scott_fx

So I finally decided to use a power antenna to automate something in my car. question is, how well can they be controlled. can i simply control the stop point by cutting power? or will it try to fully extend when power resumes to the motor? also, how does it retract? is it as simple as reversing polarity to the motor?

thanks in advance,

scott

edit: why did i put an apostrophe in the subject?

-=Jeff=-

Woundn't a Linear Actuator work better for you?
Not sure what you want to do but the Antenna uses a nylon ribbon w/teeth and I would guess with more poressure it would wear out faster

scott_fx

a linear actuator would work but it's a bit overkill. the piece i'm moving is about 12"x12"x1/8" panel so it's not that heavy and it'll just be sliding. And plus a power antenna is about 1/5 of the price too!

pentavolvo

i know older hondas had a seperate antenna switch that u pushed up or down. most power antennas when power is removed from the "remote wire" it retracts back in

0Audio Dave

Power antennas use a constant 12 volt wire, a ground wire, and a switched wire. When the switched wire gets voltage, the antenna goes up, when it looses it, antenna goes down. Now as for the switched circuit, I have not checked if the wire actually powers down the antenna by creating a ground circuit, or if it would stop going down if the circuit were open (no ground or power...) might want to get the digital voltmeter out for this one...

Of course, a latching relay may work in your case... but maybe the antenna circuit thing may be cheaper...

-=Jeff=-

my friends 1992 (or 1993) Thunderchicken (Thunderbird) had a separate switch as well. if he still had the car I would look at it but he sold it probably 4 years ago..

scott_fx

argh! ok...i'll just bite the bullet and get a linear actuator

Mouthpear

I know this is so old and I hope you didn't buy an actuator. The answer for simple manual on/off is just two toggle (any simple on off switches will do) on/off switches. Common power is connected to the common on both switches. (Keep then close together for single finger operation) . Each switch gets either the remote wire or the power wire. To extend antenna simply flip both switches to ON. When desired extension reached turn off both switches. (The power wire switch can be turned off by itself but when you turn it back on the antenna will keep extending) To retract the antenna simply just turn on the single switch with the power wire. Done.

There are other ways to rewire them to work with limits so if you wanna know just ask.

Like I said this is very old but if you or others wanna try to use them in this manner I wanna help. TY