how to control solenoids using NI PCI 6514

[Grugh_Mike]

I would like to control 20 solenoids by taking in 20 sensor inputs using NI PCI 6514.

Can i connect the solenoids directly to the NI card or do i need any other equipment in between?

I just need to actuate specific actuators at a time, so dont have any fast switching actions.

Please help me. I am new to labview and this is my first assignement.

Thanks in advance.

Regards

grugh

[jyang72211]

To control your solenoids, in additional to your controls from your PCI, you should have a transistor and a diode for each solenoid.  I don't think you will have enough current from the PCI to control the solenoids directly.  You need to use the PCI to control the transistor that is acting as a current driver.  The diode need to be anti-parallel with the transistor to act as a freewheeling diode to protect your circuit.

Yik

[drjdpowell]

Try googling "Solenoid Driver".  You might be able to find an off-the-shelf product for connecting your valves, or at least learn more about the kind of circuit needed.  I once built a valve driver based on the DRV104 chip from TI, but that would be rather too much for an "initial assignment" unless you know electronics.

-- James

[Grugh_Mike]

I am using the FESTO KMYZ-9-24-2,5-LED-PUR-B solenoid valve.

Its just specified i need 24 V to control it and no information regarding the amps is specified in the datasheet.

And in a solenoid we have 3 connections right?

one to + ve and -ve supply and the other one is the trigger signal?

Am i right or is my guess wrong?

In the PCI 6514, "current drive single" is stated as 350 mA, wont this is sufficient to trigger 1 solenoid?

Please clear this doubt.

After clarifying only, i have to order for the products.

[drjdpowell]

The "FESTO KMYZ-9-24-2,5-LED-PUR-B" seems to be the part number of the valve's connector cable, not the valve itself.  Look for another number on the valve.

Usually, solenoid valves just use two wires (third may be ground) and one applies the voltage across the two wires to activate it, and turns the voltage off to deactivate.  

350mA is often enough for small valves.  You need to find the actual valve's data sheet.

[Grugh_Mike]

Thank you for the reply and Sorry for the mistake.

The valve selected for the purpose is FESTO CPE10-M1BH-3GL-M5.

It requires the 24V and 1.25 W.

So it is possible for NI PCI 6514 to actuate FESTO CPE10-M1BH-3GL-M5 without any external circuitry right?

The problem here is i need to control 20 solenoid valves using a single NI card. Will this pose any problem?

[drjdpowell]

Power = V x I, so that means each valve is 52mA.  Twenty valves is about an amp, which is less than the 2.4A total that the PCI 6514 is rated for, so I would say "yes".

[B.Chan90]

It looks like the solenoid will not exceed either your voltage or current limits for the PCI 6514, which means you are probably ok to connect directly to the board.  However, a word of caution: I probably wouldn't connect straight to the board if I was in your position.  If something somehow goes wrong in the circuit and there is a short, you probably want some sort of protection for the board.  There's lots of different ways to do this, but I think a fuse rated just below the nominal current limit of the board would suffice.

[drjdpowell]

---

@B.Chan90 wrote:

It looks like the solenoid will not exceed either your voltage or current limits for the PCI 6514, which means you are probably ok to connect directly to the board.  However, a word of caution: I probably wouldn't connect straight to the board if I was in your position.  If something somehow goes wrong in the circuit and there is a short, you probably want some sort of protection for the board.  There's lots of different ways to do this, but I think a fuse rated just below the nominal current limit of the board would suffice.

---

Another option is to use a power supply with short-circuit and over-current protection built in, and rated for less current than your PCI 6514 can handle.  I've used ELPAC FW5024 supplies in the past for this.   But this is not as good protection as an actual fuse on each valve.  

[Grugh_Mike]

Thank you very much for your suggestions.

I shall purchase the components and then test on it.

Shall post the progress once i start connecting.

Thank you.