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LED FLASHING WHEN ACTUATOR NOT FITTED TO VALVE
REPORTED FAULT
POSSIBLE REASON(S) POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS/ ADVICE
LED Flashing when
the actuator is not
fitted to the valve
Motor issue
This generally indicates a motor issue.
•
Motor issues generally cause increased or erratic current draw which can activate the ETL as it mimics the effect of a jammed valve – the
actuator can therefore activate the ETL (and causing the LED to flash) even if it is not fitted to a valve.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS/ ADVICE are;
•
Motor has been in service for many years and is simply worn out
•
High ambient temperatures seem to wear out the motors more quickly than cooler ambient conditions. The commutator brushes wear
faster and the resulting dust damages the motor. Consider turning off the anti-condensation heater – but check with a manufacturers’
service centre first.
•
Chattering relay causing the motor to rapidly change direction. Often this is invisible and difficult to detect because the only rotation is
in the motor, it is not a large enough rotation to translate to the output shaft, but sufficient to wear the brushes, 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 still connected to the actuator’s main PCB,
the PCB will be irreparably
damaged too, again not covered under warranty.
Warranty note: Number of cycles and frequency of operation:
•
The actuator conforms to the minimum requirements stated in EN 157412-2 (2009) for Part Turn Electric Actuators. The standard
requires that a part turn actuator is capable of 10,000 cycles (1 cycle = close to open and back to closed). The manufacturer warrants the
actuator for 1 year from date of despatch, so the warranty covers 1.14 cycles per hour during the warranty period.
More commonly this is expressed as 10,000 cycles or 1 year from date of despatch, whichever arrives first.
•
If an actuator is being cycled more than 1.14 times per hour, the warranty will expire before the 1 year time period expires As an
example: I cycle every 6 minutes = 10 per hour, 240 per day. The warranty would therefore expire in 41.7 days/ 5.95 weeks.
