Invacare / Dynamic seat actuator problem

[foghornleghorn]

Invacare Storm 4 Xplore

Disconnected batteries to look at something.

Seat has lift actuator, tilt actuator, backrest angle actuator.

Seat lift was at top height while batteries unplugged and still at top height when reconnected.

- Seat lift will go down, but not up. At bottom you can hear it trying to continue down. Asking it to go up clicks a relay but nothing moves.

- Seat tilt is already flat, but will try and go more flat. Asking it to tilt upwards clicks a relay but nothing moves.

- Backrest will tilt forwards. Asking it to tilt backwards clicks a relay but nothing moves.

Any idea what is wrong?

[Burgerman]

Not really, you must have knocked some connector or inhibit out or something? Its going to need some careful eyes on it.

Disconnect everything and reconnect it.

[foghornleghorn]

Problem was this thing.

No idea what it is or does.

Very temperamental over orientation and placement.

Seat works properly again with it unplugged. Another few grams saved

[Burgerman]

Me either. Err you need rubber.

[DSmidgit]

That is a tilt switch. It has a metal part in it that makes with 2 wires if it is level. It is used to block actuators from moving for safety reasons. If you know what you are doing you can do without it.

[shirley_hkg]

A mercury switch then.

[Burgerman]

Thought those were glass?

[LROBBINS]

There are als0o steel ball tilt switches.

[ex-Gooserider]

These days mercury switches are pretty much banned because of haz-mat regs... Mercury is defined as a nasty environmental toxin, and they want to get as much of it out of circulation as they can, so modern stuff uses steel balls and other less environmentally sensitive approaches... Mostly works about the same, the only advantage the mercury switches had was very low resistance and extremely good make / break properties, neither is critical if the circuit is otherwise well designed...

ex-Gooserider