What is Solenoid valve
What is Solenoid valve || Solenoid valve working principle || 12v Solenoid valve connection

The Solenoid valve is a electrical operated valve, its name clearly shows that this is a valve, but the solenoid shows that this is special valve, because it can operates by electronics system, such as it can controlled by Arduino, Sensors, computer, and also with Mobile phone.

solenoid valve
solenoid valve

The works of solenoid valve is same as Normal mechanical valve, but mechanical valve we needs to ON or OFF by hand, when the solenoid valve will ON or OFF by electrical current.

This valve we can use at everywhere, such where we needs to control Water, Gas, Steam, Air, Oil, and etc.

Now understand Solenoid valve function with an example

Suppose:-

We needs to fill a water drum with water by a faucet, which faucet has valve, so if valve is normal valve such as mechanical so it needs to ON by hand, and when Water drum will be filled, again Normal valve need to OFF by hand.

But if faucet has solenoid valve then it can ON and OFF by long distance, such as by sensor, Arduino or computer, etc.

The solenoid valve has this special thing that it can operate by sensor, which is mostly used in factories.

it used in factories for bottles filling, means which factories make Water bottles, or Coca-Cola bottle, or etc. it used solenoid valve for bottles filling, such as when bottle will come below of filling pipe, then a signal will go to solenoid valve and valve will open and fill the bottle, and when bottle will be filled then again signal go to solenoid valve and valve will be close.

And also many other factories which work at fluid, and it needs to control Air, Gas, then it used solenoid valve.

And this valve also used in Air-conditioner for cooling control, because this is electrical controlled valve, for this cooling easily can controlled by solenoid valve.

And it also used in Gas station for Gas controlling.

How to works solenoid valve?

The solenoid valve works by magnetic field, it has following parts.

  • Inlet port
  • Outlet port
  • Plunger
  • Solenoid Rod
  • Electrical Coil/ Windings
  • Spring

The solenoid valve has two main parts which makes it unique from mechanical valve, which is Solenoid Rod and Electrical Coil.

Definition of each part

1- Inlet Port

The Water, Gas, Air, Oil, or Petrol will come from inlet port means the inlet port is used for input.

2- Out let

The outlet port used for output, such as when valve will open then water, air, oil, will out from outlet Port.

3- Plunger

The plunger will block the path of flowing, it fixed in center of Inlet and outlet, so when plunger keep down then path remain block and when plunger will take up then path will clear and water, air, petrol, will flow from inlet port to outlet port.

4- Solenoid Rod

The solenoid rod is main part of this valve, the rod attached with plunger, this rod will do up and down the plunger, means the solenoid rod is movable part of this special valve.

5- Electrical Coil/ windings

The Electrical coil is second main part of valve, basically it needs Electrical current.

When current supplied to coil then it energized and make magnetic field, and Solenoid Rod will take up by this magnetic field, and when coil will de energized then again rod will go down.

Thus Electrical coil is main part of solenoid valve.

6- Spring

The spring fixed in Solenoid Rod, actually spring will put pressure to rod for goes down when coil has de energized, and when coil will energized by current then rod will take-up because magnetic field will put more pressure to rod than spring, and when coil de energized again rod will fall, thus valve path will close.

How to Solenoid valve control by electronics signal?

We will used a Relay for controlling solenoid valve, because normal 12v Solenoid Valve's coil consume near about 2.5 to 3 ampere Current.

So we cannot it used with direct electronics signal, for this we will use a relay for control to coil.

The Relay will supplied Electrical Current to coil and relay will controlled by Electronics signal

Wiring of a solenoid valve / Solenoid valve connection

Wiring of a solenoid valve

Solenoid valve connection