One run cable technical specs

[crtc1997]

I have a very specific technical question related to a form of cable known as “one run”. It is often used as the cable that goes to a C-band dish. It contains one but sometimes two RG 6 cables and a number of other conductors to drive the motor and in some cases the relay to switch between C and Ku. In older set ups it might have been used to switch LNB polarities. What I specifically would like to know is what gauge and type of wire was used to drive the motor and how many conductors? If secondary wires are used to go to the dish what gauge and type of wire was used?
The reason for the question is I need to replicate “One Run” and stuff all of the required cables and conductors into a 3/4 inch conduit. Since this will be a new install I don’t have any old cables for comparison.

[tdti1]

You mean big dish ribbon cable? http://www.rpssat.com/?id=319 I know they have actuator cable as well, as I picked up 20 feet a few months ago to use outside this summer with my v-box to aim my dish. I do not see it on there site? Use ribbon if you have a servo motor or actuator cable with coax if you are using an lnbf. Any should fit your conduit just fine.

[majortom]

The ribbon cable I use (typical C/Ku Sat ribbon cable) may be too big to fit in a 3/4 " conduit. Combined ribbon Measures an inch wide, 1/4" thick. I don't think you'd wanna try folding to make it fit over long runs. But it's suitable for direct burial. So, what I did was laid a little sand under & over it, followed by a few bricks over the top every couple feet in the trench I dug, prior to backfilling. Haven't had any issues. That was probably ~ 13 years ago. I always make a point to take it with me when removing anyone's old Satellite dish. Have never had to buy any, can never have enough extra of that stuff.

[tdti1]

My bad, ribbon would be to large to run, in 3/4" you should use 1 inch or inch and a quarter to pass with ease. I just found my actuator cable, it's just a bit thinker than a coax cable.

[crtc1997]

Thank you for the replies. The issue at this moment is the conduit is already in the ground and has been for sometime. I recognize that it might be difficult to place “one run” A.K.A. ribbon wire in the existing conduit. My plan was to replicate it with other wire and duplicate the electrical specifications. To begin the RG 6 cable was going to be replaced, if possible, with RG 11. That leaves the electrical supply wiring for the motor and any other wires that might be required. What I need to know is the number of conductors in the ribbon cable and their respective gauges. If I had to guess I would use 16 or18 gauge braid 5 conductor. What I don’t know is the number of conductors used to drive the motor and typically what other things that might need to be remotely controlled. If you can answer those questions I would greatly appreciate it.

PS.

I followed the link to the ribbon wire that has this information.
* Conductor: Dual series 6 18 AWG solid copper covered steel
* Shields: Al foil and 40% al braid
* Rotor cable: Three 20 AWG stranded bare copper/ PE insulation
* Actuator cable: Three 22 AWG stranded bare copper, foil shield with 24 AWG tinned copper drain wire/ PE insulation
* Power cable: Two 16 AWG stranded bare copper/ PVC insulation
It would appear that if I were to use that as a model those specs would go a long way to solving my dilemma. Having said that I am still open to sage advice.

[majortom]

I followed the link to the ribbon wire that has this information.

Figured everything u needed to know was at the above link.

Here's how mine is if you must have.
a.) 2 RG-6 side by side. U can get dual RG-6 anywhere. I don't think using RG-11 is gonna buy you anything, save ur money and just use a good quality RG-6 meant for Satellite / broadband cable use.
b.) Polarotor Control, consisting of 3 # 20 AWG conductors
Red , WHT, BLK - for +5V, Pulse, GND in that order. Used to flop polarity of a typical co-rotor II type feed.
c.) Linear Actuator control, consisting of 2 conductors #16 AWG, 2 # 22 AWG, and a 24 AWG stranded bare drain wire.
#16 AWG RED, #16 AWG BLK - DC Power for a Linear Actuator Motor
# 22 AWG BRN, #22 AWG BLU - Reed Sensor wires, or Pulse for feedback
from actuator back to rcvr.

a.) is the dual coax side by side, b.) is in one jacket, c.) is in another jacket. All control wire conductors are stranded.

Not really sure you need everything, since you haven't said anything about the details of the equipment or antenna you are installing.
So lemme ask, what exactly are you installing?

[crtc1997]

majortom Thank you for the information. Let me answer your question first. “So lemme ask, what exactly are you installing?” The answer at this point is I don’t know. I am trying to install a 10ft BUD on the cheap. A group in Montréal has indicated they have a used dish in good condition that they are willing to install on my post. The post was put in last year in the hope that I would be able to get my hands on a dish. The last thing I wanted to do was end up with a dish in winter unable to mount it until the snow left us. The conduit was pulled in using a vibrating plough a few years ago to protect the cables going to my 1.2m Ku set up. With respect to the coax I have bags of RG 59, RG 6, RG 11, and 412 cables with access to 500 and 750 cables. If push comes to shove I have a second conduit only partially used with space for additional wiring. All my dishes are at the back of my property and as a result the runs are a little longer than I would have liked. Hence the reason for suggesting or using RG 11. If I had my way I would put the dishes on the front lawn; however, she who must be obeyed, a.k.a. the garden warden, has a few thoughts on that subject. Getting clearance for a BUD was a major thing. In exchange I had to agree to move two dishes out of her line of sight, a small concession on my part. To make the installation go a little smoother I agreed to have suitable wiring in place. We already know that the standard ribbon cable here is out for this installation. Thus the reason for finding out what its specifications are. The information you have given me gives me a good start. If I have to I can make up a cable to do the job.

[classicsat]

This is what I had for my C-band setup, mostly scrounged.

For RF, it was two RG6 type coaxes. That s the critical ones. I started with one and added a second as I needed it.

The dish actuator is a salvaged cable, I think from a crane remote. It is 10 conductors, I think #18 or #20 each. Four pair are paralleled for the two motor leads, the remaning two for the pulse sensor. I used a piece of Ham IV cable to run from the actuator to the crane cable.

The polarotor cable to the dish is an also salvaged piece of #18x3 thermostat wire, with and extension of regular 3 wire antenna rotator cable to the polarotor.

None of my cables were buried or in conduit.

That all said, what I think would work, is two RG6, two regular 3 wire rotator cables (a single 4 or 5 conductor may work), and a piece of 2 conductor trailer wire or low voltage garden light wire.

[Pinza]

Not sure of the actual frequecies involved from Dish to Receiver but just bear in mind the .412, .500 & .750 will only be 1Ghz.

[majortom]

the coax needs to be spec'd for 950-1450 MHz. Typically RG-6 is used.