Cheap source for solenoids?

[Bill Stock]

Does anyone know of a cheap source for solenoids?

Preferably plastic two port, NO, 3/8", 12V.

I'm considering automating the fishes.

[Matt]

Dunno if its what your looking for exactly, but you might try googling
for pinball repair parts.

[Matt]

Or are you talking about a solenoid valve?

[Bill Stock]

"Matt" <mattmorgan64@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1107470619.325518.189480@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
> Or are you talking about a solenoid valve?
>

Yep, valve. I should have been more specific.

Thanks.

[Philip Lewis]

"Bill Stock" <Me7@Privacy.net> writes:
>"Matt" <mattmorgan64@msn.com> wrote in message
>news:1107470619.325518.189480@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
>> Or are you talking about a solenoid valve?
>Yep, valve. I should have been more specific.

The automating the fishes was a good hint...
I've been interested in doing a similar thing.
and had looked for valves in the past... didn't find many cheap ones.
Several folks had mentioned old washing machines as a source.

I'd be looking for marine grade ones.

My idea would be a single pump feed output to a PVC run with several
solenoid valves. The controler (considering either light timers,
computer, or X10) would open close different ones throughout the day
to generate current pattern/speed changes.

I'd even considered using valves for the intake feed as well...
with the idea of being able to strengthen certain flows.

--
be safe.
flip
Ich habe keine Ahnung was das bedeutet, oder vielleicht doch?
Remove origin of the word spam from address to reply (leave "+")

[Art Todesco]

I've found some water solenoids at American Science and Surplus,
http://www.sciplus.com/. They were the ones used in a dishwasher or
washing machine and were pretty cheap, like <$5. I used them to control
compressed air for animated Halloween displays. However, because AmSci
is a surplus place, one never knows what they will have at any one time.
As I live near one of the store, I have alway been able to find them
in one of the "bins."

Bill Stock wrote:
> "Matt" <mattmorgan64@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:1107470619.325518.189480@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
>
>>Or are you talking about a solenoid valve?
>>
>
>
> Yep, valve. I should have been more specific.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>

[Matt]

Yeah, I was gonna suggest an appliance repair shop, or even scavanging
discarded appliances at a landfill.

But then it occured to me that these would likely be 120v solenoids....
so I'm out of ideas. Maybe an auto junkyard?

[Si Ballenger]

On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 19:12:45 -0500, "Bill Stock" <Me7@Privacy.net>
wrote:

>
>"Matt" <mattmorgan64@msn.com> wrote in message
>news:1107470619.325518.189480@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
>> Or are you talking about a solenoid valve?
>>
>
>Yep, valve. I should have been more specific.
>
>Thanks.

You might be able to use the electric sprinkler water control
valves. Should be available at the home improvement centers. I
think they are usually 12v.

[Dennis Brothers]

"Bill Stock" <Me7@Privacy.net> wrote in message
news:q4ednehb99OAOZ_fRVn-2g@rogers.com...
> Does anyone know of a cheap source for solenoids?
>
> Preferably plastic two port, NO, 3/8", 12V.
>
> I'm considering automating the fishes.
>
>
>

Try Home Depot - sprinkler valves (for lawn irrigation systems) are around
$15.

- Dennis Brothers

[Andrew Burgess]

Philip Lewis <flip+spiced_ham@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

>"Bill Stock" <Me7@Privacy.net> writes:
>>"Matt" <mattmorgan64@msn.com> wrote in message
>>news:1107470619.325518.189480@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
>>> Or are you talking about a solenoid valve?
>>Yep, valve. I should have been more specific.

Irrigation valves? They need a certain minimum pressure to operate
IIRC, I think to make sure that they close. You can get them without
the antibackflow attachment which might drip...

>My idea would be a single pump feed output to a PVC run with several
>solenoid valves. The controler (considering either light timers,
>computer, or X10) would open close different ones throughout the day
>to generate current pattern/speed changes.

