Continue to Site

Eng-Tips is the largest engineering community on the Internet

Intelligent Work Forums for Engineering Professionals

  • Congratulations waross on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

DC Motor controller

Status
Not open for further replies.

DTSFA

Electrical
May 31, 2012
41
Hi

i have a requirement to control a dc actuator for a power gate application.


above device is close to what we require, but, ideally would like the device to reverse direction automatically, when hitting an obstruction

can anyone recommend suitable controller ?

thanks
 
Replies continue below

Recommended for you

Most gate actuator companies have controllers with obstruction sensing. Did you talk to the company that provides the gate/actuator?
 
Automotive window controllers have this feature built in. Perhaps you can adapt one? You will almost certainly need to improve the heatsinking, or possibly swap the power FET to increase power handling. The existing FET driver will probably be ok for a slightly larger device. The current sense resistor might need to be changed to suit your motor stall current.
 
Second the power windows idea. Couple of others you could try: garage door controller or CD drive controller (the latter probably underpowered).
 
thanks guys,

apparently speaking to italian manufacturer of dc actuator is not an option, or viable,

Scotty, that useful info, will note, take a look,


 
What you need is a 2 quadrant (meaning Fwd and Rev) DC drive and a Current Sensing option or separate relay. The set it up so that when the gate reaches a current threshold, meaning the mechanism is jammed, the current sense board sends a signal to the drive to reverse the direction.

This video demonstrates the current sensing board, you would just adapt it to a 2 quadrant drive instead of just a trip indication.

The challenge is, if I take from your previous selection that you need a 50A controller that is 12-24VDC, AND you want 2 or 4 quadrant, AND you want a current sense option with an output to control the reversing, you are going to have to spend some time looking.

"Dear future generations: Please accept our apologies. We were rolling drunk on petroleum."
— Kilgore Trout (via Kurt Vonnegut)

For the best use of Eng-Tips, please click here -> faq731-376
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor