CON1 LAN Connector

CON1 is the Ethernet 10/100Base-T / RJ45 connector. Use a standard network cable to connect the ACU to an Ethernet hub. If you want to connect your computer and the ACU directly without using a hub, you need a crossover cable for this with swapped RX/TX lines.

CON2 Spare Inputs

CON2 provides four opto-isolated spare inputs for the ACU. These inputs are reserved for customized versions of the ACU software, they normally are not used. There is no cabling required.

The AUX 1 and AUX 2 input may be configured to act as a linear/ circular indicator. It can be configured as ENABLED (an open detected the setting) or INVERSE (a closed detected the setting). If the ACU is configured to control a linear / circular switch, the AUX1 / AUX2 inputs are reserved for this function and may not be used as general purpose signals.

CON3 24V-EXT GND-EXT Distribution

CON3 is splitted against preview ACU2-ODM version into two connector. CON3A provides four clamps to the 24V-EXT rail and CON3B provides four clamps to the GND-EXT rail. It has been included to simplify the external cabling.

CON3A

CON3B

CON4 Spare Outputs 5..8

CON4 provides four opto-isolated spare outputs for the ACU. These outputs are reserved for customized versions of the ACU software, they normally are not used. There is no cabling required.

The AUX 8 output may be configured to act as a heartbeat output. If enabled, the output switches every 1000 ms between on/off. If using this signal for an external watchdog circuit, be aware the in adaptive tracking mode delays of some seconds are possible while the acu calculates the orbital model. AUX8 cannot be used as a general purpose output in this case.

CON5 Spare Outputs 1..4

CON5 provides another four opto-isolated spare outputs for the ACU. These outputs are reserved for customized versions of the ACU software, they normally are not used. There is no cabling required.

The AUX 1 and AUX 2 output may be configured to act as a linear/ circular command. In this case the AUX1 / AUX2 outputs are reserved for this function and may not be used as general purpose signals.

CON6 Beacon Receiver

The ACU preferably is used together with the sat-nms LBRX beacon receiver. With the sat-nms LBRX the ACU talks though TCP/IP, no additional cabling is required in this case. At CON6 the ACU provides an analog interface to third party beacon receivers.

CON7 Inclinometer (analog)

The ACU provides two ADC inputs to read the angle information from ratiometric inclinometers. The standard ACU software reads this information and displays it at the ‘Test’ page of the software, but it does not include the nick/roll angles into the displayed antenna pointing.

CON8 Serial Interfaces

The ACU owns three serial interfaces. The first is reserved to poll a GPS receiver in order to get the antenna geodetic location, UTC time and/or the nick and roll angle automatically. Any NMEA standard GPS receiver providing a RS232 interface with the protocol setting of 4800 Baud, 8 Bits, No parity and 1 Stop Bit may be connected here.

The second interface is configured as RS232 and is used to control the ACU from remote where the TCP/IP remote control is not usable.

The third interface is configured as RS422/RS485 and is also used to control the ACU from remote. Both interface could be used in parallel.

An additional USB Interface is also provided for further expansion of the unit.

The ACU is factory preset to use the RS422 interface in 4-wire. For a 2-wire operation use Pin 7/8 only and keep Pin 9/10 unconnected. Pin 9/10 are by factory default terminated with 120Ohm.

CON9 Power Supply, potential termination

At CON9 the power supply for the ACU itself (pins 1, 2) and for the external switches must be connected. Also see chapter 4.2.3 Power Supply Cabling for the concept of separate intern / extern power supplies the ACU uses.

An additional Connector CON9B is provided to have an interface to the protective ground and the internal ACU-GND. These Pins should be connected to the device central earth point, to avoid ground loops via the ethernet interface.

CON9

CON9B

CON10 Azimuth Motor Driver

All signals for motor control are provided as free floating opto coupler inputs / outputs. This gives a maximum of flexibility to adapt the cabling to the motor driver units. They probably will combine one end of the control inputs to a common potential. The ACU is capable to control motor drivers with different polarity concepts.

Example for wiring the motor drive signals

Example for wiring the motor status signals

The ACU knows two different configuration modes to control a motor driver. They are called ‘DIR-START’ and ‘DUAL-START’. In ‘DIR-START’ mode, the ‘FWD’ signal switches the motor on/off, the ‘REV’ signal controls the motor direction. This is the configuration many frequency inverters use. In ‘DUAL-START’ mode, the ‘FWD’ signal switches the motor on in forward direction, ‘REV’ activates the motor in reverse direction. This configuration mode is convenient to control a motor with relays.

The movement direction for the azimuth drive must be cabled as follows: FWD moves the antenna to the west (to the right on the northern hemisphere). The evaluation routines in the software which compute the antenna pointing for a given satellite location require the movement direction in this way.

