Hello All,
I am a beginner with electronics. I was fallowing a tutorial (attached a picture of the circuit) to learn how to control a solenoid with Arduino. However I have a 6V 300mA solenoid and I would like to power it with 4 AA batteries connected in series. I was wondering if anyone can walk me through what I need to change in the circuit to make it work. Thank you. I appreciate the help.
Your topic was MOVED to its current forum category which is more appropriate than the original as it is not a suggestion for the Arduino project itself
Your diagram does not show the battery pack and how it would be wired in the circuit, so please update it to show that. Ideally post a schematic instead of a breadboard diagram (switch to using schematic mode in Fritzing).
Right now your diagram shows the solenoid powered with 5V from the Arduino board, which will probably not work.
If you power the Arduino with USB, the current surge when the solenoid is engaged would probably exceed the 500mA limit for USB resulting in the PC/laptop disconnecting the Arduino to protect itself.
If you power the Arduino with 6V through the Vin pin, that would not be sufficient voltage to guarantee the Arduino will work at all. Even if it does work, the current surge when the solenoid is engaged will cause the voltage to drop and the Arduino to reset.
All solenoids can be driven with much higher voltages. Even up to 4 times the rated voltage. IF!!!! the on time is very short and the off time is long enough to keep the heat generated low enough to protect the wire in the coil from melting the insulation.
Design your project with that in mind.
What tutorial...??
Don't power the solenoid from the Arduino 5v......
Don't use fritzing ....
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