Traditionally in industry, heavy equipment has been put into motion by way of hydraulics and similar mechanisms. However, technology has taken leaps and bounds, and industrial electric actuators are quickly making their way into both consumer goods and high-powered industrial equipment. An electric linear actuator works by converting an electric motor’s rotational motion into linear motion, giving a machine the ability to move in various directions, and push and pull. In industrial applications, that ability to move is crucial.
With the uptick in solar panel technology in recent years, linear actuators are proving to be an excellent way to supply movement for solar tracking. The way that solar power is produced is through the use of photovoltaic solar panels. These panels are positioned outside in such a way as to absorb direct sunlight in the optimal position.
Installed within the solar rack mechanism, electric linear actuators can help improve the efficiency of the solar panel system by tilting the panels to follow the orbit of the sun.
With the increase in demand for solar power, manufacturers continue to find new vehicles for solar panels. This is where the solar trailer comes into play.
Solar trailers are portable vehicles that have solar panels attached to their roofs. These useful machines harness the power of solar energy in various locations due to their easy portability.
TiMOTION offers several solutions for actuation on various solar applications, including trailers. The following is a selection of our products specifically designed to withstand the kind of environment necessitated by solar applications:
- MA2
The MA2 linear actuator was specifically designed for applications that face harsh working environments and require ruggedness and durability. It has IP69K protection, meaning it can withstand high temperature, high pressure water jets, and the ingress of dust and other solid contaminants. The MA2 also has optional Reed switches along the outer tube, allowing users to adjust the stroke length. For improved control and accuracy of motion, the MA2 can be customized with many different feedback options depending on your application requirements. - MA5
The MA5 is another great option for solar applications requiring efficient automation. It’s a powerful actuator capable of pushing up to 3500 N. It has a duty cycle up to 25%. With its IP69K protection, it can resist high pressure water jets, dust and other solid contaminants.This high level of protection of the inner tube is achieved through the optional grease chamber. It allows a high protection against corrosion due to chemical products. Furthermore, with the grease nipple as an option, the users can directly add the grease when needed. The MA5 also incorporates TiMOTION’s integrated Hall Sensor or Potentiometer sensors for positioning feedback depending on your request. Its small retracted length allows our customers to save space on their machine. - TC14
In addition to a linear actuator, these applications require control boxes to operate. TiMOTION’s TC14 model can operate up to four actuators in sync. This control box can withstand harsh environments, going up to IP66, which are common with the solar energy applications. The end user will also have the option of having a wired handset or can utilize our wireless key fob.
If you would like to learn more about how electric linear actuators can improve your solar machinery, please check out our website or contact your local sales representative.
This is a sponsored post from TiMOTION.
Matt Tomson says
Do you produce an actuator that can be programmed to change its position in response to time of day? Or in response to any input whatsoever? E.g connected to separate solar monitoring software