If you are having issues with your HotShot (aka Hot Shot) Satellite Dish Heater Kits, these troubleshooting steps should help you figure out what, if anything has failed!
1. If you connect the power supply directly to the “To Optional Accessory” plug, you bypass the thermostat and start heating the blanket.
DO NOT ATTEMPT IF DISH CANNOT BE REACHED SAFELY & DO NOT LEAVE THE POWER SUPPLY PLUGGED INTO THIS PORT AFTER TESTING!
2. The current power supply has a red light which only comes on when it is heating the blanket.
3. Previous power supply (with pigtail) has a green light when it is plugged into power, regardless of heating the blanket or not.
4. The previous power supply to those two was the transformer with the fuse.
5. The power supply will show about 26VDC out, even when it is not heating the blanket.
6. It is recommended to leave the power supply plugged in through the winter. If you only plugin before or after snow has collected on the dish, it can trip out due to excess power demand on a cold dish.
7. You can test the power output at the power supply and on the accessory port at the dish with a voltmeter. Some power supplies are 18vac, while others are 24vac.
Our distributor for the HotShot Satellite Dish Heater Kits rarely allows vendors to purchase PARTS for the Hot Shot Heater Kits such as spare blankets, power supplies, etc. so usually, if your HotShot Satellite Dish Heater Kit has failed, you simply have to purchase another heater kit!
We have these kits and parts listed here, but please contact us if you are trying to order a power supply or replacement blanket instead of a complete kit first because most of that time that is not an option!
https://montanasatellitesupply.com/satellite-dish-heaters/hot-shot
Also… as of late 2019, the 18″ round HotShot Heater Kits, the 24″ Oval HotShot Heater Kits, and the 14″ Add-on Arm Element have been discontinued!
We do not know if that is a temporary thing or permanent, but we are working on finding an alternative solution since the only kit that is available now is designed for the DirecTV Slimline Satellite TV dish and only fits a few other satellite dishes!
If you are having issues with your 18″ round or 24″ oval satellite dish heater, you might want to check out the Ice Zapper which only works on metal dishes, but sticks on the back of the satellite dish and plugs into a power outlet or extension cord. We offer a thermostatically controlled model and an “always-on” model. You can use the “always-on” model with an appliance timer, and/or just turn it on when you need it or whatever works.
https://montanasatellitesupply.com/satellite-dish-heaters/ice-zapper
For our VSAT, HughesNet and iDirect platform customers, we also offer heated satellite dishes that have moisture and temperature sensors on them to only power up when needed to keep snow and ice from collecting on the satellite dish and blocking the signal! Contact us for more information on those!