Please help me with linear actuator!!!! EASY 10 PTS.?

Question

I'm buying a linear actuator, and I need some help.

Will this linear actuator work if I just hook it right up to a 12 volt battery, or is there a potentiometer or something else?

And I know there's a limit switch but what does that mean?

This is the one I want-

http://www.firgelliauto.com/product_info.php?cPath=82&products_id=34

Answer 1

12V lead-acid battery usually about 13.2V. This is a little high, but likely OK for a motor. At 3A, resistor would be about 1/3A @ >3W to drop about a volt. Motors tend to be fairly forgiving, I wouldn't bother with a pot or resistor. Also, depending on battery size, internal resistance may cause part of this drop anyway, especially for a small battery.

Old rheostat from an auto may work if you want speed control. Yours is 12V * 3A = 36W, probably more power than planned for the rheostat, but they are pretty sturdy, so may work. You can get at junkyard or autoparts place.

Limit switch is a small switch that opens or closes when the actuator hits the factory preset travel limit. This would be wired to shut off the actuator when it hits the end of the designed travel. Without using the limit switch, it will stall, and could damage the device.

Note that you need to be able to reverse the voltage polarity to run both ways. A double pole, double throw switch rated 5A inductive (probably 10 or 15A resistive) would work well.

Cool component, thanks for posting!

Answer 2

which one, there are 4? different speed/power tradeoffs.

These are a motor and a worm gear, with limit switches at each end, which presumably cut off the power.

Apparently they are designed to work from straight 12 volts. 5 amps load.