How to Repair a Satellite Dish Motor (Relay Replacement)

Does your satellite dish motor not want to turn? Perhaps it only turns in one direction—or fails to turn altogether? Don’t worry, or immediately go out and purchase a new one. More than likely, your relay is burnt or bad, and today I will walk you through how to replace it yourself at home!This easy DIY fix can save you money, time, and get your FTA system up and running again.Here’s your brief tool list:

• A small set of screwdrivers
• Multimeter (for voltage & continuity checks)
• Soldering iron + solder
• New relay (usually: SRA‑12VDC‑CL, JQC-3F, etc.)
• Safety glasses & gloves
• Electrical tape or heat shrink tubing

Fixing Your Dish Motor –

Step 1 –

• Open the Motor Housing
• Power down the system.
• Take off the dish actuator arm from its bracket (if necessary).
• Open the motor casing using screwdrivers or spanners.
• Find the small black/blue relay on the circuit board, located internally.

Step 2 –

• Test the Relay
• Put your multimeter on continuity.
• Put probes on the NO (Normally Open) and COM (Common) terminals.
• Connect 12V DC to the relay coil terminals — if it won’t click or show continuity, it’s dead.

Step 3 –

• Remove the Faulty Relay
• Heat all relay pins using the soldering iron.
• Remove old solder using a solder sucker or braid.
• Carefully remove the relay (avoid harming the PCB).

Step 4 –

• Add and Solder New Relay
• Insert the new relay into the same location (align the pin direction).
• Cleanly solder each pin using fresh solder.
• Check for cold joints or solder bridges.

Step 5 –

• Rebuild and Test
• Gently put everything back together.
• Restore the actuator and connect power.
• Test movement via your satellite receiver or controller—both left and right!

If it moves perfectly now, congrats, you’re a satellite repair genius!