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Dutch Star Don · 02-07-2010, 09:51 PM

My coach has an "antenna up" light in the lower left corner of the dash idiot lights. When the bat wing crank up antenna is up, a ball bearing switch on the side of the antenna causes the dash light to come on when the coach is started.

I tapped into the wiring on this ball bearing switch and wired it to a magnetic reed switch (second one down on this web page) http://www.philmore-datak.com/mc/Page%20181.pdf . I mounted the magnet on the lower edge of the HD dish and mounted the wired portion on a short plate adjacent to it. I ran the two leads from the magnet reed switch over to the wires on the ball bearing switch. Attach one wire to each of the wires on the crank up antenna.

The new switch now tells me when the satellite dish or the bat wing antenna is up. I'm used to not worrying about the old sat dome and figured I better do something to remind me about the HD antenna.

MonacoMama · 02-07-2010, 10:10 PM

...so Don - Will you be putting a patent on that idea?

(and do you ever stop tinkering??)

wa8yxm · 02-08-2010, 10:01 AM

Idea not patenable for two reasons:

1: Obvious (Basically extension of existing light switch)

2: Published... Above

kketterling · 02-08-2010, 12:14 PM

Diplomat Don

You did exactly what I was thinking of doing with my HD satellite and saved me the time of finding the parts needed. Just curious which HD satellite dish do you have? Moto Sat or Winegard?

Thanks

Dutch Star Don · 02-08-2010, 01:18 PM

kketterling....I bought the Winegard. I attached the magnetic portion to the edge of the dish with two sided tape and two small screws and locknuts. The wired portion I mounted to a small aluminum plate and glued/screwed it to the roof. The magnetic reed switches use to be a dime a dozen......but I had a hard time finding them. Finally located them at a local electrical supply store.

The wiring has to be in parallel with the other switch.

wa8yxn.....I think she was being funny.

nodine · 02-08-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diplomat Don

My coach has an "antenna up" light in the lower left corner of the dash idiot lights. When the bat wing crank up antenna is up, a ball bearing switch on the side of the antenna causes the dash light to come on when the coach is started.

I tapped into the wiring on this ball bearing switch and wired it to a magnetic reed switch (second one down on this web page) http://www.philmore-datak.com/mc/Page%20181.pdf . I mounted the magnet on the lower edge of the HD dish and mounted the wired portion on a short plate adjacent to it. I ran the two leads from the magnet reed switch over to the wires on the ball bearing switch. Attach one wire to each of the wires on the crank up antenna.

The new switch now tells me when the satellite dish or the bat wing antenna is up. I'm used to not worrying about the old sat dome and figured I better do something to remind me about the HD antenna.

Good idea Don. I have been using a sign on the steering wheel to warn me that the dish is up. Looks like you have discovered another project for my list.

Thanks,

Bob

ShapeShifter · 02-09-2010, 02:43 PM

If you have a Winegard Trav'ler automatic dish, Winegard offers the CL-SK34 accessory stow cable. It includes a set of "antenna up" contacts, as well as an automatic stow input. The antenna up contacts can be wired in parallel with the batwing switch to accomplish the same thing as Don, but without having to mount your own switch.

The benefit of that cable is that you can wire the stow input to your parking brake switch (or some similar circuit) so that when (not if) you release the parking brake while the dish is up, it will automatically retract and stow (much like the leveling jacks will automatically retract when releasing the brake.)

I'm hoping to install a Winegard Trav'ler dish this spring/summer, and will be using this cable to provide both functions.