Hello,
Being about to play with solenoid valve, I've ever found several information on this previous topic:
http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1217238977.
I'm fairly new to electronic stuff, but read something about MOSFET transistor. Does this prevent from current feedback? replacing a diode?
Thanks for your experience.
FET is usually best solution for a DC solenoid, IRF640 or IRF3707 http://www.irf.com/product-info/datasheets/data/irf3707.pdf is a good choice for small and medium solenoids. Any Arduino output pin can easily drive the gate of this FET and the FET channel can handle a few amps and volts. You still ought to have a diode.
For an AC solenoid you might use an opto-22 AC ouput module.
See this tutorial for DC solenoids: Arduino Playground - SolenoidTutorial
Good luck with your project !
Does this prevent from current feedback? replacing a diode?
No, a reversed biased (wired) diode wired right to the solenoid coil terminals is still
recommended to keep transient voltage spikes out of your power and ground wires
even if the mosfet as internal protection.
Lefty
AltairLabs:
FET is usually best solution for a DC solenoid, IRF640 or IRF3707 http://www.irf.com/product-info/datasheets/data/irf3707.pdf is a good choice for small and medium solenoids. Any Arduino output pin can easily drive the gate of this FET and the FET channel can handle a few amps and volts.
Go with the IRF3707 - its rated for logic level, the IRF640 isn't and needs 10V of drive.
Also the IRF640 will dissipate significant heat if more than an amp or so passes through it and may need a heatsink, the IRF3707 will take 5A or so before thermal issues arise - calculate this from the Rds on value.
This all assumes a 12V DC solenoid BTW.
Thanks for your advices.
I did not precise that the solenoid that I can purchase at a cheap price are 24 V.
If I'm planing to use several dozen of items; is there some pre-soldered board that could make the wiring easier and would allow me to control several solenoid at once(like motor shield )
I've heard about some industrial protocol like modbus, profibus, or devicenet. some solenoid valve manifold have dedicated interfaces, but I don't know if I could use an arduino to do the serial communication...
thanks again.
For 24V I'd recommend using a MOSFET rated higher than 30V - bit too close for comfort.
Ok thanks, If I can't find any controller board, I will do that.
I also thought that I could use a relay controller board? i've heard relay are making a bit of noise when triggered but it does not matter in my case.
Is it a reliable thing (dealing with current feedback) to use such boards?
If anyone have advices about cheap a one....
Thanks, again and again... 
what about this one?