Should a motor turn just by pressing the manual button alone?

Hi all,

I installed a motorised satellite system together with new cabling as part of a house renovation. When I left it it was all working fine; the motor was turning both manually and through the receiver and I was picking up a number of birds.

Several months later, I gave it another another test run before fitting the cable faceplates and the motor isn't turning. I connected up the same receiver and I can see that there is no light on the motor (suggesting that there is no power to the motor?).

So i got the ladder out and pressed the manual left and right buttons on the motor, but the motor did not turn, therefore my question is should a motor turn when I press the manual buttons even thought there is no power to it?
Also does the skew of the LNB make any difference to whether a motor will turn or not?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Thanks all for the replies. Sometimes I just need double-check the most basic of things!

Which brings me on another basic question; I've fitted an octo LNB, am I right in thinking that all the cables (when connected to a receiver) should be able to move the motor or is it just one?

Quote from monkified

Not ideal but worked for me I did the tongue test on the cables to see which one power came from then I put that one in to see if the light cam on on the motor

When you say 'the tongue test', I presume you mean 'lick' the cable to see if you can feel an electric current?

I had a sneaking suspicion that only one cable ran the motor. I did mark each of the cables as to where they went in the house when I fitted the LNB, only trouble is the marks have now washed off :-(

Quote from monkified

Yes, don't worry it's fun

I can see an episode on Panorama (on BBC Knowledge 13E obviously) on this; kids in the UK are turning to a new way to get their 'kicks' - licking motorised sat cables!

Thanks all for your help.

bb69