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J3C TYPE  ELECTRIC ACTUATOR TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

 

 

WHAT THIS GUIDE IS, AND HOW TO USE IT 

 
This comprehensive document provides POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS and/or ADVICE for reported 
‘faulty’  actuators,  and  is  intended  purely  as  a  guide  to  identify  possible  causes  and 
remedies for actuators that are not working as expected.  
 
• Use the index to identify the page in the document most likely to help. 
 
• When a user sends a command signal to an actuated valve and it doesn’t respond, it is 
usually automatically assumed that the actuator is faulty. In practice, in most  cases, the 
fault  is  either  with  the  valve,  or  with  the  electrical  system  controlling  the  actuator,  and 
not the actuator itself.  
 
• This document is intended to help identify where the problem is.  J+J are not qualified 
electrical,  electronic  or  control  engineers  and  therefore  ‘POSSIBLE  SOLUTIONS/  ADVICE’ 
contained in this document are only suggestions and recommendations based on 20 years 
of practical experience. 
 
• The warranty on the J3C S Type electric actuator relates to the product itself, and does 
not  extend  beyond  those  parts  supplied.  All  external  equipment/  wiring/  influences  are 
provided by, and are the sole responsibility of, the customer.  
 
• Errors & omissions excluded and subject to correction when identified. 
 
 
 

 
 

  INDEX 

 

 

Page No 

Symptom or description 

How to use this guide & Index 

LED light 

LED not lit, actuator doesn’t work 

LED lit solidly but actuator doesn’t work 

LED flashing and actuator doesn’t work 

5 & 6 

Electronic Torque Limiter engaged 

7 & 8 

Manual Override Engaged 

9  

LED flashing when the actuator is NOT fitted to valve 

10 & 11 

PCB Issues 

11 

Actuator drives continuously 

12  

Failsafe function issues (BSR installed) 

13  

Modulating function/ positioner issues (DPS installed) 

14 

Modulating function/ positioner soft reset 

14 & 15 

Modulating function/ positioner fault finding 

16  

DIN plug issues 

17 

Housing Issues 

18 

Most common causes of ‘malfunctions’ 

18 

Information needed to report a ‘faulty’ actuator 

 

 

Summary of Contents for J3C

Page 1: ...nt are only suggestions and recommendations based on 20 years of practical experience The warranty on the J3C S Type electric actuator relates to the product itself and does not extend beyond those parts supplied All external equipment wiring influences are provided by and are the sole responsibility of the customer Errors omissions excluded and subject to correction when identified INDEX Page No ...

Page 2: ...d to remote commands If a problem exists and the actuator does not respond to remote commands the sequence and colour of the blinking gives an indication of the possible cause END OF TRAVEL MOVING END OF TRAVEL NO POWER APPLIED OPEN SIGNAL APPLIED CLOSED OPEN CLOSE SIGNAL APPLIED OPEN CLOSED IN MANUAL MAN TORQUE LIMITED ACTIVATED With closed signal applied With open signal applied BATTERY FAILSAFE...

Page 3: ...to the actuator and b when it is connected to the actuator and driving actuator checks for undersized power supply Checking AT THE ACTUATOR DIN PLUG eliminates any issues in the connection between the power source and the actuator it is imperative that the voltage the actuator sees is being measured not the output from a controller panel Insufficient power intensity available this could be a under...

Page 4: ... well to any pulsed input command signal Relay or switch is not compatible with the actuator Typically residual voltage from solid state relays may cause this issue Power supply issue Borderline power supply sufficient to light LED but not to drive actuator LED FLASHING AND ACTUATOR DOESN T WORK REPORTED FAULT POSSIBLE REASON S POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS ADVICE LED Flashing Depends on sequence and colour ...

Page 5: ...ted and the actuator s ETL is activated excessively this can be identified from the electronic counters that can be read by J J service centres comparing torque limiter activations to number of operations it is possible that eventually the gearbox will fail mechanically This is not a warranty issue because it is customer generated by not resolving the excessive torque issue Quick check 1 Put the a...

