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Alternate for SG3525

Is there a better alternative for PWMing a solenoid valve at about 20
Hz than a SG3525? To get this low frequency with a SG3525, the timimg
cap needs to be an order of magnatude greater than the max.
recommended value. Is this a stress issue on the discharge circuit?
 
J

John Popelish

Jan 1, 1970
0
Is there a better alternative for PWMing a solenoid valve at about 20
Hz than a SG3525? To get this low frequency with a SG3525, the timimg
cap needs to be an order of magnatude greater than the max.
recommended value. Is this a stress issue on the discharge circuit?

I think the main concern with large timing capacitors is the
energy dumped into the discharge transistors. You should be
able to add extra resistance between the discharge pin 7 and
the capacitor measuring pin 5 to limit the energy dumped
into this transistor each cycle.

But there may be a solenoid driver chip that includes the
power switch transistor.
http://www.st.com/stonline/books/pdf/docs/1332.pdf
or look through the rest of the L29X series.
 
W

Winfield

Jan 1, 1970
0
Is there a better alternative for PWMing a solenoid valve at about 20
Hz than a SG3525? To get this low frequency with a SG3525, the timimg
cap needs to be an order of magnatude greater than the max.
recommended value. Is this a stress issue on the discharge circuit?

I'd consider using a CMOS PWM chip, which would allow
using higher resistor values. BTW, what's wrong with
a higher-frequency PWM for the solenoid?
 
M

MooseFET

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'd consider using a CMOS PWM chip, which would allow
using higher resistor values. BTW, what's wrong with
a higher-frequency PWM for the solenoid?


It likely has a very lossy core. 100Hz may work but not 100KHz.
 
J

James Arthur

Jan 1, 1970
0
It likely has a very lossy core. 100Hz may work but not 100KHz.

But the a.c. flux will be low, so losses shouldn't be much.

For strong pull-in force then hold-in at a reduced power, open-
looping these things (initially on, followed by a fixed duty cycle
PWM) is often good enough.

Cheers,
James Arthur
 
But the a.c. flux will be low, so losses shouldn't be much.

For strong pull-in force then hold-in at a reduced power, open-
looping these things (initially on, followed by a fixed duty cycle
PWM) is often good enough.

Cheers,
James Arthur

The solenoid does not respond to PWM signals at higher frequencies.
With increasing frequency, the response time becomes an increasing
portion of the on - off cycle until it just turns on or off. The
intellegence is in the duty cycle, current limiting or conservation
is not a factor. In other words, the the solenoid has to bang on and
off in relative proportion to the duty cycle.

Is it true, the long term average power through the discharge circuit
may not be much different at 20 Hz than from a proper size cap
discharging at a rate magnatudes higher? If not, tell my old brain
why? Adding a discharge resister causes an unwanted anomaly on the
output pulse train, unless it is a few ohms.

Regards,

BobS
 
R

Robert Latest

Jan 1, 1970
0
In other words, the the solenoid has to bang on and
off in relative proportion to the duty cycle.

Have you estimated how long your valve will last, mechanically, if it
continuously opens and closes 20 times a second?

robert
 
M

MooseFET

Jan 1, 1970
0
Have you estimated how long your valve will last, mechanically, if it
continuously opens and closes 20 times a second?

It won't be too bad if the valve is designed for that service. The
valves in an engine going at 3000 RPM will operate at a 3000 / (2 *
60) = 25Hz rate. The valves in an engine used continuously last for
years. The valves that control the water flow into an automatic
washing machine wouldn't last very long doing this.
 
J

James Arthur

Jan 1, 1970
0
The solenoid does not respond to PWM signals at higher frequencies.

The solenoid's plunger won't move, but its coil will still integrate
the effects of any applied voltage, creating a holding force.

When the plunger is out of the coil, the poorer magnetic circuit means
it takes a lot of juice to exert a given mechanical pull-in force on
that plunger. Once the plunger has moved within the coil, more force
is produced with less current. To save power (or heat in the coil),
then you can start chopping.

