Hello,
I'm thinking about integrating a valve selector into my new project but I'm not sure if it will be possible to control it through the Arduino and if it's possible what type of Actuation (Microelectric actuator/universal) and what type of interface (Standard/RS-232/USB/BCD) I should choose.
This is the valve I was looking at- selector valve
Thanks in advance,
Eitam
Wow! That website is written by a plumber, not a programmer. Gigantic amounts of information about the fluid-flow side of the valve and nothing to be seen in the manuals or tech notes on how you actually control the valve.
For me, I'd go looking elsewhere. But it does look like a sexy valve that does cool stuff.
I'm guessing that "Standard" is probably 4-16 wires hanging out the back of the valve and applying power to one of them will select that output. "RS232" probably uses a serial interface to send commands to the valve. Usually there would be a manual that tells you what the commands are.
USB likely has a USB-to-Serial adaptor sitting in front of the RS232 interface. Not useful for Arduino.
BCD usually stands for "binary coded decimal" so it may be a 4-wire version that requires different patterns of inputs on those wires to select individual positions.
Without further detail on your project, it's impossible to suggest which one will be best. "Standard" will be easiest, so long as the valve will respond to 5V digital signals. RS232 will require an RS232 converter as well as a spare serial port on your Arduino. BCD may use less pins than "standard" so it might be useful to you. RS232 will be the easiest if it's not using 5V or 3.3V logic.
All of this is a guess. You HAVE TO find the interface manuals before deciding on your purchase.
Hi!
Thanks so much for your fast and detailed answer!
I guess I will contact their sales department and hope they can help me out!
As for a bit more details of the project:
A peristaltic pump will be attached to the system and according to the valve position we will sequentially pump different solutions across a detector.
i would simple use some solenoids, as they are a lot cheaper, or a few pumps parrallel to each other.
control them with some relais. A commercial selectorvalve is way too expensive.
shooter:
i would simple use some solenoids, as they are a lot cheaper, or a few pumps parrallel to each other.
control them with some relais. A commercial selectorvalve is way too expensive.
Hi shooter,
Tnx for the answer.
Solenoids valves where my first thought, i'm now actually checking the use of them. My main problem is that the smallest diameter of them I can find is 1/4'' (I need 1/16'') and I fear that change in pipes diameter will cause problems with the pumping.
I do believe that the 3 pumps have a better chance to work, I'm building the pump based on a stepper motor (due to the demand for a very low flow rate) if it will work good I will probably just use 3 of those, otherwise, 3 commercial peristaltic pumps will cost more then one selector valve.
The project purpose is to automate a lab analyze procedure and to make it applicable to the field so reliability is also an important factor so I want to check all options (expansive and cheap).
Hi,
The project purpose is to automate a lab analyze procedure and to make it applicable to the field so reliability is also an important factor so I want to check all options (expansive and cheap).
Have you looked at perstatic pumps, you may not need valves, just stop the pump.
Cheap on ebay.
Tom... 