LX Gas Spring Resource
Gas spring or electric linear actuator? Compare power, positioning, force, cost and maintenance, when to use lockable gas springs, and how to combine both.
Gas springs and electric linear actuators both move lids, beds, tables, hatches, and panels, but they work in completely different ways. A gas spring is a passive, self-contained part that pushes with stored gas pressure. An electric linear actuator is a motor-driven device that moves to a commanded position. Choosing the wrong one adds cost, weight, and complexity, or leaves users fighting the mechanism.
Short answer: use a gas spring when a person moves the part by hand and only needs help lifting and holding it open, with no power, wiring, or controls. Use a lockable gas spring when the part must stop at any position by hand. Use an electric linear actuator when motion must be powered, automated, remote-controlled, or repeated to a precise position. For heavy loads, combining a gas spring with a smaller actuator is often the most efficient design.
Gas spring. A sealed cylinder filled with pressurised nitrogen and a little oil. The gas pressure pushes the rod out, giving an extension force that counterbalances the weight of a lid or panel. No power or control is needed. See lift gas springs.
Electric linear actuator. An electric motor drives a gearbox and lead screw, which moves a rod in and out. It needs a power supply and a switch or controller, and it holds position when the motor stops.
| Factor | Gas spring | Electric linear actuator |
|---|---|---|
| Power | None needed | Needs electricity, wiring, and control |
| Motion | Assists manual movement | Powered movement, push and pull |
| Positioning | Full open or closed (any position with a lockable gas spring) | Any position, repeatable, can be automated |
| Speed | Fast, set by user and damping | Slower, set by motor and gearing |
| Force | Fixed by gas charge; rises slightly when compressed | Set by motor and gearing; constant over stroke |
| Size and weight | Slim and light | Larger and heavier for the same force |
| Noise | Silent | Motor and gear noise |
| Duty cycle | Continuous manual use | Limited by motor heating |
| Temperature effect | Force drops in cold, rises in heat | Little effect on force |
| Maintenance | None; replace at end of life | Electrical parts, cables, and controls to service |
| Cost | Low | Higher (actuator plus control system) |
| Failure mode | Gradual loss of force over time | Motor, control, or power failure stops motion |
A lockable gas spring sits between the two. It has an internal valve, so the user presses a lever, button, or cable release, moves the part to any position, and lets go to lock it there. No power is needed. Lockable gas springs are widely used for:
For heavy lids, hatches, and beds, a gas spring can carry most of the weight while a smaller actuator provides the controlled motion. Because the gas spring counterbalances the load, the actuator needs less force, so it can be smaller, quieter, and cheaper, and it draws less power. The gas spring force and actuator force must be sized together so the mechanism does not drift or overload the actuator in either direction.
Use the gas spring force calculator to estimate the force your mechanism needs, then request a recommendation from LX Gas Spring. LX gas springs have passed a TÜV fatigue test of 180,000 cycles and are covered by a 3-year warranty.
Yes, when the part is moved by hand and only needs help lifting and holding. A gas spring needs no power and costs much less. If the part must move on its own or to exact positions, an actuator is still needed.
A standard gas spring holds a lid fully open. A lockable gas spring can hold any position in its stroke when the release is let go, without power.
The gas spring carries most of the weight, so a smaller, quieter, lower-power actuator can provide the controlled motion. This is common on heavy hatches, beds, and lift mechanisms.
They wear differently. A gas spring slowly loses force over many cycles and years; LX gas springs have passed a TÜV fatigue test of 180,000 cycles. An actuator has motor, gear, and electrical parts with a limited duty cycle. Life depends on load, cycle rate, and environment for both.
Yes. A gas spring is a single passive part with no motor, wiring, or controller, so the unit and system cost are much lower.