Bad Power Inverter SW44?

[dcapper]

I have read every article I can about installing a SW44. I have 2 dual lnb's on the roof. 91 and 82. I have 91 wired to 1a/1b and 82 to 2a/2b. My 6141 receiver is wired to the power inserter and the power inserter is on port 1. My FTA is on port 2 and my 4100 is on port 3. I keep getting no switch detected. Do I have a faulty power inserter?

[holly2012]

How do you have your 4100 and Fta connected to port 2

[dcapper]

Typo. I edited it.

[holly2012]

Port 3 isnt a out port its an in port for another dish

[dcapper]

What do you mean? It says out to receiver ports 1 to 4. Then on the other side it says satellite in 1a/1b/2a/2b. Port one says install power inserter here. I have one receiver on the other side of the inserter and receivers on ports 2 and 3.

[Terryl]

Are you using the old legacy LNB's on the dish?

If not and they have a big DP logo on them then they are DP type LNB's, a SW44 switch will not work with those LNB's, this could be your error on the switch check on the 6141.

Post some photos of the LNB's.

[Terryl]

You can also test the DC power inserter.

To do this you need a DVM (Digital Volt Meter) and a short piece of center conductor, the short piece of center conductor goes in the "to switch" side of the power inserter, the red lead of the DVM will touch this, the black lead of the DVM will go to the metal threads of the "F" connector, then you set the DVM to DC volts, plug in the power inserter.

You should read at least 22 volts DC, it could be more as this is an unloaded condition (no switch attached) to get a true reading you need to attache the switch, this can be done by carefully stripping the coax sideways with a very sharp razor knife, (be careful) be sure not to short out the center conductor with the shield wires, you pull the center conductor up a bit and and connect this modified coax from the power supply to the switch #1 receiver port, then test the switch under load, it should be 19 to 24 volts DC. (or higher in some cases)

If you get anything lower then 19 volts you may have a bad switch or bad power supply.

Spec's on the DC power supply are, 24 volts DC at 1 amp.

[dcapper]

Are you using the old legacy LNB's on the dish?

If not and they have a big DP logo on them then they are DP type LNB's, a SW44 switch will not work with those LNB's, this could be your error on the switch check on the 6141.

Post some photos of the LNB's.

I haven't set up a ladder yet. I know they are two separate lnb's on a y yoke with 2 connectors on it each. I currently have them connected through two sw21 switches.

[dcapper]

I tested the power supply and with no connection it has 30 volts. I then connected an RG6 to the side that's supposed to goto the SW44 port 1 and I get 30 volts. When I connect to the side of the inserter that is to go to the receiver, I get 0 volts. I'm thinking its the inserter. I tried to connect two different SW44 switches and both don't work. I only have one power inserter.

[Terryl]

30 volts DC is way too high, the power supply's nominal DC voltage is 24 volts to the switch, there will be nothing on the receivers side, so 0 volts there is good.

One other way to test this is to use the AC voltage test setting on the DVM, you should get a very low reading, under 100 mV AC.

Another way to load down the power supply is to use 2 each 12 volt light bulbs connected in series, then take another reading.

If you still get 30 volts DC or the AC ripple reading is above 200 mV volt AC, then the power supply regulator may be fried, then it's a look around the web for an exact replacement.

Will also be awaiting your report on the LNB type, if they are the newer DP type then you can use a DP44 switch as the new DP LNB's don't work too good with the SW44 legacy switch.

[dcapper]

Well I went back on the roof and froze my ass off. I hooked up the old lnb's and removed the 4 port lnb. Came into the basement and connected it all up and it all worked. The only thing I did different is didn't use the the receiver connection on the power inserter. The only thing connected to the power inserter is port 1 of the SW44. I used connections 2, 3, and 4 on the SW44 for the receivers. The 6141 is connected to port 2 of the SW44. The 4100 is connected to port 3 of the SW44. The Viewsat is connected to port 4 of the SW44 going to port 4 on the diseqc. 91 is set to SW44 port 1 and 82 is set to SW44 port 2. Thanks for all the input.