Actuators AGAIN ...

TJExcalibur said:
:-dohAll you people buying these troublesome actuators. looks like you have been screwed! Sorry.
Click to expand...
"Sorry" ...and so you should be for that 'pun'
;)
 
I have bought the exact same QARL3624 from Satellite Superstore and installed it all January this year, I can say no problems here with its operation. However. I did out out to inspect it after reading this post and was a little surprised to see the rubber has cracked and is coming off, bit surprising after only 8 months outside?

I too have a 2010 SN and no drain holes.
 

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Vipersan said:
So ..
just completed filling in the form to SS tech support ...
and this is what I sent ..hopefully ..
No Idea if it actually was sent as after hitting Submit ...
nothing but a blank web page ..??

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Hi Dave ..
Recently purchased QARL3624 Superjack and have a few questions about it.
Is this actually a genuine product ..?
If so I'm not impressed at all by its performance so far..
I've been working with satellite dishes since the analogue days and have never had problems replacing the actuator on my 1.8Alcoa PF till now..
Yes its a big dish so they do fail more often than I'd like but having fitted the QARL the reed stopped producing pulses after 2 arc transitions ..and measured permanently closed ..?
This freed off (probably spot welded contacts) overnight and the error2 condition on the Vbox vanished thus the dish moved again ..
You are apparently sending me a free replacement for the reed which I will then fit.
In the meantime I borrowd a reed from an old superpowerjack and fitted this ..
The actuator ran smooth again ..and I started to set sat positions in the Vbox.
But noticed a transition from 20E to 58W left the dish a good 1degree out ?
Reset these positions ..but again the dish failed to return precisely to to the stored settings accurately.
Checked for play/slack in the assembly and found none.
running the actuator with the motor cover removed I observed the magnetic wheel on top of the nylon worm drive wobbles from side to side by at least 3 mm
as it rotates and the limit switch push rod also wobbles as the worm gear rotates ..
This could easily account for missed reed pulses ..
All in all a very poor design and construction the like of which I have never witnessed before in any actuator in over 30 years.
I'm attaching a photo of the parts which wobble ..
and a link to the thread where this is being discussed on satellites.co.uk ..where I am a moderator.
https://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/actuators-again.165949/page-5
Perhaps it's time to source and stock say ..Von Weiss or Venture ..
These apparently are a better design and build quality than the stuff we have access to in Europe ..but sadly only appear available in the US.
Thanks for reading this.
regards
Evan
aka Vipersan
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If I do get a response I'll post it here
rgds
VS
Click to expand...

If you don't get any response, try

david@satellitesuperstore.com

That is his e-mail address
 
mapperuo said:
I have bought the exact same QARL3624 from Satellite Superstore and installed it all January this year, I can say no problems here with its operation. However. I did out out to inspect it after reading this post and was a little surprised to see the rubber has cracked and is coming off, bit surprising after only 8 months outside?

I too have a 2010 SN and no drain holes.
Click to expand...

They have obviously gone down the cheap route now, my rubber is still in perfect condition after 10 yrs, maybe with not having drainage holes this is somehow having an impact on the rubber?
 
I've been looking at the prices QARL 40/60$ HARL 7/12$ Companies buying in bulk will get them cheaper, they could swapping stickers from HARL to QARL ? :eek: 50$ is near as dam it £38 your just not going to get quality at them prices, still no email from them about the ball type I emailed them again today.
 
Received this reply from SS this morning ..
I'm sure he wont mind me posting it here ..
In fact ...If Dave reads this thread he is very welcome to join the group and Im sure his comments and wealth of accumilated knowledge will be appreciated.
As stated already I do not blame SS for my problems ..but this doesn't let the actuators producers off the hook.
rgds
VS
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Hi Evan,

I am sorry to hear of the problem with your actuator.
There were some design changes made to the actuators in April of this year but this is the first time we have had anyone say they are having a problem of this type.
There could have been a rare problem with a new reed switch not working but no more than is usual bearing in mind we have sold actuators for 24 years.
It sounds like a problem in the manufacturer if something is not running true and therefore I think you need a new actuator not a new reed switch.
Our engineer is on holiday until Monday but I will sort out a replacement and make sure it is tested before it leaves us.
As a company we have specialised in 36 volt motors as we believe any dish larger than 1.1m (aluminium) should use them.
In addition, we also specialise in large dishes, fixed up to 4.5m and motorised up to 3.0m therefore any kind of issue like this is of concern to us.
Thank you for the feedback and it will be investigated.
It is likely, once you have a new actuator, that we will pick up the old one as we need to look more closely at the issue.

