Is this solenoid legal?
 

Is this solenoid legal to use in competition in the 2013-14 season?

VALVE, 1/8 NPT, Cv=0.78, 24VDC, DOUBLE SOLENOID, 5-PORT, 2-POSITION

Link: http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...)/AVS-5221-24D

Re: Is this solenoid legal?
 

R77 clearly says what pneumatic components are and aren't allowed. R77-C specifically applies to solenoid valves.

Re: Is this solenoid legal?
 

It meets all of the requirements in rule R77-C, so yes, it is legal.

Re: Is this solenoid legal?
 

Yes it is legal. The nominal working pressure is 115psi so absent any other documentation you will need a secondary relief valve on the low pressure circuit per rule

Re: Is this solenoid legal?
 

Just got a response from vendor regarding max pressure. Do you think a copy of this email is good enough to pass inspection (probably) without a secondary pressure relief valve?

...................

Here is the technical support response to your inquiry:
----------------------------
Rande,

The proof pressure for this valve is 215 psig. Anything up to this value
will not cause damage to the unit. We had to obtain this figure from the
vendor directly, so sorry we don't have any documentation.

Please advise if you need any additional information. Thank you.
----------------------------
Frank DeMarco
Technical Support Team
AutomationDirect.com
If you have other questions, or require additional information, please call
or reply to this email (be sure the call # appears in the subject line).
The most practical automation products, at the lowest prices, shipped the
same day.

Re: Is this solenoid legal?
 

No. See Q241 in the Q&A - "Working Pressure is not Proof Pressure."

EDIT: While I've been frustrated over the years with the alternative reality English dictionaries that only the GDC has access to, I agree with their position on this. Proof pressure is usually a multiplier applied to working pressure, but there doesn't appear to be consensus on what that multiplier is.

Re: Is this solenoid legal?
 

So in terms of safety. It is completely & totally safe. In terms of the rules, you need a secondary relief valve. A wise robot builder complies with both.

Re: Is this solenoid legal?
 

Oh joy, but we'll put two into be safe. Thanks for all the clarifications.

Re: Is this solenoid legal?
 

Sorry to belabor this, but it's not a matter of being "safe" (in the context of satisfying the rules and/or the Inspector). The max working pressure of those solenoids is 115 PSI, which requires the second relief valve. (We also have the same issue. We mounted the additional relief valve in one of the ancillary ports on our primary regulator.)

-Karlis