Cranfield Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 I have a speed controller for my rotary and it has never been a problem. At the moment I am shooting almost daily and went to use the rotary one day last week and it didn't work. I checked all the connections and they were fine and so I assumed I had not connected it properly when recharging the battery the night before. The next day, the same thing happened again, but as I knew I had charged it properly, I removed the speed controller from the loop and the rotary worked fine. Assuming the speed controller was broken, I ordered another one. It arrived today and I have set the rotary up and it still won't go with the new speed controller in the loop (but works perfectly without it). The chances of the new item being faulty are 1000's to one,so it has to be something else. Any sensible ideas would be welcomed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 I have just returned from buying a new battery and having tried it, I still have the same problem. So its not the battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soontjen Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) iiiiiiiiiii Edited January 13, 2009 by soontjen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) silly questions, but have you changed the fuse (if yours has one)? mine keeps blowing the fuse as the croc clips aren't too good and tend to slide about. sorry ignore that - just re-read your post about getting a new one! but it could still be blowing the fuse when you connect it each time, i know mine has to be off when you connect or else it blows the fuse immediately Edited January 13, 2009 by nickbeardo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Most electronic speed controlers are polarity critical, some have polarity protection, in other words they must be connected + to + and -to - check the feed in from the battery is correct, if there is no polarity protection the unit can blow , if polarity protection is fitted no harm is done usualy but the unit will not operate. or check the fuse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drut Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Assuming the magnet runs at full speed without the controller the problem has to be poor connections or in the unit itself. A quick check with a multimeter should quickly show fault. If all else fails the seller of the unit may be able to advise or I am sure some member near you must have auto/electrical skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Spray it with WD40. It's a variable resistor at heart and if its got old and rusty you will have iffy contacts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 it could still be blowing the fuse when you connect it each time, i know mine has to be off when you connector else it blows the fuse immediately Same as mine then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent36 Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Hi Cranfield, I think it could be a dirty contact, i.e the on/off switch or even dirty brushes on the motor causing the problem (acting like a resistor). There might be enough voltage when directly connected to the battery for it to operate ok. But when the speed controller is added the power switching transistor is another point in the circuit that can act as a resistor and therefore dropping some of the battery voltage. The points highlighted can be checked with a multimeter, the brushes can be cleaned either with an electrical contact cleaning solvent or if possible dismatel the motor and gently clean the brushes with some emery cloth or sandpaper. (remember to blow the dust out before reassembling). I hope this helps. Agent36 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newsportshooter Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Bet it's the fuse - I blew one on nicks speed controller. It may be internal or could be externally accessable... either way sounds like thats the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Fuse....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted January 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 It doesn't appear to be the fuse, but its now with my local retired electrician who will take it apart and look at the contacts, which he thinks may be a bit corroded. Thanks for all the input, I will let you know what the result is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 I have similar problems from time to time and it's usually one of two things; either the fuse OR the unit must be turned off before being connected to the battery/machine. Mind you I can't say I've ever noticed much difference in the power of the machine to decoy birds at different speeds and think they're like so much else in the world of pigeon shooting equipment...designed to catch you rather than the birds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted January 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 My rotary and new speed controller are now working pefectly. The problem was that the old speed controller had no separate fuse and some important element inside had become corroded and in effect "fused" the unit. Incredibly, my new speed controller arrived with a broken ceramic fuse in it. The fuse was "broken" according to my electrician, not "blown". Replaced the fuse and all is well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Cranners did you get the replacement controller from Tony Cooper aka Magtame? SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newsportshooter Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 fuse then..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent36 Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 (edited) Hi cranfied Glad our telephone conversation was on the right track regarding the fault with your magnet (see my post above). Can you let me have some more details ref the broken fuse, so I can look out for the problem in the future. All my units are tested before sending them out to ensure 100% satisfaction. kind regards Edited January 15, 2009 by Agent36 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted January 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Cranners did you get the replacement controller from Tony Cooper aka Magtame? SS Nope, I got it from an exceptionally nice, helpful, bloke who sells them on the Bay of e. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 (edited) I found the best speed controler to be the variable speed limiter off an old electric golf trolly it is 100 times stronger than the ones you by off decoying bods Edited January 15, 2009 by winchester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Wills motors, VW/Audi I think, have several settings when you connect. I get slow and fast speeds depending on how I connect to it and with a ford escort relay you can also get intermediate speed. Never needed anything else. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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