>I'd even considered using valves for the intake feed as well...
>with the idea of being able to strengthen certain flows.

Just FYI, it's a bad idea to adjust the flow of a centrifugal pump by
throttling the input, I think because of cavitation damaging the impeller.

HTH

[Jack Ak]

"Si Ballenger" <shb*NO*SPAM*@comporium.net> wrote in message news:4203bb7f.65571366@news.comporium.net...
> On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 19:12:45 -0500, "Bill Stock" <Me7@Privacy.net>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Matt" <mattmorgan64@msn.com> wrote in message
> >news:1107470619.325518.189480@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
> >> Or are you talking about a solenoid valve?
> >>
> >
> >Yep, valve. I should have been more specific.
> >
> >Thanks.
>
> You might be able to use the electric sprinkler water control
> valves. Should be available at the home improvement centers. I
> think they are usually 12v.

Or 24v AC... http://www.rainbird.com/diy/products/valves/cpf.htm

[Art Todesco]

Also remember, a 110VAC solenoid will operate on DC. You will be able
to operate them with a much lower voltage DC than the AC rating.
Another thing, many of these soleniods are rated for intermittent use,
which means that they WILL burn up if run continuously. Dishwasher and
clothswasher solenoids are usually of this type .... they only need to
operate long enough to fill the unit. I once had a dishwasher fill
solenoid burn up when the timer and the level detector both stuck.

Jack Ak wrote:
> "Si Ballenger" <shb*NO*SPAM*@comporium.net> wrote in message news:4203bb7f.65571366@news.comporium.net...
>
>>On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 19:12:45 -0500, "Bill Stock" <Me7@Privacy.net>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>"Matt" <mattmorgan64@msn.com> wrote in message
>>>news:1107470619.325518.189480@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
>>>
>>>>Or are you talking about a solenoid valve?
>>>>
>>>
>>>Yep, valve. I should have been more specific.
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>
>>You might be able to use the electric sprinkler water control
>>valves. Should be available at the home improvement centers. I
>>think they are usually 12v.
>
>
> Or 24v AC... http://www.rainbird.com/diy/products/valves/cpf.htm
>

[Bill Stock]

"Philip Lewis" <flip+spiced_ham@andrew.cmu.edu> wrote in message
news:qvj6518772z.fsf@unix40.andrew.cmu.edu...
> "Bill Stock" <Me7@Privacy.net> writes:
>>"Matt" <mattmorgan64@msn.com> wrote in message
>>news:1107470619.325518.189480@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
>>> Or are you talking about a solenoid valve?
>>Yep, valve. I should have been more specific.
>
> The automating the fishes was a good hint...
> I've been interested in doing a similar thing.
> and had looked for valves in the past... didn't find many cheap ones.
> Several folks had mentioned old washing machines as a source.
>
> I'd be looking for marine grade ones.
>
> My idea would be a single pump feed output to a PVC run with several
> solenoid valves. The controler (considering either light timers,
> computer, or X10) would open close different ones throughout the day
> to generate current pattern/speed changes.

My plans are not so fancy. I just want to add about 5-10 gallons of fresh
water a day to keep the Nitrates down. I would use a filter and water
pressure regulator to slowly add my dechlorinated water. The excess water
would be siphoned out the overflow and down the drain. The solenoid only
gets used if the siphon fails and the float switch kicks in. I was thinking
of using a normally open solenoid, so it would only close when the overflow
failed. But then solenoid burnout/power failures become an issue.

I would not trust X10 to run any water inside the house! It gets used to
control my aquarium lights, but that's about it.

>
> I'd even considered using valves for the intake feed as well...
> with the idea of being able to strengthen certain flows.
>
> --
> be safe.
> flip
> Ich habe keine Ahnung was das bedeutet, oder vielleicht doch?
> Remove origin of the word spam from address to reply (leave "+")
>
>