Hello! I’m an FRC alum, but I’m kinda clueless about most electronics and programming. I am now working on a research project in college and am particularly interested in pneumatic control. I’m on a tight budget so I’m looking for a way to control a double solenoid valve without having to get the expensive RoboRio. I think I can get away with just using a motor controller to power the compressor, but I’m a little lost on how to actuate the solenoid. So if anyone has any experience with getting an Arduino or Raspberry Pi to do that, I’d very much appreciate your advice!
There are lots of ways to do this, but the most basic would be to use cheap 12v relays to power the solenoid (example)
You could use 5v digital output pins on an Arduino or RasberryPi to control these relays and a 12v power supply or battery to provide the power for the solenoid. If this isnt broken down enough I can throw a quick diagram together.
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Relays for everything, the compressor and the solenoids.
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Totally agree, you dont need an expensive motor controller for the compressor as you only need it to be “on” or “off.” I cant think of a scenario where you want to drive your compressor at a speed which isnt 100%
I guess if your intention was to fry the compressor by stalling it.
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Dang, that was a lot easier than I thought. So if I were actuating a piston, I would need a double solenoid valve, like this one, right? And if I were using a solenoid like that, would I need 2 relays for it? So that one side of the piston is open at all times?
A single solenoid would only require one relay-same actions as a double solenoid just has a home position when not energized by the relay (behaves like a spring return): https://www.andymark.com/products/ckd-single-solenoid-valve
If you have an old Spike relay you only need one for a double solenoid.
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Oh! Wow, that actually totally makes sense, I just watched a video on the operation of a single solenoid and I see a lot clearer now! I think I’m understanding! Thank you so much, everyone!
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Depending on how comfortable you are with circuitry, this can be as simple as a push button hooked up to a relay/transistor/ Where the switch controls the flow of electricity from a higher voltage power source to the solenoid. If you want a bit more “control” you can hook up an Arduino to a relay/transistor/ and then you can program when the solenoid activates. If I wasn’t in class right now I’d draw you a quick schematic.
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On the topic of using an Arduino board to control a solenoid it is pretty easy. A Teensy microcontroller is around ~20$ and can be used to control as many solenoids as you need.
To actually actuate it in code is pretty simple. All you need to do in Arduino is a digitalWrite() with either HIGH or LOW to actuate it. If you want I can share some code that I’ve done with Arduino that involves actuating solenoids for an air cannon.
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