Service Bulletin 01596 

(9/2014) 

VariStroke‐I Actuator 
Power Up Reset Issue 
Issue 
Woodward has identified a potential issue with certain VariStroke-I actuators that could result in an
unintended shutdown/trip.

Description 
The VariStroke-I actuator includes an integrated electronic driver module with various advanced features
and functions. The input power circuitry accepts 18 to 32 Vdc and includes a surge suppression circuit.
During investigation of several reported shutdowns/trips, Woodward determined that the surge suppression
circuit can shut down the VariStroke-I as a result of unexpected high levels of servo movement. These high
levels of movement can generate many short voltage spikes due to the back-EMF created when the servo
moves. While these short-duration voltage spikes are normal, the surge protection circuit can incorrectly
sense these events as a high voltage condition and shut down the actuator.
Note that the possibility of this issue occurring increases under conditions of high supply voltage and highly
active control signals.

Affected Units 
Affected units are limited to the following item numbers / serial numbers shipped from Woodward between
21 May 2013 and 15 September 2014:
Woodward Woodward Woodward Woodward
Customer Purchase Order Customer Purchase Order
Item Serial Item Serial
Number Number
Number Number Number Number
9907-1243 18752607 PJ6177 9907-1273 19363754 3Y4Y38 B2-76621891
9907-1243 18882324 N/A 9907-1273 19375002 3Y4Y39 B2-76621927
9907-1243 18935954 PJ6020/P4611 9907-1273 19376209 3Y4Y40 B2-76621960
9907-1249 19251705 3Y4Y38 B2-76621892 9907-1273 19487005 3Y4Y46 76627533
9907-1249 19261920 3Y4Y39 B2-76621928 9907-1274 19105736 P5636/ PJ6020
9907-1249 19486970 3Y4Y46 76627534 9907-1274 19321948 PRJ13-14/526/FY13-14/CON-204
9907-1256 19468613 PRJ13-14/570/FY13-14/CON-203 9907-1274 19324804 X0141-001
9907-1267 19099760 439065158 9907-1276 19183264 P5604/ PJ6020
9907-1267 19109809 439065158 9907-1281 19382778 PRJ13-14/576/FY13-14/CON-195
9907-1267 19119186 439065158 9907-1295 19473089 #2
9907-1267 19134153 439065158 9907-1311 19443835 PRJ1314/571/FY13-14/CON-199
9907-1268 19372667 601245 9907-1311 19540663 PRJ14-15/98/FY14-15/CON-199
9907-1268 19489805 601387 9907-1314 19558859 N/A
9907-1272 19341192 PMCI/PO/140/2013-14 9907-1345 19624299 N/A

Corrective Action 
Field Corrective Action: See Customer Action section below.
Permanent Corrective Action: A design change to the surge protection circuit has been implemented and
validated in new VariStroke-I production units to eliminate the risk of an unintended shutdown and resulting
turbine trip.
Service Bulletin 01596 p.2

Customer Action 
Although most sites are not experiencing problems, Woodward recommends that all Affected Units be
updated to the latest design as a precaution to prevent potential unintended shutdown/trip events.
Customers with Affected Units identified above should select one of the following options:
 Contact your Woodward customer service representative for a return authorization number (RAN) and
return the unit(s) to Woodward for update.
 If a return is not feasible, contact your Woodward customer service representative to discuss the
possibility for Woodward Field Service to perform an on-site upgrade.
Please refer to this service bulletin number when contacting Woodward.
Service bulletin actions to update the surge protection circuit on Affected Units will be performed at no
charge within the product warranty period. If a unit has been in operation, additional repair actions may be
required to confirm full product performance specifications are met and will be quoted at standard repair
rates.
Reference WPJ #133171

PO Box 1519, Fort Collins CO 80522-1519, USA

1000 East Drake Road, Fort Collins CO 80525, USA
Phone +1 (970) 482-5811  Fax +1 (970) 498-3058
Email and Website—www.woodward.com
Woodward has company-owned plants, subsidiaries, and branches, as well as authorized distributors and
other authorized service and sales facilities throughout the world.
Complete address / phone / fax / email information for all locations is available on our website.