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2009Follow Focus forum

Troubleshooting noise and failure modes in Heden M28VP follow focus motors

17 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

What the thread found

  • Increased noise in a follow focus motor can indicate potentiometer wear, especially after exposure to wet environments or repeated end stop collisions during calibration
  • A failing potentiometer may cause the motor to exhibit noise, vibration, and gaps in positioning across certain lens positions before complete failure
  • The potentiometer in this motor model can be replaced, though sourcing the specific component may be difficult and expensive
  • Incorrect power cable connections, such as plugging a 4-pin Hirose power connector into the motor port instead of the proper FOX analog motor cables, can cause complete motor failure
  • Manufacturer support for this motor model was discontinued in 2016, limiting official repair options

Depends on

  • The potentiometer replacement procedure requires specialized small hex keys and specific knowledge
  • Potentiometer cost and availability are significant obstacles to repair
  • The specific failure mechanism from wrong cable polarity was not definitively determined in the discussion
  • Only anecdotal evidence is presented regarding the potentiometer as the cause of noise

Parts

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