If I wanted to run twelve 24v 6" stroke linear actuators in unison from one power supply would they all simply run at 1/12 speed/power - assuming I wired them in parallel? Speed / exact position from one actuator to another another isn’t important in this application, only that they all eventually reach the limits. Would like to hear any thoughts on running more than one actuator and some of the problems I might experience if I can’t find an alternative to using so many. How do I determine the correct power supply, etc. Thanks.
When powered, a motor will consume as much as it needs to resist a lot (linear or radial). A motor controller allows you to control the speed of a motor, but does not change the current it requires. The only way (we are aware of) you can use a lower current power supply is to:
- Have only one actuator moving at a time (this can be done using a microcontroller and either relays or motor controllers)
- Reduce the number of actuators
If you choose a 24V power supply which can provide enough current for all the actuators, they will run at full speed and full force. If you choose a less powerful power supply with lower maximum current, the actuators won’t be able to provide the maximum force and there’s a risk you might fry the power supply since they will still try to draw the current they need. If you choose a power supply with a lower voltage (12V for example), then they will all run at ~1/2 speed.
Thanks for the quick response Cbenson! Sounds like I should be careful here. Is there any way a person could switch power to the actuators in intervals and then avoid having to use a more powerful power supply? Maybe even by using some sort of motor driven distributor?