I'm working on a 25 year old Stanley Vemco automatic gate. It has a shorted
solenoid that is located within this controller box:

http://www.pbase.com/image/37414260

It's no surprise that the part isn't available anymore. Is there a modern day
replacement for this controller? The one significant function of this box is
that it mechanically locks out one set of microswitches when the other set of
microswitches is activated. I would replace it with some regular relays
otherwise.

Thanks for your reply.

--
David Farber
David Farber's Service Center
L.A., CA

"David Farber" wrote in message
...
| I'm working on a 25 year old Stanley Vemco automatic gate. It has a
shorted
| solenoid that is located within this controller box:
|
| http://www.pbase.com/image/37414260
|
| It's no surprise that the part isn't available anymore. Is there a modern
day
| replacement for this controller? The one significant function of this box
is
| that it mechanically locks out one set of microswitches when the other set
of
| microswitches is activated. I would replace it with some regular relays
| otherwise.

If there is enough room, I would go to a place that sells motor starters and
buy a reversing controller. That's what this looks like. They come with a
mechanical interlock that physically prevents both contactors being closed
at once. If you don't need thermal overload protection you can buy one
without that. If you can take this in they may be able to advise a
replacement.

N

"NSM" wrote in message news:Rhrvd.23265$U47.5281@clgrps12...

"David Farber" wrote in message
...
| I'm working on a 25 year old Stanley Vemco automatic gate. It has a
shorted
| solenoid that is located within this controller box:
|
| http://www.pbase.com/image/37414260
|
| It's no surprise that the part isn't available anymore. Is there a
modern
day
| replacement for this controller? The one significant function of this
box
is
| that it mechanically locks out one set of microswitches when the other
set
of
| microswitches is activated. I would replace it with some regular relays
| otherwise.

If there is enough room, I would go to a place that sells motor starters
and
buy a reversing controller. That's what this looks like. They come with a
mechanical interlock that physically prevents both contactors being closed
at once. If you don't need thermal overload protection you can buy one
without that. If you can take this in they may be able to advise a
replacement.

N



How hard could it be to build a replacement with some off the shelf relays
and perhaps a few diodes?

"James Sweet" wrote in message
news:lwtvd.3534$Zn6.2565@trnddc08...

| How hard could it be to build a replacement with some off the shelf relays
| and perhaps a few diodes?

It isn't easy to mechanically interlock relays.

N

"NSM" wrote in message
news:GNtvd.23284$U47.19879@clgrps12...

"James Sweet" wrote in message
news:lwtvd.3534$Zn6.2565@trnddc08...

| How hard could it be to build a replacement with some off the shelf
relays
| and perhaps a few diodes?

It isn't easy to mechanically interlock relays.

N




Why would you need to though? Just use multipole, double throw relays and
you can wire them together to do just about anything you want. I missed the
exact function of the original device though.

"James Sweet" wrote in message
news:iJvvd.4172$N%6.261@trnddc05...

| It isn't easy to mechanically interlock relays.

| Why would you need to though? Just use multipole, double throw relays and
| you can wire them together to do just about anything you want. I missed
the
| exact function of the original device though.

Hard experience has taught us that when a motor is operated both forward and
in reverse, it is best to make damn sure both contactors cannot close at the
same time no matter what. Thus the choice of a mechanical interlock system
so that even if the contacts weld closed on one side the other contactor
cannot close.

NM (Electrician)