Solenoid valve 12V DC - 24V AC question

[Alan]

I would like to know if there are 12V DC solenoid valves suitable for garden
sprinkler systems or is there only the 24V AC ones that I've seen at the
hardware? If there is such a solenoid where can I get them from?

TIA Alan

 

[John Harvey]

I would like to know if there are 12V DC solenoid valves suitable for garden
sprinkler systems or is there only the 24V AC ones that I've seen at the
hardware? If there is such a solenoid where can I get them from?

Blackwoods have a large selection, good quality, fairly pricey.

They're also widely used on agricultural boomsprays. Try your nearest
Spraying Systems Co outlet, or find one at... www.teejet.com

 

[Paul Bealing]

I would like to know if there are 12V DC solenoid valves suitable for garden
sprinkler systems or is there only the 24V AC ones that I've seen at the
hardware? If there is such a solenoid where can I get them from?

TIA Alan

Check out washing machine and dish washer spare parts. Quite cheap.

You can get 12V valves but they draw about 1A and run very hot. They are
not rated for continuous use being labeled on the underside of the coil
for 4-min on 10-min off or something like that.
The 220V-240V AC types run cool and can be left on for long periods.

I can't remember if I tried the 24V AC ones. We started with 12V DC and
settled on 230V AC.


Paul Bealing
PMB Electronics
www.pmb.co.nz

 

[Rod Speed]

Check out washing machine and dish washer spare parts. Quite cheap.

You can get 12V valves but they draw about 1A and run very hot. They are
not rated for continuous use being labeled on the underside of the coil
for 4-min on 10-min off or something like that.
The 220V-240V AC types run cool and can be left on for long periods.

I can't remember if I tried the 24V AC ones. We started with 12V DC and
settled on 230V AC.

Pretty fucked approach safety wise for that particular application.

And illegal too.

 

[Brian]

I have been running standard 24 V AC valves on my agricultural watering
system for many years on both AC and DC.

The 24V valves need less than 12 V DC to hold ON but need a burst of 24V DC
to operate at the start. I have found that it is best to use a 24V DC supply
and a series resistance the same value as the coil resistance. Note that the
inductance of the coil of AC valves is what limits the current drawn by them
at AC not the coil resistance.

Keep away from any valves that use higher voltages than 24 V AC as there is
always some leakage current when operating around water and so they can be
dangerous to your health!

 

[Paul Bealing]

Pretty fucked approach safety wise for that particular application.

And illegal too.

Please explain your reply.

Paul Bealing

 

[Rod Speed]

Please explain your reply.

Even someone as stupid as you should be able to comprehend what was said.

 

[Rod Speed]

Rod Speed wrote

Come on; that's not a very sensible reply.

Presumably you actually are that stupid.

Oh well, we need some natural selection now.

There are naturally safety issues with high
voltages and water, but there are solutions.

Yeah, like using 24VAC, stupid.

I wouldn't recommend hobbyists play with high voltages.

You just did, stupid.

There is also the issue of legallity considering
that your're only just still allowed to approach
with 10 feet of an electrical appliance.

Wanna try that again in english this time ?

I have found that cheap 12V DC solenoids overheat
if left on for more than 20 or 30 minutes at a time.

So it makes a lot more sense to use the
ones designed for the job that dont, stupid.

We were getting the cheap ones for about
$15 each in low numbers (a few at a time).

What matters is the electrical safety and the law, stupid.

The other post recommending a lower hold voltage once
energised is a good idea. I would recommend a few experiments.

And are obviously stupid enough to suggest the use
of 240VAC solenoids in that particular application.

I did find that a good margin was required to prevent
dropout due to water pressure fluctuations and vibration.

All MUCH less important than the electocution risk, stupid.

I would recommend cheap appliance type
12V AC or 24V AC (if available) solenoid
valves for a home made watering control system.

You in fact were stupid enough to
recommend 240VAC solenoids instead.

Ensuring ventilation and mounting in the shade, if outside, will help.
Varying the duty cycle will also help; on-off-on-off etc.

Waffle completely irrelevant to the comment
I made about the terminal stupidity of using
240VAC solenoids in that particular situation.

Do you have any comments that
may be helpful to others listening in?

Already made those about the terminal stupidity of using
240VAC solenoids in that particular application, stupid.

 

[Ralph]

Can I ask why you want to not use 24 vac solenoids?

 

[cdb]

I would like to know if there are 12V DC solenoid valves suitable for
garden
RS Components have one for approx $ 40.00 which is designed for 24Vac/12Vdc
draws approx 700mA, and if to be activated for periods longer than 5-10
minutes have water running through it as part of the continuous flow cooling
system.

The part # is 342-023, this is the one I used in the Nuts and Volt project.
You may even be able to use the 24Vac ones from Bunnings and the like on
12Vdc.

Colin

 

[Astounded]

I have used several 24AC valves on 12 dc as I have solar panels, and don't
want to mess with 240-24vac transformer. I have had no problems running the
24VAC coils on 12 Vdc, although they do run hot.
I was going to buy 12VDC coils but the price is ridiculous.
Good luck with your project.
Regards
Phil J.

 

[Rod Speed]

Well isn't this fun.

Even you should be able to bullshit your way out of your
predicament better than that pathetic effort, Bealing.

Agreed, electrical safety is important. It's
probably best not to set fire to anything either.

So to keep Mr Speed happy; unless you're building a
commercial product stick with 24V solenoids, because
240V is too dangerous and 12V draws too much current.

The 240V solenoids must be used correctly to ensure maximum safety.

Can you tell us why there are 240V solenoids available?

Most of them are used inside appliances like
dishwashers and washing machines, fuckwit.

You could argue that to be absolutely safe
there should be no mention of anything that
could the slightest bit dangerous in this group.

Or you could actually have the sense to realise that when
someone is asking about 12VDC solenoids for a watering
system, that it makes no sense to just be suggesting
240VAC solenoids without saying anything about the
safety aspects of using them IN THAT SITUATION.

To be of much use the group needs input and discussion from all angles.

I should have put a warning with my original comments but I was not
intending to recommend the use of high voltage solenoids at the time.

You clearly did just that and are now desperately
attempting to bullshit your way out of your predicament
now and are fooling absolutely no one at all.

Interresting comments a few months back in the Silicon Chip editorial
about this newsgroups, did you read it and what did you think?

Just the usual mindless gutless silly stuff when the author had
clearly got its nose out of joint about what had been said about SC.

Thanks for your experienced input.

No thanks for your pathetic excuse for bullshit.