[Matt Krass]

Originally Posted by RKElectricalman

actually you can control a double solenoid with ONE spike as opposed to, two. All you need is two rectifier Diodes, and the double solenoid (along with some crimps, wire cutters, blah, blah, blah)

the double solenoid has two 12volt coils on it (I hope).. so take a red from one side, and a black from the other side and crimp them together.. Then take the left over black and red, strip the wire, and solder the diodes to each wire. Make sure they are in opposite direction as well. On the diode,the side with the line on it should be soldered on the black wire coming from the double solenoid and another diode should have the red on the non-lined side.. (*note* - this is backwards because the current is coming from the other side) ... Then solder some wire onto the other side of the diodes, strip that wire, and crimp it together. Personaly I put the side with diodes on M+ and then non diode side on M-. You save weight, and also simplfy program by use of only one relay.

if this is Relay1 and you only want it on when the button is depressed then.... If (p1_sw_trig ==1) {
relay1_fwd = 1;
relay1_rev = 0;
}

else {
relay1_fwd = 0;
relay2_rev = 1;
}

so you save weight and code is simplified :-)

good luck

Very cool, and I hate to be a wet blanket, but I think that would be forbidden, since a custom circuit (which that technically is I think, though my memory of the wording of the rule is fuzzy) isn't allowed to directly control the outputs, that of which being a solenoid. Since it doesn't actually allow the solenoids to react without the RCs cooperation anyway at the same time I'd think it'd be legal, but I also have a feeling that the wiring rules may also forbid your modification, can somebody else clarify?