Reliable Hydraulic Power Units

How to Choose the Right Power Unit

Determine your power source first, match flow and pressure to the application second, and size the reservoir for your duty cycle before specifying the final unit.

• Determine Power Source: AC or DC The first decision is power supply. DC power units (12V or 24V) run from a vehicle battery or auxiliary power source — making them the right choice for mobile applications including truck-mounted liftgates, dump bodies, snowplow controls, and off-road equipment. AC power units use single- or three-phase electric motors and are suited for stationary shop, industrial, and manufacturing applications where utility power is available at the installation point.
• Match Flow Rate and Pressure to the Application Calculate the GPM your actuator requires to move at the correct speed, and confirm the maximum operating pressure your system demands. Power units are rated for a specific pump displacement and motor speed that determine their output flow, and a maximum system relief valve setting that determines their pressure ceiling. Undersizing either parameter limits actuator performance; oversizing adds unnecessary cost and weight — especially critical in mobile installations.
• Size the Reservoir for Duty Cycle and Heat Reservoir capacity is a heat management decision as much as a fluid storage decision. Intermittent-duty applications — a liftgate that cycles a few times per shift — can operate with smaller reservoirs. Continuous or high-cycle applications generate significant heat that requires sufficient reservoir volume to dissipate between cycles and prevent fluid degradation. As a general guideline, reservoir capacity should be at least three to five times the pump’s per-minute flow rate for standard duty cycle applications.