I am trying to activate a 5 Volt solenoid (ZHO-0420S). I measured a coil resistance of 5.6 Ohm.
To activate it, I am using a 3.7 Volt Lit-Ion Battery (Link) and boosting the voltage to 5V via a XL6009E1 Step-Up Converter. Additionally, I am using a diode in parallel of the solenoid.
However, the solenoid do not activate. If I only connect my solenoid to the battery, it activates. But in future, I need 5V in the hole circuit to power my arduino.
thank you for your reply.
I attached a circuit diagram with some information.
Yes I am aware of the high current, but I think the step-up converter should handle that. What I am not sure is about the battery?
In your diagram, does red mean +ve and black GND? Always best to be clear.
This would indicate that the converter is the issue. Do you have a multimeter? Measure the voltage at the output of the converter when it is not powering the solenoid and also when you power it.
Also note that your solenoid has only a 25% duty cycle, with a max on time of 1 sec.
Do please double check that the solenoid has not been damaged in the mean time.
Hi,
Do you have a DMM?
If so measure the battery volts when you connect the solenoid to the 6009.
Measure the 5V output when you connect the solenoid to the 6009.
I used my DMM and measured the voltage on the battery when I don't connect the solenoid : 3.7 V
When I connect the solenoid I first measure a Voltage of 3.25 V for about 1 s and than it decreases to 0.6 V.
When I measure the voltage at the converter: 5 V without solenoid, with solenoid first 2.3 V for about a second than it jumps to 0 V.
When I connect the solenoid directly to the battery + diode, I measure a voltage of 3.5 V at the battery and it activates.
Hi,
Thanks for the info.
Can you post some images of your project?
Is the battery charged?
I don't think this battery is up to the job.
If you have a load of 0.9A and output voltage of 5V.
The output power of the converter is Pout = Vout x Iout.
Pout = 5 x 0.9 = 4.5W
Assume max efficiency 94%
Then the input power will be Pin = ( 100 / 94 ) x 4.5
Pin = 4.7W
Your 3.7V Lipo, giving 3.25V output.
Battery Output current, Ibout = Power / voltage = 4.7 / 3.25V
Current out of the battery = 1.47A
Your battery appears to be too small or not charged.
thank you for you answer. I've now ordered a Lipo with 25C. I hope this will solve the problem. I will let you know when it arrived.
The Lithium battery I used was not fully charged, but I also want it working with a half charged battery.
The problem is most likely that your DC-DC converter can't handle the inrush current of the solenoid which is probably much greater than the calculated 0.9A steady-state current.
In solenoids with DC actuated coils, the max current will be obtained by V/R. It won't reach the max value instantly due to coil reactance.
You may be thinking of AC actuated solenoids, where there will be higher current initially. Or perhaps of actuation current vs holding current. The holding current will often be lower.
My 3.7 V Lipo Battery 25 C (Link) arrived.
I tested the whole setup again with no success:
Voltage without solenoid connected: Before the DC-DC converter 3.9 V, after the converter 5 V
With connecting the solenoid: Before the DC-DC converter 3.2 V, after the converter 2.2 V
Compared to the other battery, this time the 2.2 V at the converter looks constant but the solenoid do not activate.
When I connect the battery directly to the solenoid (plus diode) I read a voltage of 3.64 at the battery.
So I guess the battery can't be the problem but I don't understand why my converter is the problem? Specs of the converter says optimal input voltage is 5 V but it should also work with 3 V. Maybe this is the reason why it don't work?
I still don't see a link to the exact converter you are using, but it appears to be the problem.
The data I have found on this site states it is a 5V+ converter:
When you use a 1 cell LiPo the converter is showing that it cannot supply 5V when under load.
You may be better off using a 2 cell LiPo pack and a buck (down) converter. Here is an example from the same site, but I'm sure there are many others:
