Something about installation of solenoid valve
Installation
Please check the label located on the body for correct part number, pressure ratings, voltage and to insure proper flow direction. Several kinds of valves can be mounted horizontally or vertically;
however, vertical mounting (coil up) is preferred since it results in longer cycle life.
Valves should never be mounted with the coils on the bottom. When installing these valves in a piping system they should only be connected to plastic fittings. All male threads should be wrapped with acceptable pipe sealant. To prevent stringing of the valve into the inner workings of the valves, be sure to keep the tape at least one full thread from the end of the pipe.
Whenever pipe sealants are used there is a tendency to over-torque because of the reduced friction. Therefore, connections should only be made hand-tight followed by a one quarter turn more. Greater forces tend to stretch or distort the plastic bodies which could lead to future ruptures. Strap wrenches may be used for assembly. Metal pipe wrenches should NEVER be used as they can deeply scratch the plastic surfaces causing additional stresses.
Wiring should comply with all applicable electrical codes, local or otherwise. Care should be taken to insure that the solenoid coil leads cannot be pulled from the coil. If flexible conduit is not used to connect to the solenoid housing the supply conduit must be properly aligned and supported to prevent stressing the solenoid assembly.
Valve pressure rating
Some solenoid valves are direct acting and do not require minimum operating pressure differentials, but the maximum inlet and back pressure ratings must not be exceeded. If the maximum inlet pressures are exceeded the valves will not open and the coil can burn out.
Back pressure can result in two ways. First, it is from a separate pressure source in the downstream piping. And second, from the flow of liquid through the downstream piping. If the back pressure rating is exceeded in the first situation the valve will open and a reverse flow will take place if there is a lesser inlet pressure. In the second situation, the valve will not close and flow will continue. When back pressures are caused by the liquid flow it naturally follows that any restriction in the downstream piping will cause even higher back pressures.
Maintenance
The major causes of solenoid valve failure are usually either chemical incompatibility, damage from water hammer or foreign matter in the valve. Commonly encountered foreign matter includes pipe sealants, mineral and salt deposits, and other solids.
Before disassembling a valve for examination or cleaning make sure all electrical power and fluid line pressure are turned off. It should be noted that even after a pump is shut down to eliminate fluid line pressure there may still be pressure trapped in the piping system. One example of this would be head pressure located in a vertical run of pipe. If this situation is possible, extreme caution should be exercised when removing the top housing from the valve body. It would be advisable to place a clear plastic shield over the valve during disassembly to avoid injuring a worker. CAUTION: Avoid breathing dangerous vapors and avoid skin contact with chemicals.
Whenever disassembling a valve it is wise to carefully inspect all of the parts to insure proper operation when it is reassembled. It is also a good idea to have a spare seal kit on hand. The seal kit part number is the valve part number preceded by “SK”. Example: EAST2EP11-PV is SKEAST2EP11-PV.
When removing foreign matter or deposits on the valve seat or other internal parts, care should be taken not to scratch or nick the parts being cleaned.
After reassembly, operation should be checked by energizing the solenoid coil. If the valve is operating properly, a sharp metallic click will usually be heard when the valve’s coil is energized.