Powering solenoid valve with ruggeduino

Using Arduino Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
1

Hey guys,

So I'm trying to figure out if this will work. I want to power/actuate a bank of 4 of these valves:

with a ruggeduino (http://ruggedcircuits.com/html/ruggeduino.html). According to the ruggeduino website, each output can support 500mA 5v, or 2.5W. These solenoid valves use less than a watt, and can run at 5V... So they should work, right?

EDIT: Looks like that's 2.5W total; each output pin is limited to 40mA. So I'll have to run a bank of MOSFETs to power these?

Thanks,
Tyler

2

humjaba:
Hey guys,

So I'm trying to figure out if this will work. I want to power/actuate a bank of 4 of these valves:
http://content.smcetech.com/pdf/SY100_Valve.pdf

with a ruggeduino (http://ruggedcircuits.com/html/ruggeduino.html). According to the ruggeduino website, each output can support 500mA 5v, or 2.5W. These solenoid valves use less than a watt, and can run at 5V... So they should work, right?

EDIT: Looks like that's 2.5W total; each output pin is limited to 40mA. So I'll have to run a bank of MOSFETs to power these?

Correct, that is a typical method. AVR recommends that you limit digital output pin current to 20ma or less for continuous operation. The 40ma value is a absolute max electrical specification to prevent permanent damage to the chip.

LeftyThanks,
Tyler

3

Excellent, thanks for the quick response. Where is a common place to buy these (MOSFETS, or relays? Which would be better?)
Since I will have to use the MOSFET's anyway, I'm going to use some more readily available 12V (3W) valves. If I'm building my board around the Ruggeduino, can I use a common 12V power source to power the Ruggeduino and the valves as well? I will be powering the ruggeduino, 4 12V/3W valves, and a few operating lights.

Power supply I'm thinking of:

or, if I can get away with it,

Also, will something like this work to control the valves?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Channel-5V-Relay-Module-Shield-Arduino-ARM-PIC-AVR-DSP-New-condition-/270905017086?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f133282fe

Thanks,
Tyler

EDIT:
My janky wiring diagram: http://i.imgur.com/Z6PwO.png
And where can I buy something like this? http://www.open-electronics.org/input-output-shield-for-arduino/

4

Hi,
if you are loking for the http://www.open-electronics.org store, you can find it here:

http://store.open-electronics.org/Arduino/Shield/Arduino%20Relay%20Shield