
W and W lines are connected to PIN1 and PIN2.
If you swap W and W lines you can use DIP2 to reverse them in software rather then rewire.
DIP7 and DIP8 are configured to 100% voltage in this example. This will vary depending on your setup.
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