Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
General Solenoid Question — Parallax Forums

General Solenoid Question

Jared5755Jared5755 Posts: 26
edited 2006-12-15 18:16 in Robotics
I just bought some solenoids and am having trouble just turning them on.· I have a power supply setup for 12volts and when I apply the voltage to the solenoid's leads nothing happens.· I hear a short click and it draws current, but the plunger never moves (I do have the voltage polarity connected correctly).· Here is what it says on the solenoid:

Dormeyer Industries
Part NO: C8-2178
Voltage: 12 VDC
Duty: Pulse
22 SEP 94


Does "Duty: Pulse" mean I have to give it a pulsed signal or something like that?

Thanks for the help,

Jared

Comments

  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-11-30 23:51
    1) Your power source is probably inadequate (or the solenoid is toast.)· Does your power supply stay at 12V when the coil/solenoid is energized?· If it doesn't, that's a clue.

    2) A lot of solenoids [noparse][[/noparse]most?] are of the "pulse" or momentary, variety.··They're designed to be energized briefly, as opposed to a "constant duty" sort which can be energized for a long time.
  • Jared5755Jared5755 Posts: 26
    edited 2006-12-02 15:23
    The power supply does dip down in voltage a few volts.· I tried a second power supply and it does it also.· They are very good quality supplies, so I think it must be a problem with the solenoid.· The weird thing is I bought 8 solenoids and so far the 4 that I've tested all act the same way.

    I'll try calling the place I bought them from and ask if they have experienced this before.

    Thanks for the help,

    Jared
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-12-02 15:40
    Jared5755 said...
    The power supply does dip down in voltage a few volts.
    · You didn't note how low they are dipping.· "They're very good quality",·that could mean almost anything·--·they haven't, as I see it,·the ability to deliver the current required.·
    · Do these supplies go below 12V then?· That's not good.·
    · You can connect a solenoid to a voltage that's less than required and it'll click and so on (as you've noted), but it won't work/actuate.
  • Bruce BatesBruce Bates Posts: 3,045
    edited 2006-12-02 16:15
    Jared -

    The initial current demand of a sturdy solenoid can be quite high. You may need a large capacitor to "stiffen" your power supply's output and take the initial current demand. After that, I suspect your existing power supply will probably be able to handle the current demand, so long as it's intermittant duty and not continuous duty.

    I'm sure one of the electronics guys can recommend a size for the capacitor based on the characteristics (voltage, amperage, resistance) of the solenoid in question.

    Regards,

    Bruce Bates

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    <!--StartFragment -->
  • Jared5755Jared5755 Posts: 26
    edited 2006-12-04 01:18
    That's ok, I have it figured out. I tried yet another power supply and they are working. The solenoid draws a suprising amount of amps. This power supply saws it is drawing nearly 3 amps. This solenoid isn't even that big too. It does hold very very strongly though!

    Thanks a lot for the help guys,

    Jared
  • business1business1 Posts: 3
    edited 2006-12-15 18:16
    Is this section of Parallax forums where people build and create robots. That is sweet, i'm reading the posts right now but i just had to get in on the reply


    Post Edited By Moderator (Aristides Alvarez (Parallax)) : 12/18/2006 4:53:07 PM GMT
Sign In or Register to comment.