Solenoid Valve Trouble Shooting Guide

Marvin the Maintenance Man wants to help you troubled shoot Solenoid Valves.

BUY valves HERE!  Contact Flow Factor HERE!


Whoops: "Throw the extra parts away."  All parts must be assembled correctly for the valve to operate properly.

Whoops: "I only hit the valve ONCE with my hammer." A hammer is not a trouble shooting tool. Valve abuse contributes to the most reported problems.

Whoops:  "We don't need a special wrench; I'll find something to take the valve apart". Special tools for the valve disassembly may be needed.  Pipe wrenches etc. will damage parts.

Whoops: "I'll add more teflon tape."  Gobs of tape will block internal passages and interfere with seating. (These are not ball valves).

Whoops:  I forgot to turn on the electricity." "I forgot to open the hand valve." "A strainer takes up too much room." Beware of Marvin Maintenance.

Whoops:  "It's only 10 PSI more than maximum operating pressure."  "It's almost at the minimum operating pressure." " Voltage is not that important." Name Plate Data Applies.

Whoops: "I throw them away." Installation and maintenance instruction sheets have trouble shooting hints, maintenance notes and assembly instructions; etc." Do Not Throw Them Away.

Whoops: "So I piped it up backwards and/or upside down." Proper Mounting is IMPORTANT.

Whoops: "We're out of 1 inch pipe, so I used 1/4 inch pipe." Valves, especially 3-way and 4-way valves,  should not be restricted.

Whoops: "Well it operated pretty well for the past 20 years."  A maintenance program is suggested.

Whoops: "The Valve is defective."  "The Valve does not operate." "The Valve Failed."  Not very descriptive. Find out part number and get application data.

Whoops:  "I need the silver thing." = Solenoid Sub Base Assembly.
                "I need an orifice." = Not a spare part. Buy a new valve.
                "I need  gasket." =  Specify which one.
                "I need  plunger." = Core Assembly.
                "I need a solenoid." = Coil

Whoops:  "What is a Kit?" Do not replace individual parts.  Use a kit to replace all the wearable parts and restore the valve.  Call for kit # or look on name plate.

Whoops: "Buy any two way valve, they're are all the same." Misapplication problems can be avoided.

Whoops: "I can trouble shoot anything!"  We believe you Marvin.

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TROUBLE SHOOTING 2 WAY VALVES

Trouble shooting 2-way DIRECT ACTING Solenoid Valves
Normally Closed Valve Fails to OPEN when energized:
1. No Voltage
2. Low Voltage
3. Burned Out Coil
4. Excessive Pressure
5. Binding Core
6. Swollen or cut resilient disc
7. No Pressure to valve

Trouble shooting 2-way DIRECT ACTING Solenoid Valves
Normally Closed Valve Fails to CLOSE when energized:
1. Faulty control circuit
2. Improper Installation
3. Scale of foreign matter
4. Damaged Seat or Disc
5. Binding Core
6. Damaged or Missing Spring

Trouble shooting 2-way DIRECT ACTING Solenoid Valves
Excessive Solenoid NOISE when energized:
1. Low Voltage
2. Loose Solenoid Parts
3. Foreign Matter on core or Plug Nut
4. Worn Core or plug nut
5. Incorrect or damaged spring


Trouble shooting 2-way PILOT OPERATED Solenoid Valves
Normally Closed Valve Fails to Open when energized:
1. No Voltage
2. Low Voltage
3. Burned Out Coil
4. Excessive Pressure
5. Binding Core
6. Swollen or cut resilient disc
7. No Pressure to valve
8. Low Pressure
9. Ruptured diaphragm or damaged piston ring
10. Plugged or restricted pilot orifices

Installation Tips for 3 and 4 way Pilot Operated Valves

1. Do Not Select Oversized Valves. Size Carefully for Flow and Cylinder speed. For Economy and reliable operation.

2. Use Full Area Lines in Pressure and Exhaust.

3. I.D. (Internal Diameter) of lines and fittings must be larger than orifice.

4. Differential Between Pressure and Exhaust must exceed the minimum at all times.

5. Do Not Meter Flow in Pressure or Exhaust Lines.

6. Install Speed Control Valves in the Cylinder Lines Only.

7. Avoid Pressure Regulators if Possible. If essential, the regulator must have flow capacity to maintain the MINIMUM Differential at all times.

8. Hydraulic Pumps or Air Reservoirs must have adequate capacity to maintain the minimum DeltaP at all times.

9. Pressure Differential may be measured by means of gages installed immediately at the pressure and exhaust connections.

10. Do Not Mistake a Faulty Cylinder for a valve malfunction, Isolate the Cylinder.

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Flow Factor
216-765-4231
www.flowfactor.com

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