Download Reference Sheet
GLA1500-N (12V)

Integrated Encoder, for position detection and synchronisation

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 5-12V. It has a dual-channel output (channel A Yellow lead, Channel B White lead), with each channel generating 26.1 pulses per millimetre of travel (4 pulses per motor revolution). 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 10mm/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. 

Leads & Connector Options

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 6-pin 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

Device Safety
Electric actuators such as this model are low-voltage electromechanical components that are used in a wide variety of different applications. It is important that the safety of each installation is assessed according to its own requirements, construction, end user and environment. Please see a list of design principles on page 3 of the actuator reference sheet (PDF), which we strongly recommend that you adhere to in your end-application design.

Operating Characteristics

Motor

Nominal 12V DC, up to 50W

Speed / Force

9.5mm/s no-load, reducing to 4.5mm/s at the full rated 1500N

Operating current

No-load: 0.8A
Maximum load: 5.7A. If using overcurrent detection to protect the motor, ensure that this is sensitive enough to react quickly to an overcurrent event.

Stall current

1500N (152kg, 337lbs) for supported (linear) loads.The maximum load should be reduced if the load is not supported in an axial direction, parallel to the movement of the actuator. Longer-travel actuators are affected to a greater extent by off-axis loads.

Noise levels

< 48dB under no-load
< 50dB under full-load

Maximum duty cycle

15% (this is the maximum proportion of time that the actuator may be in operation for, up to 2minutes during any continuous stretch. The duty cycle should be reduced below 10% for average loads >1000N)

Life expectancy

Nominal 40,000 strokes. 

Please be aware that there is likely to be some variation in the operating performance from actuator to actuator, allow for at least 10% difference above/below the given values. If you intend to use the actuators in sets of two or more driving the same assembly then you must ensure that the driven assembly is rigid enough to transfer forces between them effectively or else the output could twist and put excessive stress on the framework and actuators. If your structure is not very rigid, or needs to stay level throughout its travel (e.g. tabletop surfaces rising/falling level to the ground) then please get in contact to discuss automatic synchronising control options.

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.

100mm stroke: 215mm	200mm stroke: 315mm
300mm stroke: 445mm	400mm stroke: 545mm
500mm stroke: 675mm

Add the Installation Length to the Stroke Length to get the full travel distance, measured between the centre of the two mounting holes.

Mounting

Two 8mm holes. One is towards the end of the piston rod, the other is on the rear of the gearbox housing. Designed-for-purpose mounting brackets are available here.

Body material

Cast & extruded aluminium, with grey painted steel motor can, body rated to IP66. Bear in mind that an IP66 rating does not mean that the device is completely waterproof; it is a short-duration test which does not factor in the possibility of weathering, and movements of the rod, to compromise performance over time. For more-exposed applications additional protective measures (e.g. shrouding, external sealant) may be appropriate.

Certifications

Operating temperature

-15°C ~ +45°C

Transmission

Two-stage low-noise nylon worm-and-wheel. First stage 29:2 ratio (2-start worm), second stage 9:4 ratio (4-start worm), cumulative 32.625:1 ratio. With a 2.5mm pitch 2-start lead screw.

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):

Cable

2m long, with 2 x 18AWG cores (Brown and Blue, to motor) plus 4 x 22AWG cores (to quadrature encoder), when the standard option is selected

Weight

When with standard lead, no connector

100mm stroke: 1280g	200mm stroke: 1480g
300mm stroke: 1740g	400mm stroke: 1940g
500mm stroke: 2170g