What did you do to your rig today?

[El Gringo]

Ray, You really should have the diodes installed. They are really smart and prevent a motor burnout.

I'll draw up a circuit and post it.

OK, thanx. I thought they were just because of how they were wired differently.
Interested to learn the why's and how's though.

Cheers,

[jon_d]

Here you go.

The diodes route the reverse power around the switches when they have detected the limit.

I have shown the extend circuit in green. When the extend is completed, the switch opens. The diode is ready to pass the current when the retract button is pressed. When it retracts a bit, the limit switch closes and the diode is bypassed.

I have show how to wire up the auto retract. (shown as the red line) It "bypasses" the Manual Retract switch. However, the manual retract switch will still work. (shown as the dotted red line)

tv circuit1.jpg

[El Gringo]

Thanx Jon,

That is pretty much how it was wired internally.
And if I was using external switches to send it up of down I can see how that would work.
However I am having trouble figuring out how that fits with my remote controlled box.
If I consider my controller to be doing what you have drawn inside the blue box I have outlined, then I think I've got it.

tv circuit and Controller.jpg

Oh, but what Diodes should I use, don't know much about them except they are basically non return valves for electricity...

Cheers,

[jon_d]

Sorry,

I've screwed it up a little. This is how it could be wired when an ignition relay is used as well.

The diodes pass the opposite direction current current when the limit switches are open. (ie when the TV is parked or extended to the max)

eg; When the limit switch trips, it goes open circuit. The diode is needed to make the connection when the opposite direction switch is pressed.

tv circuit1.jpg

So matching to yours.... The extend/retract switches on the left are the control box. The limit switches are the micro switches on the TV lift.


Just as an FYI, I made my own satellite dish controller using linear actuators. It also reads the angles of the dish remotely.

[El Gringo]

OK, thanx again Jon,

I've downloaded the image and will try and make sense of it later.

Can I ask though how to figure out what diodes to use, or could you recommend what I should get please?

This is about as advanced as I've gotten electrically, though as a kid I was fascinated by electronics.
Never got to follow it up though.
Won't be long till I have to do a lot of re-wiring on the old bus, that's going to be a challenge too.

Cheers,
Bernie

[jon_d]

Hi Bernie,

You're welcome.

Just a small rectifier diode will be ok. It has thicker wire making it easier to solder.
https://www.jaycar.com.au/1n4004-1a-400 ... 4/p/ZR1004

My fascination with electronics started at about 10. Spent 8 years at Telecom in a radio communications lab ranging from system performance testing of radio systems - first mobile phones, satellite receivers, radio trunk network equipment, lots of circuit board layout, microprocessor stuff. Then moved to HP and worked customers Test and Measurement equipment specifically, component level repair and calibration of equipment to NATA standards. After that, into board test systems, data acquisition systems and military radar signature analysis systems. Moved out of that space about 23 years ago. But still have the fascination.

[El Gringo]

Thanx again Jon,

Will order the diodes and rewire it all when they arrive.
Had to order some 5 pin relays too, only had 4 pin ones here.

Sounds like an interesting and rewarding career, it's great when you do what you love.

Mine is much more varied.
Started off in spare parts for a Rootes Group dealer, then got an apprenticeship painting.
Married into a family of builders and plumbers and worked with them for quite a while.
Then started a business building swimming pools, probably built around 400 of them.
When the body wore out I got a managers job with a roofing company, stayed there for quite a while.
Then to Onesteel reinforcing (manager)
Next to Metalcorp, the same
Then to Reece Plumbing again as a manager.
Had a mental breakdown, went bankrupt and found out I am Bi-Polar.
Went back to work part time doing roofing estimates for businesses all over the world.
But it got to the point where I couldn't do that properly.
So cashed in what was left of my super, bought a bus and been working on it ever since - nearly 9 years, told you I was slow...

Cheers,
Bernie

[Greynomad]

Bernie,

Are we there yet??

[El Gringo]

I think with a 44 year old bus your never there.

Hope to be on the road again this year though...

Cheers,
Bernie

[Greynomad]

Bernie,

Forty-four is still young!

Wish I still was.

Brain says I'm still there...
Body disagrees.