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SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

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dougsnash(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject: SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

Has anyone purchased one of the linear actuators

discussed on this list a couple of months ago from

Surplus Center?  I ordered the 2" SPAL actuator (and

mount bracket) for use on my CH-701 and it arrived

today.  Looks like a well built unit.  Much better

than the plastic one I already had.



I am wondering if anyone has any installation pictures

or information on how to mount an electric actuator to

the plane for the flapperons.  So far the only way I

can see to mount it is to the gear channel.  This will

mean that the actuator will be extended when the

flapperons are retracted.  Not ideal but with the

actuator being metal, that shouldn't be a problem. 

I'm thinking there will have to be some stiffening

done to the top of the channel as well since it is

only 032.



A looked on the SPAL website tonight and checked the

wiring and specs for the actuator and found the have a

push button controller.  It will give me three presets

with push button selection.  Also according to the

instructions it is possible to adjust to settings in

between the presets by pressing 2/3 to extend and 1/2

to retract.



All told this should cost me about $150.00 with

shipping.  Not too bad of a deal if it works like I

figure it will.



do not archive



Doug MacDonald

CH-701 Scratch builder

NW Ontario, Canada

Fuse on the gear and working on the controls

 

Finding fabulous fares is fun.  

Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains.

http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097

NYTerminat(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:30 pm Post subject: SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

Doug,

  

 This is how I did mine

  

 Bob Spudis

 N701ZX/912S



See what's free at AOL.com.

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Kemter

Joined: 18 Jun 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Cibolo, TX

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

Check out Larry Martin's Skyhawg page:

http://www.skyhawg.com/electricflaps.html

Jim K.

701 construction on hold while deployed to Afghanistan

dbortol

Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 46

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:42 am Post subject: SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

I bought the 4" actuator to use on my XL, but I decided against buying the controller. If any of the wires to the potentiometer in the actuator go open for any reason, the feedback voltage will be wrong and the controller will perceive an error between the commanded position and the actuator's current position. Unless the controller is specifically designed for this situation, it will attempt to eliminate the position error and drive the actuator to either the fully retracted or fully extended position. Maybe someone on the list who has the controller would like to test it and find out what it will do. I haven't tried one to verify my speculation. For my plane I decided that a simpler toggle switch will do the job, doesn't have this potential failure mode, and will fit on the control stick if I want to mount it there. 



If you'd like an indicator for the flap position, you can wire the feedback pot to a Ray Allen indicator, or to a spare analog input on an engine monitor. I know that the Dynon engine monitor can be configured for a 'flaps' bar graph display. Others probably can too. 



Regards,

Dino Bortolin

La Salle, Ontario



On 4/2/07, MacDonald Doug <dougsnash(at)yahoo.com (dougsnash(at)yahoo.com)> wrote: [quote]--> Zenith-List message posted by: MacDonald Doug < dougsnash(at)yahoo.com (dougsnash(at)yahoo.com)>



Has anyone purchased one of the linear actuators

discussed on this list a couple of months ago from

Surplus Center?  I ordered the 2" SPAL actuator (and

mount bracket) for use on my CH-701 and it arrived 

today.  Looks like a well built unit.  Much better

than the plastic one I already had.



... snip ...



A looked on the SPAL website tonight and checked the

wiring and specs for the actuator and found the have a 

push button controller.  It will give me three presets

with push button selection.  Also according to the

instructions it is possible to adjust to settings in

between the presets by pressing 2/3 to extend and 1/2 

to retract.



All told this should cost me about $150.00 with

shipping.  Not too bad of a deal if it works like I

figure it will.



do not archive



Doug MacDonald

CH-701 Scratch builder

NW Ontario, Canada 

Fuse on the gear and working on the controls



[b]

dougsnash(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:39 am Post subject: SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

Another solution to the position problem would be to

install a switch in the power output to the motor that

would be used as a system enable.  That way if the

controller did get scrambled, it would be unable to

output to the motor.  Simply flip the switch on as

part of your downwind check.



Very good point Dino



Doug MacDonald



--- Dino Bortolin <dbortol(at)gmail.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   I bought the 4" actuator to use on my XL, but I

 decided against buying the

 controller. If any of the wires to the potentiometer

 in the actuator go open

 for any reason, the feedback voltage will be wrong

 and the controller will

 perceive an error between the commanded position and

 the actuator's current

 position. Unless the controller is specifically

 designed for this situation,

 it will attempt to eliminate the position error and

 drive the actuator to

 either the fully retracted or fully extended

 position. Maybe someone on the

 list who has the controller would like to test it

 and find out what it will

 do. I haven't tried one to verify my speculation.

 For my plane I decided

 that a simpler toggle switch will do the job,

 doesn't have this potential

 failure mode, and will fit on the control stick if I

 want to mount it there.

 

 If you'd like an indicator for the flap position,

 you can wire the feedback

 pot to a Ray Allen indicator, or to a spare analog

 input on an engine

 monitor. I know that the Dynon engine monitor can be

 configured for a

 'flaps' bar graph display. Others probably can too.

