How To Category - Progressive Automations Blog

Have you ever faced a situation where you must connect a high current actuator with a low current control box? Heavy-duty actuators like the PA-17 and PA-13 have a significantly higher current draw than the average actuators and many control boxes are not designed to handle such high current. However, we can resolve this by using relays to bypass the current limit on control boxes. [cta] [cta-content] Bypass the current limit on your control b...

You have recently purchased an actuator and are excited to get your application up and running. However, after wiring all the devices together, the actuator does not extend or retract? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. With this guide, we will help identify possible causes of error and troubleshooting techniques that will help you get your actuator working as intended. Operating an actuator, for the most part, should be easy and straightforward, ...

One of the most important steps in selecting a linear actuator is choosing the appropriate force rating. It is quite simple when the application requires a load to be lifted vertically, wherein the weight of the load being lifted is equal to the force required from the actuator. A more challenging scenario is if you have a hinge-type application, as commonly seen with lids, trapdoors, and windows. In this article, I will use a sample trapdoor...

Our FLTCON control box series is primarily used to operate our table lifts and lifting column sets. They can also be used as an actuator control box for certain actuator models, as long as they have a Hall Effect sensor and a 24VDC input. The control boxes utilize the Hall Effect sensor feedback, allowing the units to travel in sync as well as the ability to program and save multiple heights. The FLTCON series may benefit the user by keeping t...

Our records reveal that the number one cause for actuator failure is motor damage due to these two mistakes:  Obstructions in the actuator’s travel path Excessive loads for prolonged periods If you find your actuator lifeless despite repeated attempts to power it, you may want to bring your nose close to the motor for a quick sniff. Burnt smell is a common sign of motor damage. This smell is not similar to slightly burnt meat or a campfire,...

At Progressive Automations, we design and manufacture all of our linear actuators with the highest standards of quality and durability. We aim to provide a variety of models to perfectly suit our customer’s wide range of applications, and to ensure that the models perform well and for a very long time. Here are some tips to help you ensure that you get the most out of our linear actuators. The topics will be discussed briefly, for a more detai...