The AZ RESERV reflects the “motor stopped� state of the axis. ON signals the OK state, the signal turns off in case of a motor fault, timeout, or if the emergency stop signal is received. Depending on the reason of the motor stop a motor reset command may be necessary to release the axis from this state.

CON11 24V-EXT Distribution

CON11 provides four clamps to the 24V-EXT rail. It has been included to simplify the external cabling.

CON12 GND-EXT Distribution

CON12 provides four clamps to the GND-EXT rail. It has been included to simplify the external cabling.

CON13 Elevation Motor Driver

All signals for motor control are provided as free floating optocoupler inputs / outputs. This gives a maximum of flexibility to adapt the cabling to the motor driver units. They probably will combine one end of the control inputs to a common potential. The ACU is capable to control motor drivers with different polarity concepts.

Example for wiring the motor drive signals

Example for wiring the motor status signals

The ACU knows two different configuration modes to control a motor driver. They are called ‘DIR-START’ and ‘DUAL-START’. In ‘DIR-START’ mode, the ‘FWD’ signal switches the motor on/off, the ‘REV’ signal controls the motor direction. This is the configuration many frequency inverters use. In ‘DUAL-START’ mode, the ‘FWD’ signal switches the motor on in forward direction, ‘REV’ activates the motor in reverse direction. This configuration mode is convenient to control a motor with relays.

The movement direction for the azimuth drive must be cabled as follows: FWD moves the antenna to the west to the right on the northern hemisphere. The evaluation routines in the software which compute the antenna pointing for a given satellite location require the movement direction in this way.

The EL RESERV reflects the “motor stopped� state of the axis. ON signals the OK state, the signal turns off in case of a motor fault, timeout, or if the emergency stop signal is received. Depending on the reason of the motor stop a motor reset command may be necessary to release the axis from this state.

CON14 GND-EXT Distribution (removed)

CON14 is not longer available at the ACU2. CON12 and CON3B provides the same signal.

CON15 Polarization Motor Driver

All signals for motor control are provided as free floating optocoupler inputs / outputs. This gives a maximum of flexibility to adapt the cabling to the motor driver units. They probably will combine one end of the control inputs to a common potential. The ACU is capable to control motor drivers with different polarity concepts.

Example for wiring the motor drive signals

Example for wiring the motor status signals

The ACU knows two different configuration modes to control a motor driver. They are called ‘DIR-START’ and ‘DUAL-START’. In ‘DIR-START’ mode, the ‘FWD’ signal switches the motor on/off, the ‘REV’ signal controls the motor direction. This is the configuration many frequency inverters use. In ‘DUAL-START’ mode, the ‘FWD’ signal switches the motor on in forward direction, ‘REV’ activates the motor in reverse direction. This configuration mode is convenient to control a motor with relays.

The movement direction for the polarization drive must be cabled as follows: FWD moves the feed clockwise when looking ‘through the antenna’ to the satellite. This is valid for the northern hemisphere, when operated on the southern hemisphere, the motor must be cabled for the opposite direction. The evaluation routines in the software which compute the antenna pointing for a given satellite location require the movement direction in this way.

The PL RESERV reflects the “motor stopped� state of the axis. ON signals the OK state, the signal turns off in case of a motor fault, timeout, or if the emergency stop signal is received. Depending on the reason of the motor stop a motor reset command may be necessary to release the axis from this state.

CON16 Limit Switches

The limit switch inputs internally are connected to the external 24V / GND rails. The switches are connected directly to the input pairs without any external ground or supply cabling. The ACU treats a closed contact as OK, contacts have to be opened to indicate the ‘limit reached’ condition.

Example for wiring the limit switches

Please note, that the left/right azimuth and polarization limit switches have to be swapped when the antenna is operated at the southern hemisphere.

CON17 Alarm Circuits

The alarm/stop switch inputs internally are connected to the external 24V / GND rails. The switches are connected directly to the input pairs without any external ground or supply cabling. The ACU treats a closed contact as OK, contacts have to be opened to activate the function noted in the table below.

The fault output are mechanical relays which connect ’_C’ (common) circuit to the ’_NC’ (normally closed) circuit while the ACU is powered and OK. In case of a fault or a lack of power supply the relays connect the ’_NO’ circuit to the ’_C’ circuit.

CON18, CON19, CON20 Resolver Interface

Below the pinout of a resolver type interface board is shown. The ACU is available with resolver, SSI or analog position sensor interfaces. You have to select type of interface when you order the ACU.

The ACU resolver interface is designed for resolvers with an impedance of 100 Ohms or more and transfer factor 0.5. The interface applies 4Veff / 2000Hz to the resolver drive coil. It expects 2Veff at the sine / cosine inputs at the maximum positions.

