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Author Topic: Rotator power cable next to antenna coax  (Read 335 times)

KK4GMU

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Rotator power cable next to antenna coax
« on: January 10, 2023, 04:48:00 PM »

Would an unshielded antenna rotor low voltage power cable generate RF noise while activated if it runs 50' along the antenna coax?

If so, would a shielded rotor power cable be a better solution?
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K1VSK

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Re: Rotator power cable next to antenna coax
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2023, 04:51:39 PM »

Would an unshielded antenna rotor low voltage power cable generate RF noise while activated if it runs 50' along the antenna coax?

If so, would a shielded rotor power cable be a better solution?
No.
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WA3SKN

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Re: Rotator power cable next to antenna coax
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2023, 06:02:40 PM »

Possible?... yes.  Probable?... highly unlikely!
Shielded rotator cable is always preferable and more expensive, but probably not needed.  I would save the money unless there is a known problem.

-Mike.

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K6AER

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Re: Rotator power cable next to antenna coax
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2023, 07:07:53 PM »

Your rotor voltage and direction voltage is all under 18 volts. The rotor will not be effected by RF.
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W1RAN

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Re: Rotator power cable next to antenna coax
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2023, 05:31:57 AM »

My coax and rotator cable run parallel for 135 feet.  For a short time I fed the CL-33 tribander without a balun at feed point. Noise picked up by outside of coax shield could run up to the driven element and down the inside of coax to receiver. I was surprised to hear rotor noise every time I turned the Yagi.
I then installed a heavy ferrite balun over coax at feed point, and noise disappeared. Ned, W1RAN BSEE
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AI5BC

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Re: Rotator power cable next to antenna coax
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2023, 08:39:55 AM »

Perhaps you are asking the wrong question or questions. Why do commercial and professional installation standards require all lighting, power, and control cabling shall be separated to the furthest extent possible. Cabling used for lighting, power, and control cable shall be sheathed, and shielded with 100% covering, or installed in a continuous metal raceway?

The answers might surprise you. Certainly, to minimize any possible EMI and RFI interactions is one of the reasons, but there are more compelling reasons which pertain to electrical codes and lightning protection.

Anyway, as a ham, I join the others who cares, do what you want.
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N0GV

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Re: Rotator power cable next to antenna coax
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2023, 08:26:27 PM »

Ummm, unless you are either doing radar or synthetic doppler shift DF why would you want to listen or transmit while swinging your antenna?

Grover
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