#37468, "Can you help me understand selenoid? Its a valve?"
From what I understand, or all Ive been told, a selenoid is a type of valve.... But it must be special in some way. I really doubt its a monster that grew out of selenium...
Help me out as much as you can yoze. Is it like an electrically controlled valve, instead of opened by pressure etc?
#37469, "RE: Can you help me understand selenoid? Its a valve?" In response to Reply # 0
A solenoid is a valve that is opened by a coil (electromagnet). this valve uses the coil to produce an electromagnetic field that actuates a plunger. this inturn opens or closes the valve. lates james
#37473, "RE: Can you help me understand selenoid? Its a valve?" In response to Reply # 3
Uhm....fluid or gas would need to be specified. Also you'll probably want to know the diameter you're looking for...as in input output tubes. Flowrate when open...uhm...will it be an open/close only or variable rate control. Those are the ones I can think of.
Trying build your own fake bov? I'm not being a dick...if you do it I wanna see how. I don't wanna make one, I'm just a gadget freak and i'm interested. I think mechanically it would be far cooler than electronically.
#37474, "RE: Can you help me understand selenoid? Its a valve?" In response to Reply # 5
Actually, the idea came out of a diy i read on how to build a fake bov.
Before I explain it for the fake BOV, ill tell you what Im using it for. I have a 200g saltwater REEF tank. Now thats different than just a saltwater tank. At 200g, the tank needs to be 'turned around' (all water pumped in and out) nearly 10X. THat means I need to push water at a rate of 200X10 = 2000gph. Which I do. But, its unnatural for a reef to feel water current flow the same way non stop. So I have a 100G extra tank mounted above the reef, filled with water. A pipe goes in the bottom of that tank, so the water in it just spills down to the first tank at a high rate fo speed.
ANyways, instead of manually turning a valve to let the water spill down and shift around the current of the tank for a few mintues, Id rather click a switch. I know theres a lot of work to be done instead of just adding a selenoid, but thats the basic jist of it.
Anyways, the place I learned or got the idea to use a selenoid was I was reading about making a fake BOV. Way to much involved for me. But it said to hook a compressor, like a A/C compressor up to a belt in your car so it can compress air. Then have it go to a selenoid and whenever you want you hit a switch and the selenoid opens. Im not going to get a whole new dang compressor to make something fake.
Anywas, I have a question. The selenoid I bought, so dumb old ford thing for $5, doesnt look...... right. How many things should the selenoid have it? This has these 2 metal posts....... And then two other posts marked S and I. Huh? WHeres water or gas/fuel run through? Did I get the wrong selenoid? Maybe I need to unscrew some things, it could be all put together or something... Are some selenoids not for fluid or air?
#37475, "RE: Can you help me understand selenoid? Its a valve?" In response to Reply # 0
Ok I messed around tonight with the fake BOV idea which you may have read in my general2gnt post.
Anyways, with the air comp hooked up to the belt I can get it to probably work up to 200min psi maybe up to 300psi. So itll all be trapped in there. How can I hit a switch to make it all hiss out? like open a valve? Is that where the selenoid comes in? Anyone know a specific selenoid I should get. I fyou know any other way, let me know.