Trying to control air solenoid valve

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi everyone I am having some trouble getting a solenoid to work.
Below is the schematic I followed.

image
image1024×919 81.7 KB

This is the solenoid.

I am using a tip120 transistor and a 1n4007 diode.

What is weird is that when I first tried the circuit it seemed to work fine, then it stopped as i couldnt here the clicking anymore. One thing I tried was change the where the wires went from the solenoid to the other side of the diode (because both wires are black) which didnt fix anything.
I checked my arduino with another sketch to make sure I didnt fry the board, but the board still works fine.
Any help with this would be great.
Thanks in advance.
Dean.

2

First.
Post a link to the data sheet. Not the sales advrrtisment.

Second. Get a separate 5v power supply.
Connect the separate power supply to the solenoid. See if it works.

Third. Calculate the base resistor value.

Fourth Add the TIP120 on that circuit. Add the proper wattage proper value resistor to the base and use a wire to feed it the signal.

Connect and disconnect the wire to test operation

If that works.

Connect your arduino ground to the other power supply ground.
Connect you output pin to the resistor.

Write a simple sketch.

post the sketch after reading how to post a sketch on the forum.

Important.
Make a sign.
NEVER CONNECT ANY COIL TO THE ARDUINO AS A POWER SOURCE.

if you are unsure of the defination of coil, please clarify its meaning.

To review.
Test coil by direct connection to a separate power supply
Test TIP120 by using wires.
Passing those tests
Prolerly connect the arduino low power logic to the base resistor, connect grounds, test operation.

POST TEST CODE
POST OPERATIONAL CODE
We want to make sure that you are not doing something foolish like trying to PWM a coil.

3

Right, there is no data sheet, but this is the specs i can find.
Rated voltage: DC 5V
Rated Current: 0.26A
Rated Power: 1.3W
Type: Normally Closed
Port Outer Diameter: 3mm
Wire Length: 7cm / 2.8inch
Total Size: 23 x 9 x 11mm / 0.91 x 0.35 x 0.43inch(LWH)

4

PWM a solenoid is ok…
100% to pull in, and 30% to hold. time proven way to reduce battery drain.

5

Your diagram shows the solenoid power supply connected to "Vin".

For this sort of project, nothing should be connected to "Vin" or the "barrel jack".

6

The risk is that the tiny strip to the Vin pin on the board is blown. Check that having the solenoid disconnected using a DMM between Vin and GND.
TIP120 is an old, primitive dragon waisting 1-2 volt. Then the solenoid is only offered 3-4 volt. Use a modern logic level N channel MOSFET instead.

7

clarification :
some noobs think they can throttle a solenoid.

9

Post/duplicate LOCKED
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Continued cross posting could result in a time out from the forum.

Could you also take a few moments to Learn How To Use The Forum.

Other general help and troubleshooting advice can be found here.
It will help you get the best out of the forum in the future.