Experience with electric linear actuators instead of hydraulics?

[Industrial Toys]

I would never think of an electric actuator to replace a hydraulic cylinder. Most farmers I have seen baling are in quite the hurry. Actuators are slow, and maybe faster if not much force is required. I have also worked with gate openers that look like actuators but are really cylinders with a pump in the end.

AND, if you find a powerful 12 volt actuator. That thing will suck amps. So now you need appropriate wiring to the back of the baler, heavy connections, like Anderson Connectors, heavy Relays and fuses. Control circuits.

 

[freedomlives]

I discussed that with him yesterday, the speed, and he doesn't think its a big deal, which I guess even if it takes the thing a minute to move that arm back and forth two times (which supposedly is how much it needs to be done), its still a lot better than his until now "status quo" of getting the family out in the field with pitchforks to load and unload a haywagon of loose hay. I'm not quite sure how much hay he has, given how fields here are scattered about, but I would guess something like what I have, somewhere from 5 to 10 acres.

Though, with the field that just gets mulched each year for subsidies that is 60 acres of grass, either of us could, without any problem, call the guy who "farms" it and ask him to not mulch part if we needed more hay.

The biggest problem with the actuators here that I see is whether I should trust the IP65 - IP67 rating on some of them. Water resistance isn't such a big deal, as it can be covered with plastic sheet when the baler is sitting, but dust will be plenty.

My interest in the project is that he'll be baling my fields, and in return I'll be at least using my FEL to help him move and stack his hay (maybe also help him with raking fields while he bales, or some other sort of barter). With my background, electrical wiring, even a control circuit isn't such a big deal.