How To Category - Progressive Automations Blog

Welcome to Part 2 of our guide on how to monitor the load feedback of a linear actuator. In Part 1 we went over the wiring process and the basic coding needed for the example. In today's guide we will be going over in the detail the different sections of the coding as well as some ways to edit it to your liking. To begin we will be looking at the latchButtons() section of code. First thing we want to see is the button debouncing, so when the ...

In today’s guide we will be going over how to find out how much force a linear actuator is applying by monitoring the amount of current it is using. This will be one of our more advanced guides and will require some complex coding, calibrating and programming. We will be covering the monitoring of an analog input and how it utilizes its functions. For this project we’ll be using a MegaMoto Plus, a linear actuator (we are using our PA-14 mini a...

We’ve been expanding our line of control systems with the addition of microcontrollers, shields and other hardware, including becoming an official distributor of Arduino products. Arduino is one of the leaders in open-source electronic platforms and one of the most popular hardware brands in the industry. Starting in Italy in 2005 they have gradually expanded over the years, with many manufacturers and distributors opening around the world. I...

In today's how to post we will be going over the steps necessary to combine our linear actuator control systems together. Now in order to combine control systems, you must prevent short-circuiting as this can damage your components. Since the control boxes connect actuators to the ground when not activated we cannot use them for direct control in parallel. When combining the systems we use diodes to allow only the current to flow away from th...

Installing can be a simple, easy, pain-free process for anyone. If you find you require some additional help with installation, this guide should be able to set you on the right path. This guide is aimed at helping those with simple automation projects, such as home automation projects, get the best installation possible. If you have any additional questions about the installation process, feel free to get in contact with us by using the conta...

In your search for the proper actuator, you might be wondering what duty cycle is and how it affects your application. When selecting an actuator, the duty cycle becomes important when you risk running the actuator beyond its expected operation. [cta] [cta-content] We have a wide range of electric linear actuators for any application – click to browse! Click Here [cta] What is an Actuator and Duty Cycle? Duty cycle is the ratio of on time to ...