I am looking for a source in the United States for a valve for controlling water flow.
For water usage
Differential pressure rating of 25 psi
1/2"NPT or 3/4"NPT outlets or 3/8" or 1/2" barb fittings
Cost effective ($5-25 ea)
Arduino friendly. Meaning 5VDC, 12VDC or even 24VDC with a low average on-current (250mA). By average, either 250ma constant on or it may have a high turn-on current and 0mA on current.
Although this is not a water sprinkler application, I took apart a water sprimkler timer. It some type of valve that draw a bunch of current to turn on or off, but no current once in position. I have also found solenoid valves that draw current all the time when on. The undersized ones mean the current spec, but the outlet size is too small. If the outlet is the right size, the current is too high.
So let's put our heads together and list some places that have good cost effective valves that meet these specs.
allanhurst:
You could always put 2 cheap sprinkler types in parallel to get the flow you need.. you'd have to make a couple of manifolds.
regards
Allan
Do you have a source for them? In the sprinkler timer I tore down, the valve body was molded into the timer unit body. They were not separable and I did not see how the valve actually worked. I could only measure the current draw from the battery terminals.
ChrisTenone:
Follow 6v6gt's link and start comparing specs. If you let us know what you find, it'll help 'put our heads together'.
adwsystems:
...
That's where I was before I posted here.
There's a lot of valves there. How many are close to what you need. Suggest a few and perhaps someone will have experience with, or an opinion on some of them. But I doubt folks are going to do much of the basic research.
ChrisTenone:
There's a lot of valves there. How many are close to what you need. Suggest a few and perhaps someone will have experience with, or an opinion on some of them. But I doubt folks are going to do much of the basic research.
It would be remarkable if adwsystems and I used exactly the same search string. I'm guessing he didn't realise it was a hyperlink and took it as a general invitation to look in Google.
6v6gt:
It would be remarkable if adwsystems and I used exactly the same search string. I'm guessing he didn't realise it was a hyperlink and took it as a general invitation to look in Google.
Or would it be more remarkable that I used google (and bing and eBay) before posting here and bothering everyone. It's remarkable how well the color differential in the text alerted me to the fact you had posted a hidden hyperlink. We didn't use the same search string but I already waded through a few hundred links from google with no luck. So I thought it would be a good time to make use of the brain trust available here as I'm sure I'm not the only one that has or is looking for the same item.
be80be, I noted those but stayed away as they list some limitation about only flowing in one direction. It doesn't say and I'm not sure what happens if the see or get reverse flow. I'm still finalizing the hydraulics and one of the options may have one with a negative pressure differential (higher outlet than inlet). Otherwise they seem to meet all the requirements (available in the USA, correct port sizing, cost effective, "power efficient"). Just concerned about that one caveat listed on flow.
four times as much.
I think I found them for around $6 but that was in china lol
But they probable don't care to get them there and sale you them for $24
valve
That little baby takes 500 mA to open but should drop down after it's open
Much better than the alternate brass version (price and current), but still high on the current consumption. My experience with solenoid valves is the wattage rating is on the high side (by 10-20%). The opening current often exceeds the "wattage current" but just for that opening spike.
Is there another type of valve available I (we) should be looking for? The sprinkler timer did not use a solenoid valve, based on the current draw of the battery.
Sprinkler has a solenoid its based on the $6 dollar valve i posted they use the water to help open and close the last valve i posted is only going to draw about 500 mA opening and closing. but should drop off after, There are push pull types.
be80be:
Sprinkler has a solenoid its based on the $6 dollar valve i posted they use the water to help open and close the last valve i posted is only going to draw about 500 mA opening and closing. but should drop off after, There are push pull types.
I'm not so sure of that. I can't believe that a N/C solenoid valve can stay open with no (0mA) current draw. If so, it would be the only one I have ever seen.
The 12V 500mA is a killer (not going to work). I am doubtful it will drop to less than 250mA while open, that does not coincide with the 12V/6W rating. On the other hand I noticed a 24V/6W (250mA) option that may work.
I was looking at sprinkler valves. They might work fine
for your application.
They are designed for AC but that is 24V AC.
Some run at .14 amps and have resistance of 30-39 ohms.
5VDC at 30 ohms is 0.16 amps.
I'd get one and play with it.
Dwight
dwightthinker:
I was looking at sprinkler valves. They might work fine
for your application.
They are designed for AC but that is 24V AC.
Some run at .14 amps and have resistance of 30-39 ohms.
5VDC at 30 ohms is 0.16 amps.
I'd get one and play with it.
Dwight
I played with some cheap ones from home depot they worked nice.
I used DC and they worked fine.
I looked at Lowe's as they are really close. I didn't see anything I could use. Home Depot is a lot further away and I didn't look there. I didn't notice anything online, but then again you can only see pictures online (no touchy feely). What items are you looking at that you think could be used?
The 24VAC may be a problem, but not an avenue I have looked at looked. I will start looking in the morning.
