What does a solenoid valve do in irrigation system?

A water irrigation solenoid valve is an electrically controlled valve to regulate the flow of water. By applying a voltage over the coil, the valve opens and the liquid can flow through. Solenoid valves are also called electromagnetic valve, water valve, electric valve or electro valve.

How does a solenoid valve control water flow?

A solenoid control valve has two main components: a solenoid on top and the valve system on the bottom. The electromagnetism caused by currents moves the plunger either up or down to pinch and control the flow. A solenoid control valve is either “normally closed” or “normally open.”

Built-in Flow Control

The Pro-Series solenoid with flow control allows for flow adjustment and regulation of water to the watering zone. When bar pressure within a system is too high for spray bodies and rotors to function at their optimal levels, the valve can be altered to restrict the amount of water sent to the sprinklers. The built-in flow control enhances sprinkler performance by minimising unwanted misting helping to maintain precise watering patterns from the nozzles.

Durability

We have manufactured a valve from heavy-duty, corrosion and UV resistant PVC for a solenoid valve that is built to last and resist degradation over time. The glass-filled nylon solenoid cap is engineered for increased durability ensuring high tensile strength and minimised moisture absorption.

Manual Flow control

Features an easily removable metering pin for easy cleaning and maintenance without having the disassemble the whole valve. The solenoid also features an internal bleed through and external bleed screw that permits manual bleeding of water from the diaphragm without discharging water outside the valve.

Plunger Solenoid

The solenoid is epoxy encapsulated for maximum moisture resistance ensuring longevity compared with moulded solenoids. The internal plunger moves upwards when electrical impulses from the irrigation controller are sent to the solenoid. This causes an imbalance of pressure behind the valve that forces water underneath the diaphragm causing the valve to open. The Pro-Series plunger is also captured within the solenoid minimising the risk of losing internal parts.

Installation tips

Begin by ensuring you have sufficient water flow, supply and pressure for the solenoids to work and flush the sprinkler system thoroughly before installation. When fitting the solenoid valve, use PTFE tape around any male threads and hand thread adaptors into the valve making sure they are not over-tightened. To operate the valve manually, open the bleed screw by turning it counter clockwise three complete turns. This allows water to exit the screw hole and opens the valve.

They have a robust construction and are optionally equipped with manual flow control, so the desired flow can be adjusted. Most models have an override function, the valve can be opened manually if needed. Furthermore, they are equipped with a dirt particle filter.

The majority of irrigation controllers work with 24V AC. If 24V AC is not available, a universal solenoid valve can be chosen