I'm trying to find a electrically actuated water valve for a project.. something I THINK like this here
But preferably cheaper, that's obviously for an industrial application
My question is: Does anyone know of any search terms I could try to find more residential oriented ones?
http://www.grainger.com is a decent source for larger (e.g. 1/2" id and bigger valves); mcmaster.com has some nice smaller ones. Very difficult to search on Grainger's site, I spent an hour finding the solenoid valve I needed; hard to separate those for air from those for water.
Also Ebay's a decent source, use "solenoid+valve-air" Good luck.
Cost is all about material made of (metal vs plastic) flow capacity (Cv), size of plumbing connections and operating pressure ratings.
Plastic garden water sprinkler values are the cheapest, but check all specifications. Not that some valves won't operate with 'zero pressure', as in controlling draining from an overhead tank, but rather require a minimum water pressure.
Lefty
some valves won't operate with 'zero pressure'
From my experience all the cheap solenoid-type valves need quite a few PSI to "crack" the valve.
Rob
Try ball valve also.
You might also look at furnace zone control valves for hot water heating systems. Home Depot carries TACO brand heads that sort of snap onto the actual valve, I have seen them in the store & actually purchased, danmed if I can find it on line tho.
Another option might be swimming pool supply places for plastic ball valves. Maybe build up your own servo controlled arm to swing the valve arm.
What size did you need?
http://www.valvestore.com/products.asp?dept=1582
Nice selection here. Think you'll want a MOSFET driver for power.
Cheap large-diameter solenoid valves are uniformly piloted, i.e. they use the upstream fluid pressure as well as the electricity through the solenoid to actuate the valve.
Your example valve is a small ball valve, however. Electrical actuation of ball valves isn't terribly technically challenging, but you need gobs of torque even for relatively small valves, and you therefore need strong linkages and brackets. Off the shelf electric actuators tend to be expensive, but you can occasionally score on eBay if you know what you are looking for. You can also use hi-torque servos as well.
Thanks to everyone who has posted
Yea, it was late and I was tired
I'm looking for something to control a shower, so yea it'd be utility water supply (unless I'm misunderstanding, it makes sense either way, utility water supply meaning "from a pipe/not a reservoir" or utility water supply meaning "any point before it reaches your house" (eg the power co's side of a transformer compared to your side)
Flow rate would be around 2 Gallons/min required (average showerhead flow rate is 2.5 gallons, it seems, there would be a hot and cold, so neither valve would need to be 100% of total flow)
I want/need control over the amount of flow
(also, yea, I realized after the fact that ball valves are either on or off, been a while since I had a hydraulics class)
You may need to look for a lavatory faucet type of valve. They usually have ~180 deg rotation and are easy to move, so could be operated by a servo.
Quickly realizing I'm probably going to need to get a regular manual valve, and fit it with a motor, or something, probably be a hell of a lot cheaper that way
(also, yea, I realized after the fact that ball valves are either on or off, been a while since I had a hydraulics class)
No, a ball valve can be used to throttle flow anywhere from full off to full on and anywhere in between, just by the position of the handle/ball. A ball valve's main claim to fame is that it can be made to allow full flow restricted by only the piping size and line pressure. That is a 1/4" ball valve has a full 1/4" hole in the ball and therefore allows full potential flow in 1/4" piping systems. They tend to be the more expensive style of valve per size because of the precision machining required to make the ball and seat. Not sure if plastic ball values are common and if they carry a price premium also.
Lefty
Why not just use a sprinkler system valve? They sell them at Home Depot and Lowes and work off of dc voltage. They come in 3/4 and 1" outlets. Just use adapters to make it the size you need. I think the company is RainBird but I'm sure their are other companies as well. In the spring you can get them at the hardware stores for like $10.
There is a common irrigation-style plastic "ball" valve which has a cylinder rather than a ball. Cheap as chips but I don't know if they are rated for mains pressure, probably not I suspect.
As already mentioned, good quality ball valves need a LOT of torque to turn. I've encountered some that I could hardly operate myself, especially after a period of being static.
Zoomkat mentioned the lavatory type valve, which (if your dunnies are the same as ours) is just a float valve and these are available on all shapes and sizes. These already have a long lever so you could easily add a nut to the lever and run that up and down a threaded rod with a motor. This wouldn't need much force at all.
The problem with float valves it that they are normally used to trickle feed a tank, they may not have the flow rate you need.
@triath5147
Valalvax wants to control the flow rate, that can't be done with a solenoid valve (although maybe you could PWM it :))
Rob
if your dunnies are the same as ours
Is that what ya all call your crappers? 
Lefty
Yep, "dunny" is the most common term. "shitter" in less polite company, "loo" in more polite company.
Rob
An alternative to solenoid operated valves is motorised valves as used on heating systems, usually mains voltage, they are usually spring loaded shut and open when supplied with mains power :
http://www.uk-plumbing.com/danfoss-randall-2-port-valve-hp22b-22mm-p-1396.html
retrolefty:
(also, yea, I realized after the fact that ball valves are either on or off, been a while since I had a hydraulics class)
No, a ball valve can be used to throttle flow anywhere from full off to full on and anywhere in between, just by the position of the handle/ball. A ball valve's main claim to fame is that it can be made to allow full flow restricted by only the piping size and line pressure. That is a 1/4" ball valve has a full 1/4" hole in the ball and therefore allows full potential flow in 1/4" piping systems. They tend to be the more expensive style of valve per size because of the precision machining required to make the ball and seat. Not sure if plastic ball values are common and if they carry a price premium also.
Lefty
Oh? 
Well cool...
I know just enough to have the DESIRE to make trouble/a mess, but not enough to actually do it 
pluggy:
An alternative to solenoid operated valves is motorised valves as used on heating systems, usually mains voltage, they are usually spring loaded shut and open when supplied with mains power :
That might actually be exactly what I need, pretty cheap, does what I need, etc
Thanks everyone for your help, I'll continue to poke around, but once I see something I like, it's usually the one I get (I'm an impulse shopper, except I wait a while before buying, but STILL buy the same thing :P)
Valalvax:
I'm trying to find a electrically actuated water valve for a project.. something I THINK like this herehttp://www.amazon.com/Parker-Valve-4Z-B6LJ2-SSP-Stainless-Compression/dp/B001C13DJ6
But preferably cheaper, that's obviously for an industrial application
My question is: Does anyone know of any search terms I could try to find more residential oriented ones?
I can help you,electric actuated ball valve,USD22 per unit,used for residential appliaction,skype:amyzhang3000
pluggy:
An alternative to solenoid operated valves is motorised valves as used on heating systems, usually mains voltage, they are usually spring loaded shut and open when supplied with mains power :
Yes,you are correct,mini motorised ball valve can be perfect alternative to solenoid valves,if your application is home automation system,please contact me,I can also help you,USD22 per unit,CE Certificate mini motorised ball valve is absolutely your first choice.
Intermatic PAV215 for about $18.50 USD
And the spendy bit
Intermatic PE24VA for about $75.00 USD
The 24V actuator attaches to the valve, useful for Arduino Low Pressure Irrigation type projects, the standard Solenoid Servo Valves don't cut it on gravity flow unless you've got about 40' head pressure.