I am about to purchase a 150mm Stroke 16Kg (35lbs) Force Linear Actuator by Firgelli;
http://www.firgelliauto.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_new.tpl&product_id=47&category_id=16&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
My question is, would it be possible to control this motor with an Arduino? It says that the motor has built in limit switches, would this inhibit control of an Arduino?
Also in order to power this motor through an Srduino, how would you suggest I did this?
DPDT Relay? H-bridge?
It is just a simple DC motor. There is nothing new or different about controlling it. As MarkT writes, two simple ways to do it. Google or those keywords with DC motor arduino or search this site. Its been done thousand times. 12V and 3A. Simple. The limit switches presumably go through a diode and prevent you from pushing the rod beyond its limit, but allows you (hence the diodes) to go back the other way. You can not read their state. There is no feedback at all, so you need to add your own sensor/switch if you want to "know" where the rod is in your program.
tosham,
Check out reply #3 on this thread. I use 2 SPDT automotive relays ran by and arduino with accelerometer through 2 NPN transistors to automatically level my 5th wheel. (Thanks zoomcat) the advantage of the two relays over cross wiring one DPDT relay is the ability to have an off position at any point.
TomJ
There has been a schematic posted that used a DPDT relay to control the motor rotation direction and a MOSFET to control the power on/off and rotation speed using PWM.