When connecting a resolver to the ACU, please consider the following:

• Use a shielded, twisted pair cable.
• Connect the cable shield either to pin 1/8 at the ACU or to the ground at the resolver housing. Never connect the shield at both ends, this will introduce a ground loop and cause a significant degradation of the resolver’s accuracy.

CON18, CON19, CON20 SSI Positional Encoder Interface

Below the pinout of a SSI type positional encoder interface board is shown. The ACU is available with resolver, SSI or analog position sensor interfaces. You have to select type of interface when you order the ACU.

The SSI positional encoder may be powered from the ACU internal power supply. +5V and +24V clamps are provided at the connector. To avoid ground loops, the cable shield should be connected either to pin 1 at the ACU or to the ground at the encoder housing, never at both ends.

CON18, CON19, CON20 Analog Angle Sensor Interface

Below the pinout of an analog type positional sensor interface board is shown. The ACU is available with resolver, SSI or analog position sensor interfaces. You have to select type of interface when you order the ACU.

CON21 Serial Interfaces Handheld Display

The Con21 provides two RS422 compatible Outputs which provides the Az/El/Pl information to the SatService Handheld. The connector is a DSUB 9 socket. The interface setting are 9600Baud, 8Databits, No Parity and 1 Stop Bit. The protocol is a VT100 based text output (2 Line 16 character).

CON22 USB Interface

USB-2 Connector is for further expansion. The Connector is a A-Type Standard USB Connector.

CON23 Serial Interfaces (Optional)

The Con23 provides a optional RS422 compatible serial Interface for further expansion.

CON24 Polarization2 Motor Driver (Option 4th Axis)

All signals for motor control are provided as free floating optocoupler inputs / outputs. This gives a maximum of flexibility to adapt the cabling to the motor driver units. They probably will combine one end of the control inputs to a common potential. The ACU is capable to control motor drivers with different polarity concepts.

Example for wiring the motor drive signals

Example for wiring the motor status signals

The ACU knows two different configuration modes to control a motor driver. They are called ‘DIR-START’ and ‘DUAL-START’. In ‘DIR-START’ mode, the ‘FWD’ signal switches the motor on/off, the ‘REV’ signal controls the motor direction. This is the configuration many frequency inverters use. In ‘DUAL-START’ mode, the ‘FWD’ signal switches the motor on in forward direction, ‘REV’ activates the motor in reverse direction. This configuration mode is convenient to control a motor with relays.

The movement direction for the polarization drive must be cabled as follows: FWD moves the feed clockwise when looking ‘through the antenna’ to the satellite. This is valid for the northern hemisphere, when operated on the southern hemisphere, the motor must be cabled for the opposite direction. The evaluation routines in the software which compute the antenna pointing for a given satellite location require the movement direction in this way.

The PL2 RESERV reflects the “motor stopped� state of the axis. ON signals the OK state, the signal turns off in case of a motor fault, timeout, or if the emergency stop signal is received. Depending on the reason of the motor stop a motor reset command may be necessary to release the axis from this state.

CON25 Spare Outputs 9..10 (Option 4th Axis)

CON25 provides two opto-isolated spare outputs for the ACU. These outputs are reserved for customized versions of the ACU software, they normally are not used. There is no cabling required.

CON26 Limit Pol2 and Spare Inputs (Option 4th Axis)

CON26 provides two limit inputs for polarization 2 and four opto-isolated spare inputs for the ACU. These inputs are reserved for customized versions of the ACU software, they normally are not used. There is no cabling required.

CON27 Resolver Interface (Option 4th Axis)

Below the pinout of a resolver type interface board is shown. The ACU is available with resolver, SSI or analog position sensor interfaces. You have to select type of interface when you order the ACU.

The ACU resolver interface is designed for resolvers with an impedance of 100 Ohms or more and transfer factor 0.5. The interface applies 4Veff / 2000Hz to the resolver drive coil. It expects 2Veff at the sine / cosine inputs at the maximum positions.

When connecting a resolver to the ACU, please consider the following:

• Use a shielded, twisted pair cable.
• Connect the cable shield either to pin 1/8 at the ACU or to the ground at the resolver housing. Never connect the shield at both ends, this will introduce a ground loop and cause a significant degradation of the resolver’s accuracy.

CON27 SSI Positional Encoder Interface (Option 4th Axis)

Below the pinout of a SSI type positional encoder interface board is shown. The ACU is available with resolver, SSI or analog position sensor interfaces. You have to select type of interface when you order the ACU.

The SSI positional encoder may be powered from the ACU internal power supply. +5V and +24V clamps are provided at the connector. To avoid ground loops, the cable shield should be connected either to pin 1 at the ACU or to the ground at the encoder housing, never at both ends.

CON27 Analog Angle Sensor Interface (Option 4th Axis)

Below the pinout of an analog type positional sensor interface board is shown. The ACU is available with resolver, SSI or analog position sensor interfaces. You have to select type of interface when you order the ACU.