Tracker Actuator arm

[Gareth J]

How does the ram work? Is that snapped shiny bar hollow?

Maybe automatic gate people could help provide an alternative suggestion.

[Marcus]

I'd say the actuator was already fairly terminally messed up, so there's not much to lose by messing with/dismantling it.

The shiny bar will be hollow so the leadscrew can pass up through it in the fully pulled in position.

I had a linak actuator on my tracker; 6000N, 600mm travel IIRC but only 24v and 4amp and no limit switches.

[Oliver90owner]

We just need drawings, or a good set of dimensions. Advice can then be provided to either repair or substitute that part.

Regarding the thread, if that is how it is actuated (it may be a rack?), it would have to be fine to provide the force required with the available torque.

Many ‘extenders’ are made with old car jacks, etc. This one simply looks as though it is posh, but insufficient from the mechanical aspect required.

[ecogeorge]

Have had 2 quotes now to replace -the cheapest being £1600.
Looking at stripping and getting failed part made as Oliver suggests........
But was at x's today so had a look at my tracker (still working) with the possibility of finding a replacement actuator .
Actuator has 5core connected -are these limit switches ?? can anyone tell fro the pic below ?
George

[ecogeorge]

Wiring diagram from manual only shows this ......
George

[Marcus]

well of the two linak actuators i have used one had no limit switches and the other had them internally wired so there were only2 wires out.

Looking at your pics, I'd say the large brown & blue are the motor wires and the three thin wires are limit switches: + (prob max ext) limit, common, - (min ext )limit. But that's a guess on how the limit switches are wired.

[Marcus]

With the limit switches i have seen on linak and (cheap n nasty) skywalker actuators, the two limit switches are normally closed and one goes open at each end of travel; simplest wiring of them is with a bypass diode across each and in series with the motor so that the motor can only run back off the limit.

So if the actuator is not at either limit there should be continuity between all 3 wires.

Edit to say: having said that, thinking about the skywalker actuators and considering the limit switches appear to be wired into the controller, it looks like the limit switches are designed to be externally wired so it may be when you look inside the actuator wiring cover you may be able to access the NO terminals if that suits your control circuit.

[ecogeorge]

Ok it's an old thread but going to update it and move on to almost identical problem.............
This issue of broken actator ram was cured by buying an (expensive) new actautor at a cost of >£1000. Still running fine ....... I kept all old bits as spares .
Now recently the x Mrs ecogeorge (been divorced 7 yrs -she lives at ecogeorge towers -I've moved on.......... ) has said the tracker has stopped moving...
Investigations reveal that if manually wired the tracker actuator will move in and out.
If connected to pcb it wont- even using manual option on pcb......
So i spent a long time stripping and replacing the end of the actuator with the salvaged end from the broken ram unit. It contains a complex pcb with limit switches controlled by a sliding rod.
Upon re fitting the actuator (should go far east then far west then track based on 12 movements per length of solar day-resting flat facing south over night) it goes far East then goes far west - struggles as end of stroke then error led lashes on pcb.............
Think that replaced pcb unit is faulty limit switch.........
Think my original pcb is faulty limit switch(s) ..............
So how to repair ??????
Actual actuator will move in and out so doesn't need replacing -cos bloody dear.
Was gonig to purchase new solar tracker controller (china) and fit 2 limit switches to run original actuator but wondering if just 2 new external limit switches on existing pcb would work ??
Problem is i don't understand how the Etertrak pcb works ?? I believe the pcb is fine.......
Attached is photo of pcb . 5 wires.
Right hand 2 are power to ram - apply power and ram moves -reverse polarity and ram retracts.
left hand 3 wires go to actuator pcb -ares these just limit switches ?? if so why a small pcb ??
Anyone understand this ?? thinking 2 new external limit switches -how to wire??
or give up and fit new controller c/w limit switches........
thanks for your patience.....
George

[Marcus]

I have more questions than answers:-

Do you have any pics of the actuator pcb ? You describe it as complex? Or pics if the sliding rod mechanism?

According to the page of the manual you posted previously there are at lease two led flash messages (mechanism 'blocked' and battery undervoltage). Can you confirm the led flash you're getting is for 'mechanism blocked'?

When it does its initialization: goes east and stops without struggling, then goes west, struggles then flashed led. Are you certain that the 'struggling' is the actuator against it's physical limit, and not the actuator encountering physical resistance before reaching its limit?

[ecogeorge]

I will attempt to get more pics.
Upon initialisation it goes full east then full west (definately end of travel west) but does not stop and labours for a couple of secoonds before error led flashes .
Moving actuator by hand (on the floor) a "click" can be heard at full travel.
The circuit board appears to go around the shaft at one point and i am wondering if if senses actual movement of motor shaft.
Wondering if i should connect 2 limit switches and see if i can it to move when both NC ??