What are the Benefits of a Latching Solenoid Valve?

This post is brought to you by Humphrey Products.

Are power consumption, coil heating, and extended cycle times, issues in your application? A Latching Solenoid Valve could be your solution.

The function of a latching solenoid valve is to apply a momentary pulse of electricity to create a "maintained" state in the valve (open or closed) whereas in a standard solenoid valve, you are applying a momentary pulse of electricity for a "momentary" state in the valve (open or closed). The electrical current needed to operate a latching solenoid valve is very brief. In most cases an electrical pulse (anywhere from 20 to 50 milliseconds) of a particular wattage will shift the valve open or closed, and it will stay in that position after power is removed and the coil de-energized. The driving force behind the shifting of the valve (open or closed) is in reversing the polarity of your electrical signal to shift the valve one way or another. Think of it as positive polarity shifts the valve one way and negative polarity will shift it back. Manufacturers accomplish this in many ways; two conductor or three conductor electrical wiring, built in or external relays, or additional outputs on a PCL to control the electrical signal.

Some examples of where Latching Solenoid Valves can be beneficial are:

• remote or battery operated applications
• a situation where a valve needs to be open/actuated for an extended period of time
• when heat rise occurring from the coil being constantly energized to maintain its position is an unacceptable side effect in your application.

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