Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff
Linix Nursing Bed Actuator
Dumpsterholic:
Hi all.
I recently salvaged what I believe to be a linear actuator from a treadmill. In its original use, it probably raised and lowered the belt, but I have other uses in mind. Problem is, the wire harness has me stumped. There are two wires going into the motor, plus six control wires to a box on the side. I tried applying 12VDC to the motor wires, but nothing happened. After reading several posts on linear actuators, I decided that maybe the thing requires some kind of control voltage in addition to the voltage for the motor itself. The model number for this device is Linix DTG110-92. Elsewhere, I have seen similar devices labeled "DTG12-XXX" or "DTG24-XXX, and I believe they run on 12VDC and 24VDC respectively. Based on the part number, I'm wondering if the motor I have may require 110VDC to run. Any advice or comments would be most appreciated. FWIW, the control wires are white, black, red, green, blue and yellow; the motor wires are heavier gauge black and red.
iainwhite:
I found this link:
http://www.linixmotor.com/5-Nursing-Bed-Actuator.html
Looks like the motor is DC and I think you are probably correct about the 110 volt rating
Not much data available from that link, however.
Dumpsterholic:
Thanks Iain!
I followed that link. There is a photo that very much resembles my little gem, so I believe they are in the same family. I have sent a request to the manufacturer for a data sheet and/or schematic.... Fingers crossed! In the event that they don't honor my request (after all, I am not a nursing bed manufacturer looking to buy 20,000 of them), I wonder if six-wire control harnesses are common for linear actuators. I have learned that limit switches often come built in to such devices, and that speed control via PWM is not uncommon. Elsewhere on other manufacturers' websites I have seen schematics incorporating multiple wires for feedback, limit sensing and control voltage, but none showing eight wires total. Also, Cytron Technologies at one time produced a motor control board, the manual for which shows it controlling a DTG24-100, (nearly identical to the unit I have, save for the number of control wires). Since the device I have came to me at zero cost, I may take the plunge and strip it down to parts I can readily identify, but before doing so I thought it wise to do as much research as possible.
Zero999:
This is the only thing I could find. It suggests there are three control signals: forwards, backwards and PWM, two wires are required for the 5V logic and another pair for power to the motor. That would make five wires for the logic/control. I don't know why there's an extra wire, it could be a motor healthy signal, which goes low if over:current/temperature is detected.
http://www.robotshop.com/media/files/PDF/user-manual-mo-dtg24-100.pdf
Dumpsterholic:
Hero999:
Much thanks. Your post helped me sort out some ideas circling around my muddled brain. BTW: The linear actuator may have come not from the treadmill I scavenged, but rather from a sort of "massage chair" which lay right next to it in a junk pile outside a medical equipment supply company. Since there was a circulating pump for hot fluid (oil?) which was part of the so-called "massage" the unit delivered, it stands to reason that a "motor healthy" signal may need to have been incorporated into the circuitry in order to prevent bad stuff from happening.... Based on this knowledge, I think I'm ready to start poking around with some further tests. Even if I end up destroying the unit, it won't matter. The control circuitry can be sacrificed; at the very least I will end up with a rather robust motor and a gear train. I now know that in the area where I live, a sort of retirement destination for the well-heeled, such massage chairs, along with nursing home beds, treadmills and other exercise machines are plentiful.
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