advice needed for linear actuator control

Using Arduino Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
3

kf2qd:
You don't need an H-Bridge to drive this unit.
If you read the specs that the seller gives it will answer most of your questions -

Electrical - six wires exit the unit through the rubber grommet and have the following functions:-

Yellow - drives motor to pull shaft in (with 12 volts on Yellow and earth on Orange)
use a transistor or MOSFET controlled by 1 Arduino output to retract the shaft

Orange - drives motor to push shaft out (with 12 volts on Orange and earth on Yellow)
use a transistor or MOSFET controlled by 1 Arduino output to extend the shaft

Blue - activates electromechanical clutch
use a transistor or MOSFET controlled by 1 Arduino output to activate the clutch

Green - earth- or ground

Red) -Probably one end of the position feadback pot Try +5 V here

White) - either end of resistance wiper circuit - probably the wiper of the feedback pot. To an Arduino Analog Input.

NOW - if you were to replace the internal circuitry with an H-Bridge you would still need the transistor or MOSFET to control the clutch. It would be much simpler to use a couple transistors/MOSFETS to control it than investing in an H-Bridge.

I guess you and I just read those specs differently: :wink:

Yellow - drives motor to pull shaft in (with 12 volts on Yellow and earth on Orange)
Orange - drives motor to push shaft out (with 12 volts on Orange and earth on Yellow)

I read that as the polarity of the applied voltage on the yellow and orange wires determines the direction the motor will move/turn. So that means you can't have a permanent ground wired to either the yellow or orange wires, so that spells H-drive required where I hang out.

Lefty