Potential cheap solenoid for CO2 system?

[PlantumOfTheOpera]

A question for the mechanically inclined

http://www.rainbird.com/diy/products/valves/cp.htm

Found this, and wonder if it can be used to control CO2 on/off. I think it would work provided the reducing adapters were put on, but thought I'd run it by here.

i will try to call the co this week and inquire further.

thoughts?

[Rex Grigg]

I can see a couple of problems here. First off you will need to run it off of a wallwart. Second it may not be gas tight. How much do they want for it? And that's going to be a lot of reducing adapters. If you want a good solenoid I have one in the parts bin here. It's a 120 VAC and uses standard pipe fittings 1/8" as I recall. I will sell it to you for $25 + shipping.

[PlantumOfTheOpera]

Rex,

My collection of wallwarts is almost as big as your chemicals and spare parts appears to be It is rated for ~25+ PSI, so my guess is gas tight too, but I plan to call and speak to a rep on Monday.

The reducing adapters is a problem, but the cost is $15 at Lowes or Home Despot. BTW, I plan to use a check valve too fwiw...

[blk]

I thought this was pretty interesting. Has anyone ever tried this and had it work? Sprinkler solenoids can be had for about $10.

[PlantumOfTheOpera]

It worked just fine. The only modifications as stated were reduction adapters, and I placed a small button between the spring and diaphragm to increase the tension. According to the rep, a bit of flow was not bad as it was designed with keeping dirt out of the system. The button made the unit gas tight.

[blk]

Sounds great, thanks for the info. I have a couple more questions. First, are these solenoids usually in flow-on or flow-off mode when unpowered. Second question, 24V seems to be standard for operating these sprinkler solenoids, did you use a 24V wall wort? It's kind of an uncommon size. I was thinking of wiring two 12V adapters in series to get to 24V. Sound reasonable?

Thanks

[PlantumOfTheOpera]

The solenoids are normally off, open with applied current. { as a power failure would be quit funny with everyone's sprinklers going off!}
As stated above, I have a box of wallwarts. I use a 24 volt one as specified; I do not know enough to advise you on the use of 2 12v ones, but you can get a 24v wallwart at an alarm supply place, if not where you get the solenoid.

FWIW, I currently no longer use the solenoid, instead I limit the CO2 flow and leave it on all the time as suggested by others on this forum. I fould that at max conc. CO2, the plants grew too darn fast!!! { I'm lazy }

Let me know how you make out.