Page 6: ...0 S85 H L Series use a brushed DC motor Brushed motors are susceptible to carbon brush wear which can result in a build up of carbon brush dust In older J J actuators where the motor is not fitted with a dust cap this dust covers all internals in high cycling actuators and or actuators continually working at maximum load which can cause electronic issues that can prevent an actuator from working b...

Page 7: ... clockwise to close In Model 85 the hand wheel rotates in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation counter clockwise There are direction of rotation markers in the hand wheel caps Known issues with MO Gearbox Selector lever damaged through excessive force When the Man Auto selector lever is moved to make an alternate selection excessive force can bend an internal plastic arm which is at...

Page 8: ...t will shear This is not a warranty issue as it is user abuse of the product Do not grab the manual override lever hand wheel to try and stop it rotating when the motor is running as it can cause the gear fitted to the gearbox end of the manual override shaft to fail The ETL may engage before this happens but there is a greater likelihood that the gear will fail This is not a warranty issue as it ...

Page 9: ... and this dust usually fills the cavity between the rotor and windings as described above User has applied 110 or 240VAC across the motor terminals to try to prove the motor works in an actuator that has stopped working All the motors are 24VDC therefore this test will cause irreparable damage to the motor and is not covered by the warranty Also should this test be done whilst the motor cables are...

Page 10: ...ully weatherproof to IP67 and under normal circumstances does not have any issues with water or dust ingress It cannot however be submerged for long periods hosed down deluged in water or pressure washed Voltage drop THIS IS A VERY COMMON CAUSE OF FAILURES As the voltage drops the current increases the excess current causes the damage Voltage drop can be due to incorrectly sized power supply under...

Page 11: ...rect wiring The difference between the power grey plug and end of travel black plug wiring has not been observed or the plugs have been swapped so the grey plug was fitted to the black base creating an internal short circuit resulting in a blow out on the limit switch PCB ACTUATOR DRIVES CONTINUOUSLY REPORTED FAULT POSSIBLE REASON S POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS ADVICE Actuator drives continuously Vibration ...

Page 12: ... a partial stroke can fully drain the limited charge present when the kit is first supplied Draining the battery completely at this stage will not only cause long term and permanent damage to the battery but the BSR will not work when external power Is lost as there is no charge in it The LED will indicate when the battery needs recharging The actuator is designed to have power applied at all time...

Page 13: ... the earth pin the actuator will perform a soft reset Whenever external power is lost on re start the positioner performs a soft reset to recalibrate the positioner will not respond to control signal changes during this procedure The control Din plug wiring is incorrect and or A signal with the wrong polarity is being applied Connecting the end of travel Din plug to the control Din plug doing so w...

Page 14: ... factors NOTE Most operational issues with modulating actuators relate somehow to signal problems If a soft reset doesn t correct the issue start by removing the user s signal remove the centre Din plug and applying a signal from a hand held device totally independent from the customer s system to see if the issue disappears often it doe proving that it is a site control signal issue Alternatively...

Page 15: ... lies Check the output from the physical device temperature sensor pressure sensor any type of transducer Then check the output from the control panel Then check the signal at the actuator s Din plug 0 10V Control Signals 0 10VDC Control signals are susceptible to issues caused by Cabling issues voltage drop cable size length of run power supply Electrical interference from motors relays etc 0V ze...

Page 16: ...rked with the pin numbers and the plugs and bases are colour coded The stripped part of the cable is too long and can touch and short with other pins Cable gauge too big for size of connector Trapped cables when plug cover replaced Cables damaged when securing screw re inserted when cover replaced usually occurs when cables are trapped under cover on re assembly DIN plug seals not fitted or if pro...

Page 17: ...ls missing or incorrectly fitted Often the O ring and clip will be left on a shaft when the cover is removed They must be replaced into their sockets in the housing correctly before the cover is refitted otherwise ingress protection is lost In an attempt to prevent use of the manual override the selector lever securing screw and the selector lever are removed by the user Removing these parts cause...

Page 18: ...ain ID label 2 Actuator serial number from main ID label 3 Actuator function Options on off failsafe 0 10V modulating 4 20mA modulating failsafe modulating 0 10V failsafe modulating 4 20mA 4 External supply voltage being applied 5 Valve type material and size 6 Valve duty media pressure temperature 7 Valve installation location Inside building inside cabinet outside protected from weather outside ...

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