[Jake M]

We also have played with wiring both parts of the valves to a single spike, although, you can't simply put the positive of one and negative of the other into one end of the spike and the negative of the first one and the positive of the second into the other end of the spike. Oddly, if you wire one end of the valve backwards (positive to the black wire and ground to the red) it still works as if you wired it correctly, which means no matter which way the spike is sending voltage, both sides are active and fighting against each other. At least that's how it works with the valve we're using. So, you either need to use some diodes to prevent backwards current, or my idea.

The idea I came up with, and I'm probably not the only one, is to wire the positive of one side of the valve to M+ of the spike and the positive of the other side to M-. Then wire the negatives of both ends of the valve to a separate wire, which goes straight to ground on the power distribution panel. You still need both a negative and a positive input to the spike, to keep it running. There must be a capacitor on the spike, because it will work once and only once without a negative input.

Anyway, is it legal to run both ends of a valve from one spike? I know rule R91 says, "Each motor, actuator, and compressor must be connected to one, and only one, speed controller or relay module." Does each end of the valve count as one acutator, or does the valve as a whole count as one? Secondly, is there anything wrong with my solution to running a valve from one spike?