Electronic – arduino – 12 V Solenoid Valve Not Opening

arduinoarduino unosolenoidsolenoid-valve

I am a chemical engineering student. I need to control a valve and pump system using an Arduino Uno.

I was testing out my 12V DC solenoid valve with a variable DC power supply, and noticed that the solenoid valve would not open, I hear a clicking noise though.

In another question posted on this forum, a user stated that a minimum pressure is required to open the valve. Pressure should not be an issue according to the data sheet provided here:

https://www.mantech.co.za/datasheets/products/91741-R0.pdf

Thank you in advance.

Edit: The question is why isn't the solenoid valve opening when the required voltage and current is applied across the terminals?

Edit2: Thank you Drew! Despite it not being on the data sheet it does require an operating pressure higher than I was delivering. Simply applying the pressure using my mouth opened the valve.

Best Answer

This is a typical industrial datasheet, in that it's light on the details.

The mechanism isn't obvious from the picture (can't tell if it's a pilot valve), but it probably does need a bit of pressure to open. You haven't told us your operating pressure, but somewhere between 0 and 5 psi may be necessary.

Next possibility is that your valve is broken, but I've never seen a solenoid fail in that manner so I think that's unlikely.

Another possibility is that you've connected the valve in reverse. Depending on the valve, the direction of flow may be important.