thanks
Dave
 
Another ...very interesting reply from David ..
this may well have great appeal to many users and BUD owners.
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Hi Evan,

No problem
The plan is to check it all in the workshop once the engineer returns from holiday next week.
It sounds like the problem is with a shaft which wobbles and should be true.
as you say this could cause intermittent counting since the magnet is on the end of the shaft and the distance to the reed switch will be variable as it turns.
The new actuator can be sent and so you can simply fit the new one and take the other one down at the same time.

I noticed on the forum some references to Superpowerjack actuators.
Some web sites say they sell Superjack but when it arrives it is a Superpowerjack.
We did sell Superpowerjacks for a short while and were not impressed by the number of returns
but anyway that is why we make this point as web sites should not say one thing and send another.

It may be of interest to know we are developing an inclined orbit polar mount for our prime focus 1.8m dishes and the Raven (Andrews / Channel Master) dishes.
This should be available in about 2 weeks time. It will use 2 actuators.
It will be a modified version of the one we already make for the Raven dish.
See http://www.satellitesuperstore.com/satellite_diseqc_motors_36_volt_motors.htm#andrewsmotor
and on our other site at http://www.primesat.eu/satellite_dish_polar_mounts.php
There is an interest in inclined orbit satellites and so this motor should fill that gap.
There will also be an inclined orbit polar mount for the 1.2m to follow

thanks
Dave
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I've also asked him to join and post info personally ..
If he does ..
Then please make him welcome..
rgds
VS
 
Yes, Dave is a great guy, I have had many dealings with him, and always found him fair and knowledgeable.
 
Hi! I've got new relax-chair today, and guess what is inside it..... actuator! :-rofl2 And it is quiet quiet.
So, when chair is warn-out, will use actuator for another purpose. :rolleyes:
 

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RimaNTSS said:
Hi! I've got new relax-chair today, and guess what is inside it..... actuator! :-rofl2 And it is quiet quiet.
So, when chair is warn-out, will use actuator for another purpose. :rolleyes:
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Rima , do you hire a guy to worn-out that chair ?
I dont believe you can do it yourself , working in the garage and at the balcony ;)
 
Trust1 said:
do you hire a guy to worn-out that chair ?
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Wim! That is really not necessary..... wife already does not like the chair! :cool: Saying that, I do not think this chair will have long lasting living.
 
Right, I will be looking under my Mothers recliner now, she has one of these chairs, and she doesn't like it!
 
I have seen some jack actuators installed upside down (the motor on top)
This should reduce the risk of water geting in the motor and results in longer actuator life.
 
Had a reply this morning from Dave at SS ..
he has tested another QARL from stock ..and cannot see any issue with the magnet/worm wobble on that one ..
I know he will replace mine ..but would like to send the short video of mine wobbling ...
taken in situ with my lumix so in quicktime ...but is 144mb long ..
I'm a novice with sending large video files ..and obviously too large as an email attachment.
Anyone care to advise me on a simple/quick and easy free solution ?
rgds
VS

Oh and worth mentioning that when I removed the motors back cover to take the video ..a lot of water spilled out ..
So looks like the rainwater accumilates in the motor cover ..and at the angle of the actuator drainage isn't possble directly through the 2 holes in the motor cover ..
Perhaps these should be in a different position ..
looks like the accumilated water is supposed to drain directly through the motor gearbox assembly and out through the 2 holes in the cover ..
???
 
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Vipersan said:
Had a reply this morning from Dave at SS ..
he has tested another QARL from stock ..and cannot see any issue with the magnet/worm wobble on that one ..
I know he will replace mine ..but would like to send the short video of mine wobbling ...
taken in situ with my lumix so in quicktime ...but is 144mb long ..
I'm a novice with sending large video files ..and obviously too large as an email attachment.
Anyone care to advise me on a simple/quick and easy free solution ?
rgds
VS
Click to expand...
YouTube would probably be your best bet.
 
By the time you compressed it to send on e-mail the quality would be awful. Same as the other guys You Tube is the way.
 
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