What Is An Irrigation Solenoid Valve?

Irrigation solenoid valve

The water irrigation solenoid valve is an electronic control valve used to regulate water flow. By applying a voltage to the coil, the valve opens and liquid can flow through. Solenoid valve is also called electromagnetic valve, water valve, electric valve, or electro valve.

The working principle of the solenoid valve

There are many solenoid valves with different working principles, such as direct operation, semi-direct operation, and indirect operation. The (semi) direct-operated valve has a working pressure of 0 bar, while the indirect-operated valve requires a minimum pressure to operate normally. Please note that some solenoid valves are controlled indirectly. This means that these valves use supply pressure to open and close the valve membrane. This allows a small coil to handle large flows of water. According to this working principle, a minimum pressure of at least 0.5 bar must always be maintained in the water supply pipe. If the valve is connected to tap water or a water pump, this is not a problem, but if an unpressurized water supply tank is used, the pressure may be too low to open and close the valve properly. In this case, semi-direct solenoid valve or electric ball valve is a better choice.

Clean water

Water irrigation solenoid valves operate properly with clean water. When the water gets dirty, the valve is easily clogged, leading to possible leakage or unreliable operation. In addition, due to increased wear, the service life may be shortened. To avoid this, a filter must be installed on the supply side (for particles smaller than 500µm). Alternatively, electric ball valves can also be used, which are stronger in structure and therefore less sensitive to dirt.

Install water irrigation solenoid valve

Automatic irrigation saves time and water.

It is important to irrigate the garden regularly and continuously. This requires discipline and time. Why do many people use automatic irrigation systems? This has some obvious advantages:

The irrigation system runs when you are not at home.

Evaporation is low because there is irrigation before sunrise.

Irrigation saves time.

With the rain sensor, there is no unnecessary irrigation.

Generally speaking, the garden is in a better condition by careful irrigation.

Most irrigation systems have a main water supply pipe leading to different areas. Zoning should be determined according to the required water volume, location, and vegetation type. Each zone or area is equipped with solenoid valves. Solenoid valves are installed in a central position or in the valve box, so they are protected and invisible. In addition to the water supply pipe, a control cable is also required. Each solenoid valve is connected to the irrigation controller. In this way, each area can be controlled. The irrigation controller can be programmed with a sprinkler irrigation schedule. If the water tank is used in a more remote or water-sensitive area, a float switch is usually used to monitor the water level and trigger the controller/valve.

The information is provided by the irrigation valve manufacturer.