 

 Regards,

 Dino Bortolin

 La Salle, Ontario

 


	


 

Be a PS3 game guru.

Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=120121

dbortol

Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 46

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:09 pm Post subject: SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

You could do that, and if you catch a runaway in time, you can stop if from going any further. But you wouldn't be able to bring it back, unless you put in another switch to override the controller. At which point, I think it has turned the elegantly simple into the overly complex. But, that's the beauty of homebuilts - everyone is free to make it any way that suits them. I still like a DPDT toggle switch... 

Dino Bortolin

On 4/3/07, MacDonald Doug <dougsnash(at)yahoo.com (dougsnash(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:[quote] --> Zenith-List message posted by: MacDonald Doug <dougsnash(at)yahoo.com (dougsnash(at)yahoo.com)>

Another solution to the position problem would be to

install a switch in the power output to the motor that 

would be used as a system enable.  That way if the

controller did get scrambled, it would be unable to

output to the motor.  Simply flip the switch on as

part of your downwind check.

Very good point Dino 

Doug MacDonald

--- Dino Bortolin <dbortol(at)gmail.com (dbortol(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I bought the 4" actuator to use on my XL, but I

 decided against buying the

 > controller. If any of the wires to the potentiometer

 	  Quote: 	
		   in the actuator go open

 for any reason, the feedback voltage will be wrong

 and the controller will

 perceive an error between the commanded position and 

 the actuator's current

 position. Unless the controller is specifically

 designed for this situation,

 it will attempt to eliminate the position error and

 drive the actuator to

 > either the fully retracted or fully extended

 	  Quote: 	
		   position. Maybe someone on the

 list who has the controller would like to test it

 and find out what it will

 do. I haven't tried one to verify my speculation. 

 For my plane I decided

 that a simpler toggle switch will do the job,

 doesn't have this potential

 failure mode, and will fit on the control stick if I

 want to mount it there.

 >

 	  Quote: 	
		   If you'd like an indicator for the flap position,

 you can wire the feedback

 pot to a Ray Allen indicator, or to a spare analog

 input on an engine

 monitor. I know that the Dynon engine monitor can be 

 configured for a

 'flaps' bar graph display. Others probably can too.

 Regards,

 Dino Bortolin

 La Salle, Ontario

Be a PS3 game guru.

Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. 

[b]

macstar(at)raider.co.nz
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:17 am Post subject: SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

Anyone got the URL for the surplus center?



Ian McClelland

601XL

Wing construction underway.

dougsnash(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:00 am Post subject: SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

Again, good points Dino.  I'll have to play with the

controller once it arrives and make sure I'm not going

to induce a safety issue.



Doug MacDonald

CH-701 Scratch Builder

NW Ontario , Canada



do no archive



--- Dino Bortolin <dbortol(at)gmail.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   You could do that, and if you catch a runaway in

 time, you can stop if from

 going any further. But you wouldn't be able to bring

 it back, unless you put

 in another switch to override the controller. At

 which point, I think it has

 turned the elegantly simple into the overly complex.

 But, that's the beauty

 of homebuilts - everyone is free to make it any way

 that suits them. I still

 like a DPDT toggle switch...

 

 Dino Bortolin

 

 On 4/3/07, MacDonald Doug <dougsnash(at)yahoo.com>

 wrote:

 >

 > 

 <dougsnash(at)yahoo.com>

 >

 > Another solution to the position problem would be

 to

 > install a switch in the power output to the motor

 that

 > would be used as a system enable.  That way if the

 > controller did get scrambled, it would be unable

 to

 > output to the motor.  Simply flip the switch on as

 > part of your downwind check.

 >

 > Very good point Dino

 >

 > Doug MacDonald

 >


	


 

TV dinner still cooling? 

Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV.

http://tv.yahoo.com/

dougsnash(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:05 am Post subject: SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

http://www.surpluscenter.com   



Doug MacDonald



This should be committed to the archive

--- Ian McClelland <macstar(at)raider.co.nz> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <macstar(at)raider.co.nz>

 

 Anyone got the URL for the surplus center?

 

 Ian McClelland

 601XL

 Wing construction underway. 

 


	


 

TV dinner still cooling? 

Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV.

http://tv.yahoo.com/

secatur

Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Posts: 50
Location: New Zealand

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: SPAL linear actuator from Surplus Center

Hi Doug,

I purchased one some time ago and it's very good ! I mounted on two bits of .080 l back to back. There is enough clearance to miss the gear in the channel if you're careful.

Controls are really simple to use and adjust so I mounted the 3 button controller on a small bracket below the dash. I may change it later to just 2 positions on the stick , Wait and see.



Steve in Perth, Aust (fmrly from Montreal lol)

Fus on wheels /Tail done/engine in / Just wings & details to do but they'll have to wait 'til after I ship to NZ (where we're moving, again!)

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