Motorized valve recommendation

[Btaz]

Any recommendations for cheap valves? I just need 2 way valves with all open and all closed. I'm okay with any input voltage as I can build a relay board as needed for an arduino controller.

 

[ryane]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-To-1-DC...ctrical-Ball-Valve-CR-01-02-05-/161472673200?

 

[Btaz]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-To-1-DC...ctrical-Ball-Valve-CR-01-02-05-/161472673200?

I ran across these in my searching too. Any experience with these? Are they reliable?

 

[ryane]

Ive had one on a fresh water line for quite some time and it seems to work well, I know others have used them quite extensively on the wort side of their brewing rigs

I opened one up and the guts of the actuator actually impressed me, I was expecting plastic inside but it was all metal. Its just too bad they dont use an ISO mounting pad

 

[ClaudiusB]

Any recommendations for cheap valves? I just need 2 way valves with all open and all closed. I'm okay with any input voltage as I can build a relay board as needed for an arduino controller.

I use similar 2 & 3 way valves for water and cleaning solutions not over 180*F.
Would not use them for wort, at close to boiling temperature the packing grease leaked out as a green mess.
Had two with mechanical gearbox problem I could fix.
If you use them with automation get them with position feedback or install them yourself.
On my keg washer I run a homing sequence to make sure those valves move before I turn on any pumps. Having feedback saved me a few gallons of solutions.

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

 

[ryane]

I use similar 2 & 3 way valves for water and cleaning solutions not over 180*F.
Would not use them for wort, at close to boiling temperature the packing grease leaked out as a green mess.
Had two with mechanical gearbox problem I could fix.
If you use them with automation get them with position feedback or install them yourself.
On my keg washer I run a homing sequence to make sure those valves move before I turn on any pumps. Having feedback saved me a few gallons of solutions.

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

Packing grease? I opened one up to take a look at the valve and the only thing I saw was some thread lock, is this what you are talking about?

On a side note, and not to hijack, but Im curious where you sourced the solenoid manifold for your pneumatic valves? I havent had any luck finding them at a reasonable cost

 

[ClaudiusB]

Packing grease? I opened one up to take a look at the valve and the only thing I saw was some thread lock, is this what you are talking about?

The packing grease is inside the cavity behind the Teflon seat.
I packed it with high temp food grade grease.
Not all my valves are from the same vendor.
I only opened the valves which failed during high temp testing.

On a side note, and not to hijack, but Im curious where you sourced the solenoid manifold for your pneumatic valves? I havent had any luck finding them at a reasonable cost

Festo is my brand of choice and are more reasonable now than 1995 when I started.

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

 

[FlanFlen]

I'm in the process of automating my system. I just purchased some of these from ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290562138382?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Unfortunately, it's going to be awhile before I can use them. We're building up funds to get the automated system up and running. Unless i'm missing something, I believe these should work just fine.

 

[Btaz]

I'm in the process of automating my system. I just purchased some of these from ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290562138382?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Unfortunately, it's going to be awhile before I can use them. We're building up funds to get the automated system up and running. Unless i'm missing something, I believe these should work just fine.

I had read that ball valves where preferred over solenoid valves as the solenoids may stick after a while. Though I no personal experience with either.