Hayward Valve Actuator Selection Guide

Hayward offers a complete range of electric and pneumatic valve actuators with a wide variety of control options and features. Use the guide below to quickly compare options, then click through to the detailed pages and datasheets for each model.

How to Choose a Valve Actuator

• Valve Type & Size — Ball vs butterfly, and the required torque.
• Control Type — Simple on/off, proportional/modulating, or 3-position.
• Power Source — Electric (various voltages) or pneumatic (air supply available?).
• Environment — Corrosive areas, hazardous locations, or outdoor use.
• Fail-Safe Requirements — Spring return or battery backup needed?
• Accessories — Positioners, limit switches, manual override, etc.

Electric Valve Actuators

EAU Series — Entry-level electric actuator for simple on/off control of ball valves up to 2". Compact, lightweight, and available in multiple voltages. Good for light-duty applications.

HZSN1 Series — Compact industrial actuator for ball valves up to 2" (≤ 266 in-lbs torque). Supports both on/off and proportional control with auto-ranging power supply and ISO 5211 mounting.

ECP Series — Glass-filled polypropylene actuators for ball valves ½"–6" and butterfly valves 2"–6". High 75% duty cycle, auto-switching 24–265 VAC/VDC power supply, manual override, and excellent corrosion resistance.

HRSN Series — Premium industrial actuators with the most features and options. Available in on/off, proportional, hazardous location, and local/programmable control versions. Suitable for larger valves up to 24".

ProTorq Series — High-torque electric actuators (up to 40,500 in-lbs) suitable for larger valves. Available with spring-return options and advanced control signals (4-20mA, 0-10V, etc.).

Pneumatic Valve Actuators

Hayward Pneumatic Actuators (PMD / PCS Series) — Rack and pinion designs with thermoplastic or aluminum housings. Available in double-acting and spring-return (fail-safe) versions. Suitable for ball and butterfly valves up to 24" with ISO 5211 mounting.

Flotite Air-Con Pneumatic Actuators — Broader offering for alloy valves or high-torque applications (up to very large valves). Aluminum housing with options for epoxy coating or 316SS construction. Excellent when many accessories are required.

Scotch Yoke Pneumatic Actuators — Higher torque output than rack and pinion designs. Non-linear torque curve makes them especially well-suited for butterfly valves. Available in double-acting and spring-return configurations.

Additional Pneumatic Actuator Types

Pneumatic Piston Valve Actuators are similar to Scotch Yoke style actuators. Air moves the piston and linkage converts linear motion to 90-degree rotary motion. The resulting torque is highest at the fully closed and fully open positions — ideal for butterfly valves. Pneumatic piston actuators generally have fewer features and are less expensive than Scotch Yoke actuators. They also tend to perform better in extremely low (arctic) temperatures.

Rotary Diaphragm Actuators are often used for lower air pressure applications or when actuation by other inert gases or non-compressible fluids (such as water or oil) is preferred. They can be field-swapped to fail-open or fail-closed and positioned within 60–95 degrees of rotation, making them well-suited for flow control applications. They are also used for non-valve applications because they can be configured as direct-acting (air or hydraulic fluid pushes the actuator stem outward).

Next Steps

Click any model above to view detailed specifications, torque ranges, options, and datasheets. For help matching an actuator to your specific valve and application, contact us directly.

 

 

Pneumatic Piston Valve Actuators are similar to Scotch Yoke style actuators; air moves the piston and linkage converts linear motion to 90 degree rotary motion and the resulting torque is highest at its fully closed and fully opened positions - ideal for butterfly valves.  Pneumatic Piston Actuators have less features and thus less expensive than Scotch Yoke style actuators and also tend to better suited for extremely low "artic" temperatures.

 

Rotary diaphragm actuators are often used for lower air pressure applications or when actuation by other inert gases or non-compressible fluids such as water and oil is preferred.  They can be field swapped to fail opened or closed and positioned within 60-95 degrees of rotation and thus often used for flow control applications.  They are also used for non-valve applications because they can be configured as direct acting, where the air or hydraulic liquid pushes the actuator stem outward.

 

When you order an actuator and actuator-ready valve together, it will be assembled for free, meaning we include the mounting kit (if applicable) and assemble everything together so that it arrives as one unit ready for installation.