I've seen this done with relays, which also combine coils and a
magnetic circuit with a gap that closes.
With increasing frequency, the response time becomes an increasing
portion of the on - off cycle until it just turns on or off. The
intellegence is in the duty cycle, current limiting or conservation
is not a factor. In other words, the the solenoid has to bang on and
off in relative proportion to the duty cycle.

I don't understand. It almost sounds like you're trying to get
proportional motion from the solenoid, which it won't easily do--
that's a linear motor.
Is it true, the long term average power through the discharge circuit
may not be much different at 20 Hz than from a proper size cap
discharging at a rate magnatudes higher? If not, tell my old brain
why? Adding a discharge resister causes an unwanted anomaly on the
output pulse train, unless it is a few ohms.

Regards,

BobS

Discharge resistor? Please elaborate.

Cheers,
James
 
The solenoid's plunger won't move, but its coil will still integrate
the effects of any applied voltage, creating a holding force.

When the plunger is out of the coil, the poorer magnetic circuit means
it takes a lot of juice to exert a given mechanical pull-in force on
that plunger. Once the plunger has moved within the coil, more force
is produced with less current. To save power (or heat in the coil),
then you can start chopping.

I've seen this done with relays, which also combine coils and a
magnetic circuit with a gap that closes.


I don't understand. It almost sounds like you're trying to get
proportional motion from the solenoid, which it won't easily do--
that's a linear motor.


Discharge resistor? Please elaborate.

Cheers,
James- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The end result is proportional pressure from the valve, which is made
to operate in the 15 - 20 Hz range. The valve is in a closed loop so
it does not need to be too accurate.

The discharge resistor can be used in the SG3525 frequency oscillator
timing circuit. To obtain 20 Hz the timing capacitor can be larger
than the max recomended value. A discharge resistor is used to limit
the current though the discharge circuit.
 
J

James Arthur

Jan 1, 1970
0
The end result is proportional pressure from the valve, which is made
to operate in the 15 - 20 Hz range. The valve is in a closed loop so
it does not need to be too accurate.

The discharge resistor can be used in the SG3525 frequency oscillator
timing circuit. To obtain 20 Hz the timing capacitor can be larger
than the max recomended value. A discharge resistor is used to limit
the current though the discharge circuit.

Ah, the timing resistor. Gotcha.

Rather than fret about SG3525's guts, why not roll your own controller
from an LM339 or such? Easy at these frequencies, & you'd have a
section or two left over.

E.g.: (oscillator to produce ramp)-->(threshold comparator) = pulse
width modulator, with another section for the error amp.

Then again, you could always use a PIC... <ducking for cover>

Cheers,
James Arthur
 
M

MooseFET

Jan 1, 1970
0
[... PWM in a valve ...]
Rather than fret about SG3525's guts, why not roll your own controller
from an LM339 or such? Easy at these frequencies, & you'd have a
section or two left over.

E.g.: (oscillator to produce ramp)-->(threshold comparator) = pulse
width modulator, with another section for the error amp.

You may be able to do all that is needed with just two LM339 or other
comparitors. At these frequencies (20Hz) an LM324 would serve as a
comparitor.

The error amplifier stage is as per normal. The oscillator stage
needs to be a bit funny.


R1 10*R1 1*R1
Error sig ----/\/\----+-------/\/\-----+---/\/\/----Vcc
! !
--!+\ !
! >--------+-+--- Out
GND--!!------+--!-/ !
C1 ! !
Vcc--/\/\----+----/\/\------
R3(huge) R2

C1 and R2 have to be larger than normal. At the two extremes the
frequency decreases.

The R3 ensures that the Error Sig can completely stop the output. It
just has to overcome the biggest offset voltage you can see. An
R4(huge) to Vcc could also be added to make the duty cycle go to 100%.
 
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