6 Projects for Automated Home with Linear Actuators

6 Projects for Automated Home with Linear Actuators

David Eidelshtein
David Eidelshtein
PA Engineer
Household Linear Actuator Projects

The video below shows several ways to incorporate linear actuators into your household products. We will go through each step in this project shown in detail that describes which Progressive Automations units and accessories you need for the application. You can follow our recommendation or opt for a different unit based on your requirements.



Reclining Couch Overview

Automatically reclining couches are becoming very popular in the furniture market. Many customers have asked how they can add this setup with the furniture they currently have. If you have a couch that manually reclines this may be a viable option. You can add one of our electric actuators underneath your reclining couch and with a wired remote control the extending or retracting of your couch.

Products

1 x Linear Actuators (PA-03 model).
  • Stroke 1" - 12" depending on where you need to mount the unit and how much stroke length is required to fully recline your count and fully retract it.
  • Forces recommended are our 200 lbs force PA-03 actuator, this will recline at a good rate and will ensure that regardless of the person sitting on the couch it will have sufficient force to recline.

1 x control box (PA-20).

2 x mounting brackets (BRK-02).

Estimated cost

Approximately $265. 

Project Assembly Time

This project will take you under 2 hours.

Automatic Entertainment System Cabinets Overview

Have your cabinets open and close automatically and wirelessly. This is the ultimate addition to your entertainment system. For this automation project, you will require two electric actuators to work in sync with each other. This type of setup is a little tricky, as you don't want anyone to see where the actuators are attached. No much force is required for this type of setup so our mini linear actuators will suffice.

Products

2 x Mini Linear Actuators (PA-14 model).
  • 6" - 12" is usually the stroke length required for this project, remember that the stroke length will be per side not the total.

4 x Mounting Brackets (BRK-14).

1 x Wireless control box with a remote.

2 x 4 pin connector (AC-04).

Estimated cost

It could be $455 approximately.

Project Assembly Time

This project will take you 3 hours at most.

Lift Up Cabinets Overview

This is a simple project to set up and assemble but gives your cabinet a sleek look and allows you to wirelessly expose what you have hidden behind your drawers. Using our linear actuators you will be able to wirelessly control your cabinets and because the same exact motion and pressure are used every time, it will also prolong the life of your drawers.

Products

2 x Mini Linear Actuators (PA-14 model).
  • 4" - 12" actuators are usually required for this type of project. Please be used to confirm the extended and retracted length on our website to confirm you will have enough room for the actuators.
1 x Wireless control box.

4 x Mounting Brackets (BRK-14).

2 x 4 Pin Connector (AC-04).

Estimated Cost

The price of the project is $455 approximately.

Project Assembly Time

The project could take you less than 1 hour.

Hidden Spice Rack Overview

Hidden spice racks are popular in many new kitchens. They are great space savers and make it easy to keep all your spices tucked away and hidden in the same place. All you need to do it cut out the space for your spice rack and make sure you have enough space underneath to hold your spice rack as well as the actuator. Using the track linear actuator you would connect the bottom of the spice rack to the white (moving) block of the actuator. This will allow you to move the spice rack up and down and conserve space underneath the spice rack.

Products

1 x Track Linear Actuator (PA-18 model).
  • 6" - 10" usually works best for this application but please double check your measurements with the PDF diagram as well as our hole to hole dimensions diagram.
1 x wireless control box.

1 x mounting bracket (BRK-02).

You will only be required to mount the actuator with our mounting bracket on the motor end the other end comes included with a mounting bracket.

Estimated Cost

The cost of the project is $340 roughly.

Assembly Time

It will take you 3 hours approximately. 

Kitchen Cabinet Drop Overview

In this project, we show the entire cabinet lowering to two feet. We have recently had a few customers who have decided to implement this design into their homes. This allows for people in wheelchairs or people who can't reach the top shelves without assistance to be able to easily reach all the cabinets and shelves with ease.

This project is much easier to implement in new homes as you can have the cabinet separated in the implementation process. This can also be added to current homes, a little additional work is required. You will need to separate the part of the cabinet that you wish to lower from the rest of the cabinet. Using two actuators and our wireless simultaneous control box you will be able to drop the cabinet to your desired high.

Products

2 x Linear Actuators (PA-03 model).
  • Usually, a 20" to 24" actuator is required for this project.
4 x mounting brackets (BRK-02).

1 x wireless control box.

Estimated Cost

The project will cost you $500.

Assembly Time

It will take you 8 hours (assuming you already have the cabinets separated and ready for the installation of the linear actuators).

Table Extender Overview

This project is designed for more advanced users, you can still do this project with a simpler table. Most tables used are ones where the table is extended and a single extension piece is added into the middle. That type of table is much easier to setup. You require multiple actuators doing separate functions.

The non-simultaneous control box is the best control box to use for this type of project. One actuator is required to operate the table the other is required to pull up the extension from underneath. Not all tables will work with this type of automated project.

Products

2 x Linear Actuators (PA-03 model).

4 x Mounting Brackets (BRK-02).

1 x non-simultaneous wireless control box.

Estimated Cost

$220 is the minimal price for this project. 

Total Assembly Time

6 hours approximately.

All the above information was obtained from the most common type of similar applications. Depending on your design you might require different actuator models, quantity and accessories. You can always contact our engineers to obtain additional help with your project.