electric solonoid hydraulic valve

drythropple · Aug 3, 2013

I have been gifted a solonoid operated hydraulic spool valve, but I dont have a clue where to start wiring it up, there are 3 terminals on each solonoid and two solonoids on each bank, I realise that one will open the valve one way and the other the opposite.
It would be helpful if someone could point me in the right direction, I intend to use it to open and close a timber grab.
Im guessing I will need some form of control (potentiometer?) as opposed to a simple 3 position flick switch.
Keep it simple please ha ha

J_J · Aug 3, 2013

The pins might be B+for one solenoid, B+ for the other solenoid, and a common GRD .

A switch would apply voltage to the solenoid to operate a work p to say extend a cyl, or to operate a hyd motor.

The unit should have a plate with descriptive data on it.

If it is military, it might be 24 v solenoids.

Some solenoid valves have on/off. spring loaded.

Some solenoids stay in the home position until voltage is applied.

Some have on, off.

Can you show a picture and manufacturer.

Usually, it is only voltage at 6v 12v or 24 v DC, or 115 v AC, 240 AC

Can't think of a reason to use a potentiometer, unless you wanted to use a 12v solenoid on a 24 v system. You could dial the voltage down and you would have to figure the wattage on the pot. [slang]

A fixed resistor would work just as well or better.

Look through this PDF . It talks about 3 pin and 5 pin, AC and DC wiring.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=-BLLpH9mMDcGfk_7yBc2PQ&bvm=bv.50165853,d.eWU

muddstopper · Aug 3, 2013

As you guessed, one solenoid for each direction of the valve. Of the three terminals, you will only use two of them. One, for positive and the other for ground. the ground you can just run to frame, no need to run it thru a wireing harness. The Positive will go to what ever kind of switch you choose to use, for a grapple I would probably use a rocker switch, and from there to the power supply. I would put a fuse in the circuit between switch and power supply. Somewhere on the solenoid it should have a voltage rateing to tell you if it is 12v, 24v, or whatever.

drythropple · Aug 4, 2013

Thanks for your help guys, it is 12 volt but I think it must be knackered, no movement when I connect wires although I did hear a click once!

J_J · Aug 4, 2013

Take it apart, inspect and clean it.

oldnslo · Aug 4, 2013

Do you a brand name and or model number on these valves? Depending on the valve style you may just have small pilot valves that operate the main spool. On some of these pilot valves you may or may not here them click.

In this case a picture or two may be worth a 1000 words.

muddstopper · Aug 4, 2013

did you try to hook up the opposite coil on the valve to see if it would shift in the opposite direction? The valve may be stuck. To test the coil, just remove them and insert a screw driver inside the coil opening. Connect the wires and see if there is magnet pull on the screwdriver. If you have a magnetic pull on the screwdriver, i would suspect the spool inside the valve to be stuck. This could be because it has been off for a while and might have a bit of rust or dirt making the spool stick, or the spool could be scared because of some trash that ran thru the system before it was removed. Sometimes you can take the valve apart and polish the spool and get it to working again.