Sprinkler Valve

[medievalman]

i know that there is already a post on modding sprinkler valves, but there is like 5 pages of posts so i thought i could post my question here.

i have a 1" 100-DV Rainbird Valve. Would this be an ok valve to mod?

also, if i can't mod it, how do i get 24 volts of AC without having a bunch of huge 6volt batteries?

here are some pics of the vlave:

[nicholai]

Yes you can modify that for pneumatic actuation. Take the screws off the top housing and fist look to see if it has a guide rod, im not sure if that model of valve does or not but if it does not have one it makes this much easier.

If it doesnt have a guide rod then simply drill, tap and attach hose or blowgun like you normally would. If there is a guide rod you will have to mount your hose/blowgun in another location instead of being dead center. I beleive spudstuff had a way to bend the guide rod so you could mod it with a fitting dead center.

are you sure that solenoid is 24v AC? Most of those run on DC. If it is a DC solenoid you can simply wire up three 9v batteries and a switch to actuate the solenoid.

[medievalman]

thanks for all the help.

my dad got this when i wasn't with him and the guy who sold it to him said that it ran on DC but on the valve, it says it runs on AC and also, 3 9v batteries would make 27 volts so i dont know if that will work better.

and finally, another question:with modded valves, i understand how they open, but how do they close?

thanks again

[nicholai]

pressure equalizes on both sides of the diaphragm, which pushes down creating a seal by help of a spring

[numerouno]

do you know of a guide to mod a sprinkler valve because i can't find one anywhere,

thank you very much

[medievalman]

thanks again for all the help and the quick responses!
i think ive got it all figured out and will be finishing the gun very soon.

numerouno:you can find guides to modding sprinkler valves in the HOW-TO section along with other places on this site

thank you for all your help nicholai!

[medievalman]

alright, i have another question:

when you mod a sprinkler valve, do you have to mount a schrader valve on it so you can pressurize the space above the valve? if not how do you do it?

[experament_u2]

no u dont im pretty sure it dose it by its self through a small hole in the diaphram

[medievalman]

sorry i sound kind of noobish but, is the diaphragm the soft rubber part or the hard plastic part?

[Rudesill Ballistics]

The diaphragm is the actual gasket thing that makes the valve work.

The in and out are kind of joined by a ring and pipe, the diaphragm fits between these and keeps the pressure in the tank.

When you turn on the solenoid, or vent the top chamber, the diaphragm flexes upward allowing the pressure to pass through.

The spring forces the diaphragm to seat once pressure is equalized.

[medievalman]

alright, thank you very much

[dogbite]

hmmm when i vent the top chamber of my srinkler vavle all the air just goes out the blowgun and none releases into the barrel, its like the diafrag, (spelling) isnt pushing up when air is realesed is that because the whole u take the guide rod out of is too large, i have been trying to figure this out for a while, i cant seem to find any help sections for it

[nicholai]

correct. the equalization hole is too large and allows too much air to the other side of the diaphragm. Or your blowgun still has the reduced nozzle on it that restricts flow. Make sure you take the tip off the blowgun, or reinsert the guide rod. If you cant reinsert the rod normally because the valve top has been drilled and tapped top dead center where the guide rod fits, then try bending the rod so it catches the lip of the fitting screwed into the valve top

[stefano]

Does someone has pictures of this valve finished and modified???

[Gun Freak]

There's probably over 9,000 of them in the pneumatic cannon showcase...