On Tue, 12 Jul 2005, Gerhard Fiedler wrote:

> I'm also looking into using starter solenoid coils. They probably only need
> a steel rod added to them that they can pull. That may work.

Lucas makes some actuators for automotive and a/c use use but not 150Nm. 
They are rotary action (90 degrees).

> The other question is how to switch such solenoids. From the Kendrion site
> and the solenoid data sheets I found there, I imagine that it may take up
> to 60 A to get the force I need. This doesn't seem impossible to switch
> with MOSFETs or IGBTs, but I wonder how you get that current to and from
> the transistor. A 10 A trace is already large. We don't really need a high
> duty cycle, so maybe that works out, temperature-rise-wise. I was just
> wondering... are there any special tricks to it? Even connecting the thick
> wire to a circuit board seems tricky.

Use thick wire and thickened traces (copper rail soldered on the traces) 
and don't worry too much about it *except* for the kickback which will 
be terrific. Does it really have to be a solenoid ? A wiper motor will 
do what you need at 10A or less.

Peter
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