Exceeding the Normal Rated Duty Cycle The duty cycle can be defined as the amount of time a given motor on the actuator can run relative to the amount of time it needs to be at rest. All the AC powered motors will have a set limitation for the duty cycle. Exceeding the duty cycle will cause an unstable and constant modulation of the actuator. Correcting this requires the use of the correct current according to the specifications of the actuator. Exceeding the rated Torque The gear trains in the actuator can be variable causing erratic control. The gears can be using rugged and uneven hardened steel spur gears. Under normal conditions, the failure of the gears is unlikely. The gears can be exposed in the motor gearbox if the manual override is not correctly used. Exposure of the gears makes it impossible for the motor gearbox to declutch. Gear fatigue can also cause failures of the actuator to work properly. Therefore, there is a need to check if the 12 vold actuator is well sized, the gears covered and the valve torque should be regularly checked if they have risen beyond the manufacturers specifications. Incorrect Wiring Incorrect wiring will indeed make the actuator not to run. It may even cause circuit board damage. The installation information should be well understood before any connections are made. Working with the actuators internal connections can lead to incorrect installation, for example, plugging the motor on the motherboard at the wrong sport or reversing the limit switches or connecting the potentiometer at the wrong spot. Voltage sparks from lightening or even power surges can damage the motherboard of an actuator. Correct installation of power conditioning and the surge protectors will ensure a lifetime protection of the actuator.
