Pump and solenoid valve

Projects General Guidance
1

Salutations,
I am carrying out a project which consists of:
When you press a button, activate the pump and keep it for a certain amount of time (with the valve closed), after "x" seconds open the solenoid valve (obviously the pump remains on), after another period of time close the solenoid valve and after a few second turn off the pump. Also, I would like to put a level sensor for the control tank in such a way that if the water level is too low a solenoid valve opens in order to fill and avoid cavitation of the pump.

I thought of connecting the pump directly to the home socket (since it goes to 240V) and using arduino only to pass current or not to the switch via a relay [correct me if I'm doing a bullshit and I screw everything up].
My doubt since the solenoid valve that I would like to take works in AC and I have seen that the devices of arduino, all used in DC; do you think you can still control the valve? that is, with an arduino board is it possible to control several devices in AC and DC at the same time? if you would be kind enough to even tell me how? : sweat_smile:

Many thanks in advance,

Daniele.

2

you would use relays to switch the 240V pump and solenoid - make sure they are opto isolated
you would need to check the current taken by the pump
if it is higher than a few amps the relay should drive a contactor of the required current capacity

to sense the water level you could use a float switch or even a TOF laser sensor

3

Yes. Look at relay modules, the relays on them can handle AC or DC. The limitations (current basically) are printed on the relays usually.

4

the maximum load (e.g. 10 amps) printed on the small relays typically used by Arduinos is for a resistive load - I would not try to switch more than 2 or 3 amps of inductive load

Commercial contactors typical have two or more ratings -
AC1 for resistive load such as lamps, heaters, etc
AC3 for inductive loads such as Squirrel-cage motors
the the last pump I used was a Jabsco 28520 with a power rating of 2.2kW so I used a contactor with a rating AC1 20amps AC3 12 amps

5

This relay module appears to be well designed - nice terminal block with barriers, PCB has U-shaped slot to enhance isolation from high voltage AC, opto-isolation feature, switches 240VAC/30A resistive or 240VAC 1/2 Hp inductive.

Suggest adding a suitable MOV to the NO-COM terminals.

6

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