GLA800-N 12V DC Low-Noise Compact Linear Actuator

The GLA800-N actuator model has been developed to be ideal for automation of hatches, furniture and other features in and around the home. It is compact, generates a much lower noise than many similarly sized actuators when in operation, and has a stylish body with a stainless steel extending rod. 

A hall-sensor encoder inside the actuator means that when paired with the appropriate controller two (or more) of these actuators can be synchronised to run at the same speed, even if one is under a greater load than the other (please contact us to find out more about available control options). 

Operation at 12V DC means that the actuator can be driven from low cost lead acid batteries, or by common sizes of AC/DC power adapter. We also stock 8mm-pin steel mounting brackets suitable for this actuator.

The actuator body is rated to IP66 (this applies to newer versions, with silver sleeve end-caps), it may be used outdoors but should be shielded from direct long-term rain exposure (washing/cleaning and the occasional splash are OK). The surface quality of the actuator is excellent, ideal if you want to maintain a quality look when they are exposed. 

As with most of our stock actuators this model has built-in limit switches at the ends of travel, meaning the actuator should stop automatically at the fully retracted and the fully extended positions. 

Integrated Encoder (for position sensing and synchronising)

The actuator has a hall-sensor based quadrature encoder built-in to the motor. The encoder is powered by two of the six cores of the main cable (+Vcc Red, -GND Black) and can run from a DC supply of between 5-24V. It has a dual-channel output (channel A Yellow lead, Channel B White lead), with each channel generating approximately 17.4 pulses per millimetre of travel. One of the channels is out of phase with the other, as such it is possible to tell both the speed (from pulse frequency) and direction (by reading the pulses of one channel and comparing it to the other) of the motor. The nature of the signals that are generated is illustrated below. Given a maximum no-load travel rate of 15mm/s for the 12V motor (when at 12V) the pulse frequency may be up to 261Hz per encoder channel (or the frequency rate may be greater than this if your controller is counting all rising/falling edges as opposed to only HIGH/LOW signal state changes). When used with the appropriate controller the encoder signals can be used for positional control with much greater accuracy and consistency than potentiometer-based actuator feedback systems. 

The actuator comes with a 2m long PVC-insulated lead as standard, this has six internal cores: Blue and Brown (to the motor, thicker wires), Red and Black (positive and negative power to the hall sensor encoder circuit, thinner wires), and White and Yellow (outputs from the encoder, channel 1 and channel 2, also thinner wires). If you are only running a single actuator (don't require synchronised control) and don't need position/speed feedback then you can connect directly to the brown and blue motor leads and ignore the others. The connections are illustrated in the below diagram which also shows the limit switch circuit inside each actuator, in series with the brown and blue motor leads.

Options are provided above for us to add a Male 6-pin 'mini-fit jr' style connector (4.2mm pitch, 3x2 format, latched) onto the actuator lead, bringing the total lead length to either 1m or 2.5m. If you have a custom lead length or connector requirement, please contact us.

User Advice

To change the direction of travel simply swap the polarity of the DC power source to the two motor leads (this may be achieved using hardware such as our rocker switch harness or GLA-CU-X3 remote control unit). By varying the input voltage between 0-12V DC it is possible to control the speed of the actuator. Reducing the voltage will also reduce load capacity (for example at 6V the actuator will have roughly half of the maximum load capacity at 12V, and draw half the current).

This actuator is designed primarily for compression loads, it will typically work OK in tension up to the same rated maximum load, but is is more vulnerable to damage from overloading when under tension. Avoid shock or impact loads (exceeding the rating) through the mounting points which could damage the actuator. 

Due to the construction of the motor and gearbox of the GLA800-N model this actuator is particularly vulnerable to damage if it is run at a voltage above the nominal 12V DC so please ensure that your power source does not exceed this. Running at a higher voltage than the nominal 12V DC will invalidate the warranty. A 12V lead acid battery is OK which may in practice be up to 13.8V when fully charged, but this should be an absolute limit. Mains adapters should be adjusted to 12V output maximum.

Be aware of the 'duty cycle' rating of the actuator, which determines the maximum proportion of the time that the actuator should be in operation for, to prevent overheating and ensure longevity. This is specified under 'Technical Details' below. 

Ensure that the control hardware and power source are capable of providing sufficient current for the loads you expect the actuator to experience. We cannot be held liable for damage caused to connected hardware due to inappropriate hardware selection. If you would like any recommendations, or for us to put together a complete power and control package, then please get in touch.

A fast-action fuse, or digital overload protection such as the GR-SENS current limiting switch, should be used to protect the actuator against stalling due to an overload, which can permanently damage the motor. 

CAD models (STEP, IGS) of the actuator are available upon request.

Operating Characteristics

Actuator Build Detail

Size: (click on image to expand)
Installation length:	This is the distance from the front to rear mounting hole centres when the actuator is retracted. 400mm stroke: 545mm 700mm stroke: 875mm 800mm stroke: 1000mm Add the stroke length to the installation length to get the fully extended hole-to-hole centre distance (for example this would be 945mm for the 400mm stroke size).
Mounting:	Two 8mm holes. One is towards the end of the piston rod, the other is on the rear of the gearbox housing.
Body material:	Aluminium, and nickel plated & painted steel. Enclosure rated to IP66 (the latest version includes an improved seal around the extending rod).
Certification:
Operating temperature:	-15°C ~ +55°C
Gearbox type:	Two-stage low-noise nylon worm-and-wheel, as pictured below:
Limit switches:	Two limit switches are installed at the ends of travel which automatically stop travel at the fully retracted and extended positions. The internal circuit is as pictured below (click on image to expand):
Wire length:	2m, excluding optional 6-pin molex connector which, if selected, brings the total lead length up to 2.5m
Weight:	400mm stroke: 1910g 700mm stroke: 2550g 800mm stroke: 2760g

If you have any queries about this item, including for information on controller options and bulk pricing, then please contact us.