I've been looking at water flow control with Arduino and I'm finding a huge difficulty in managing to do an 'analog' control on water flow. The mainstream solution seems to be the well known solenoid valve, however those seem to be binary (full flow, no flow), and I'm looking for a more variable answer.
Is it possible to get middlegrounds with solenoids? Maybe actuating them with less voltage or amperage will cause it to partially actuate? If not, does anyone know of embedded solutions using servos or steppers maybe?
Maybe a valve like this
Driven by a stepper like this
Or a motor like this (+ driver board) if the stepper does not have enough torque.
I would also have a solenoid valve inline with this just in case motor jams/dies.
if you can split it up in e.g. 8 separate flows that you switch on/off, would that be an option?
I'm trying to control a shower, so the flow of the showerhead. Splitting flows would take up too much space I believe, I was hoping to integrate it all in or near to the shower head.
Riva:
Maybe a valve like this
Driven by a stepper like this
Or a motor like this (+ driver board) if the stepper does not have enough torque.
I would also have a solenoid valve inline with this just in case motor jams/dies.
I had considered that, I just have no idea how to realiably hook it up. I have access to a 3d printer, maybe print a support?