Hello!
I'm starting a project with a friend of mine where we need a small board to control a solenoid-valve.
The solenoid valve needs 12V (+-10%) therefore we can use our 11.1V LiPo battery.
My question is then, can a Arduino Pro Mini be powered directly by a 11.1V battery?
In addition, how would you control the power-supply for the solenoid-valve?
I was thinking to use a transistor, to control the +12V for the valve. Only problem is just i think the valve uses a high amount of amps when it's powered on, so i do not think we can use a small transistor.
The whole project is supposed to be VERY compact, it's going to be placed in a tube with a inner diameter at approx 25mm and about 5-8cm long.
Mathiaslk:
Hello!
I'm starting a project with a friend of mine where we need a small board to control a solenoid-valve.
The solenoid valve needs 12V (+-10%) therefore we can use our 11.1V LiPo battery.
My question is then, can a Arduino Pro Mini be powered directly by a 11.1V battery?
In addition, how would you control the power-supply for the solenoid-valve?
I was thinking to use a transistor, to control the +12V for the valve. Only problem is just i think the valve uses a high amount of amps when it's powered on, so i do not think we can use a small transistor.
The whole project is supposed to be VERY compact, it's going to be placed in a tube with a inner diameter at approx 25mm and about 5-8cm long.
Best regards!
Mathiaslk 8)
Hello, if you have a look at the page for the Arduino Pro Mini: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardProMini it states: Input Voltage 3.35 -12 V (3.3V model) or 5 - 12 V (5V model).
This indicated the voltage range the Arduino can safely operate at. Since you are using approximately 11.1v it would work fine.
For powering the solenoid-valve you could use a transistor like you have already mentioned or use a relay which can handle much higher currents and is able to switch ac and dc current.
A transistor should be sufficient (dependent on the solenoid's current use), if not switch it out for a small relay.
Lastly remember to connect a diode to protect your Arduino and circuit from back voltage when you switch off the solenoid.