The Duty cycle (ED) states how long an electric motor may run within a certain period without overheating. For window actuators it is often given as a percentage in the data sheet, for example ED 30 %.
What does ED 30 % mean?
Based on a period of 10 minutes, the actuator may run for about 3 minutes and must then pause for about 7 minutes. For occasionally opening and closing a window this is almost always sufficient in practice.
Why is there a limit?
- The motor heats up during operation
- many actuators have overheating protection and switch off
- controls often limit the running time too – the VS-C24-7A radio control, for example, allows a maximum of 5 minutes of continuous motor running
Frequently asked questions
Is the duty cycle a problem for ventilation?
Rarely. A window is opened and closed a few times a day, each time for only seconds to a few minutes. It only becomes critical if a control moves the actuator back and forth constantly.
What happens if it is exceeded?
Depending on the actuator, a thermal protection switches off until the motor has cooled down. Permanent overload shortens the service life.
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Related terms: Limit switch-off · Chain actuator · Dome rooflight · Ventilation control (window control)
Datasheets and manuals · All terms in the glossary
