I'll keep your note Gary. It is valuable info. I sent for a couple of the compatible pots based on information from BB users.

When I open the box next I first will check that piece of wire and mod it as yours. I can then test it while at the bench.

This PM I even swapped the harness from EL to AZ at the rotator and at the controller. Still the issue there so the pot seems to be misbehaving

73

Rafael / NN3RP

________________________________________ De: Gary gary_mayfield@hotmail.com Enviado: viernes, 1 de mayo de 2020 06:45 p. m. Para: Rafael Pena; amsat-bb@amsat.org Asunto: RE: [amsat-bb] G-5500 AZ Potentiometer

I was a 5400 owner, not a 5500 owner, but I suspect they are very similar. After needing to replace a potentiometer for about the 3rd time I dug into the problem. I discovered in my situation it was not the potentiometer failing, but there is a wire soldered to the wiper of the pot, and soldered to the bottom center of the pot.

This wire flexes every time the pot turns. It likes to break near where it has been soldered as the heating weakens the wire. It usually doesn't break cleanly, but becomes intermittent.

Replace it with a little longer very flexible piece of wire. Put a drop of glue from the solder joint a little way up the wire to make the wire flex further from the portion that gets heated. I actually made a small loop to reduce the flexing. I wish I would have taken pictures as this has come up a lot!

Shame filled self-promotion follows: I did take pictures of my replacing the controller lights with LEDs. You can see that here: http://www.kk0sd.net/rotorlight/Yaesu.htm

73, Gary "Joe" kk0sd

-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org On Behalf Of Rafael Pena via AMSAT-BB Sent: Friday, May 1, 2020 3:00 PM To: Mike Wilhelm af5at.radio@gmail.com; Joseph B. Fitzgerald jfitzgerald@alum.wpi.edu Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] G-5500 AZ Potentiometer

Thanks for all the immediate emails received....very quick response and valuable information. I sent for a couple of the potentiometer (though not exactly the same as inside the rotator) but compatible ones.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RA25Y20S-B502-Original-New-Cosmos-Potentiometer/123...

I am to receive them next week.

73

________________________________________ De: Mike Wilhelm af5at.radio@gmail.com Enviado: viernes, 1 de mayo de 2020 03:48 p. m. Para: Joseph B. Fitzgerald CC: amsat-bb@amsat.org; Rafael Pena Asunto: Re: [amsat-bb] G-5500 AZ Potentiometer

I found a US data sheet from the American Division of the company. Contact information is at the bottom of the US office of Tocos, but here it is too:

1177 East Tower Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173 Tel: 847-884-6664 Fax: 847-884-6665 E-mail: sales@tocos.commailto:sales@tocos.com www.tocos.comhttp://www.tocos.com

-Good Luck! Mike AF5AT

On Fri, May 1, 2020 at 2:36 PM Joseph B. Fitzgerald via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@amsat.orgmailto:amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote: I didn't find a supplier, but I did find a datasheet. You can probably find a replacement from a different manufacturer.

Curiously it is only rated to -10C.

https://www.tocos-j.co.jp/tocos-j-wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/RA25_Series....

de KM1P

________________________________________ From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.orgmailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org> on behalf of Rafael Pena via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@amsat.orgmailto:amsat-bb@amsat.org> Sent: Friday, May 1, 2020 2:43 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.orgmailto:amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] G-5500 AZ Potentiometer

Hello everyone.

I am looking for a compatible, if not the same, potentiometer for Yaesu G-5500. The AZ is starting to do its dance queen. Flickers between 180-270 and stabilizes after matching SatPC32 target. But swings left at that area then settles. I have already place some de-oxit on top of it (or better say, bottom). It helped somewhat but I see the need for replacing it at some point soon.

I placed a call to Yaesu Tech support and I am waiting on them to call me back. The person answering the live line though first told me that the part is not available. So I requested tech support. This system is still being sold new all over the place and the pot must be available. This same pot seems to be used in other similar Yaesu rotators, i.e., 5400.

The pot has a number written RA25Y20S B501 083 321 which matches the number I saw someone who posted a Yaesu receipt of service performed. Yaesu part number is S8101823

I have seen some on the #Bay that were listed by purchasers as compatible. I missed the chance to buy the last two:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-COSMOS-RA25Y20S-B501-500-OHM-1-2W-Wirewound-Po...

Any help is appreciated. _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.orgmailto:AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.orgmailto:AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb