I'm building an automated water-supply system that will switch the valves open/close to fill the tanks, valves would spin with the help of servos over them controlled by esp83266.
Ques: Please help me with the setup (how to mount servo on valve) and torque required for servo motors.
I'm not preferring to use Solenoid valves because they would require continuous power to remain open (many times valves have to be left open for days) however servo+valve combo would only require power to turn, hence saving power and money.
You'll need enough torque, enough range of movement and a solid mounting. You've told us absolutely nothing about what valves you are using so that's the best I can do.
How are you communicating from the master/base to the slaves/valve controllers?
How will you power the slave/valves?
Are the valves multiturn devices?
Do you need to vary the flow through the valve?
Thanks.. Tom...
Hello Tom,
I'm thinking to fit these valves with servos to make them turn open and close.
I just need to turn the valves open and close, nothing except that.
Get a proper motorized ball valve.
By the time you buy a servo with enough power to close a ball valve and Rube Goldberg it together you would be money and time ahead.
If you don't need to partially-open the valve you should be able to find a "bi-stable" or "latching" valve that doesn't have to be continuously powered. And of course, motorized valves will hold their position. But, I'm not familiar with that market.
Or, if you want a DIY solution and it's going to be fully-on or fully-off you don't need a servo motor. Any geared-down DC motor with enough torque will work. You'd probably want limit switches. But you'd have to use a motor driver circuit. Servos are easier to use because they have the driver built-in. So, it's probably a cost trade-off.
You'd probably have to rig-up something or adapt a torque wrench to measure the required torque. But in my experience the torque required to turn a valve varies a lot and it varies over time...
mak_uno:
I'm not preferring to use Solenoid valves because they would require continuous power to remain open (many times valves have to be left open for days) however servo+valve combo would only require power to turn, hence saving power and money.
DVDdoug:
If you don't need to partially-open the valve you should be able to find a "bi-stable" or "latching" valve that doesn't have to be continuously powered.
There appears to be quite a few latching solenoid valves for use in battery-operated irrigation systems,
