powerful servo needed

[Craig Curtin]

Guys,

Anyone know where i can get a grunty servo at a reasonable price ?? I
want to use it to automate the turning of swimming pool valves i.e.
the large plastic handled valves you see on the 40 and 50mm hi
pressure PVC pipe near pool pumps and the like.

Jandy have a unit which is purpose built but costs around $200US - no
idea what a big servo would cost - but more to the point where to get
one from ???

Craig

 

[pcman]

"Craig Curtin" <craig.curtin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:266c18c8.0410052235.6a9af173@posting.google.com...

Guys,

Anyone know where i can get a grunty servo at a reasonable price ?? I
want to use it to automate the turning of swimming pool valves i.e.
the large plastic handled valves you see on the 40 and 50mm hi
pressure PVC pipe near pool pumps and the like.

Jandy have a unit which is purpose built but costs around $200US - no
idea what a big servo would cost - but more to the point where to get
one from ???

Craig

wouldnt you be better off replacing the valves with electronic controlled
solinoids ??

 

[PE]

"pcman" <tecortina@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:4163a24b$0$20130$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

"Craig Curtin" <craig.curtin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:266c18c8.0410052235.6a9af173@posting.google.com...
Guys,

Anyone know where i can get a grunty servo at a reasonable price ?? I
want to use it to automate the turning of swimming pool valves i.e.
the large plastic handled valves you see on the 40 and 50mm hi
pressure PVC pipe near pool pumps and the like.

Jandy have a unit which is purpose built but costs around $200US - no
idea what a big servo would cost - but more to the point where to get
one from ???

Craig

wouldnt you be better off replacing the valves with electronic controlled
solinoids ??

Just keep in mind what people say about a drip under pressure.....

Pump off.... change flow..... check flow HAS changed..... Pump on.........
else.......!!!!!

Not gained through experience................ yet!

PE

 

[Craig Curtin]

"pcman" <tecortina@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message news:<4163a24b$0$20130$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>...

"Craig Curtin" <craig.curtin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:266c18c8.0410052235.6a9af173@posting.google.com...
Guys,

Anyone know where i can get a grunty servo at a reasonable price ?? I
want to use it to automate the turning of swimming pool valves i.e.
the large plastic handled valves you see on the 40 and 50mm hi
pressure PVC pipe near pool pumps and the like.

Jandy have a unit which is purpose built but costs around $200US - no
idea what a big servo would cost - but more to the point where to get
one from ???

Craig

wouldnt you be better off replacing the valves with electronic controlled
solinoids ??

Problem is i am not aware of any at a reasonable price for 40mm
pressure pipe that do not restrict the flow. The Jandy solution
appears to be the industry accepted one for automating switching
betwen spas and pools etc and i was wondering if there was a cheaper
way of doing it

Craig

 

[Adrian Jansen]

Craig Curtin wrote:

"pcman" <tecortina@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message news:<4163a24b$0$20130$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>...

"Craig Curtin" <craig.curtin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:266c18c8.0410052235.6a9af173@posting.google.com...

Guys,

Anyone know where i can get a grunty servo at a reasonable price ?? I
want to use it to automate the turning of swimming pool valves i.e.
the large plastic handled valves you see on the 40 and 50mm hi
pressure PVC pipe near pool pumps and the like.

Jandy have a unit which is purpose built but costs around $200US - no
idea what a big servo would cost - but more to the point where to get
one from ???

Craig



wouldnt you be better off replacing the valves with electronic controlled
solinoids ??


Problem is i am not aware of any at a reasonable price for 40mm
pressure pipe that do not restrict the flow. The Jandy solution
appears to be the industry accepted one for automating switching
betwen spas and pools etc and i was wondering if there was a cheaper
way of doing it

Craig

Check out some of the flow control valves from the bigger agricultural
equipment suppliers. They use motorised valves for eg boomspray
control, although I dont know of any as big as 40mm. But maybe you can
fit one of the motor assemblies on a bigger valve. I still think $200
or so is a reasonable price for this type of thing - low quantity,
specialised part, well sealed, etc.


--
Regards,

Adrian Jansen adrianjansen at internode dot on dot net
Design Engineer J & K Micro Systems
Microcomputer solutions for industrial control
Note reply address is invalid, convert address above to machine form.

 

[Bob M]

Greetings from Canada!

I did a similar thing for my sister/brother-in-law many years back. He
was a plumber and constructed a solar heater array to heat the
swimming pool. Basically, we needed a valve that could be controlled
by a circuit I constructed to determine if the water in the heater was
warmer than the water in the pool.

Basically, I cut out an 8 inch circular disc of 3/4 inch fir plywood.
In the centre of the disc, I cut out the shape of the "T" handle of
the 2 inch plastic ball valve. A second disc was stacked on top of the
first, with nothing cut out of it. On the underside of the first disc,
metal straps were secured to the plywood across the "T" handle to
permanently attach the plywood to the valve.

The pool light was powered by a 12 volt battery system, so I chose a
12 volt car windshield wiper motor to drive the valve (from a 1966
OLDS). They are very powerful and can easily move the valve. Depending
on the motor you choose, you need to make an eccentric arm to operate
the valve. Micro switches were used to stop the motor in the "valve
open" and "valve closed" position. The motor was powered by a relay.

Note that the wiper motor draws a significant amount of current. Not
an issue in our case as the batteries (2 X 6 volt gel cells) could
supply the intermittent "burst" of current required. The thing worked
reliably for many years after the mandatory first week of "tinkering"
to get everything adjusted correctly.

Hope this helps. If you want more details, send me an email directly
and I'll do my best. It was about 30 years ago.

Cheers from Canada!

Bob M

agamlen <a.gamlen@adfa.edu.au> wrote in message news:<4164e566$1@news.adfa.edu.au>...

Adrian Jansen wrote:
Craig Curtin wrote:

"pcman" <tecortina@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:<4163a24b$0$20130$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>...

"Craig Curtin" <craig.curtin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:266c18c8.0410052235.6a9af173@posting.google.com...

Guys,

Anyone know where i can get a grunty servo at a reasonable price ?? I
want to use it to automate the turning of swimming pool valves i.e.
the large plastic handled valves you see on the 40 and 50mm hi
pressure PVC pipe near pool pumps and the like.

Jandy have a unit which is purpose built but costs around $200US - no
idea what a big servo would cost - but more to the point where to get
one from ???

Craig




wouldnt you be better off replacing the valves with electronic
controlled
solinoids ??



Problem is i am not aware of any at a reasonable price for 40mm
pressure pipe that do not restrict the flow. The Jandy solution
appears to be the industry accepted one for automating switching
betwen spas and pools etc and i was wondering if there was a cheaper
way of doing it

Craig


Check out some of the flow control valves from the bigger agricultural
equipment suppliers. They use motorised valves for eg boomspray
control, although I dont know of any as big as 40mm. But maybe you can
fit one of the motor assemblies on a bigger valve. I still think $200
or so is a reasonable price for this type of thing - low quantity,
specialised part, well sealed, etc.


If by servo you mean a radio controlled type servo rather than a
servomotor you can get a servo controller from
http://www.oatleyelectronics.com and it will control a cheap windscreen
wiper motor. The control method is a pulse of 1.5 ms is center, 1ms is
left and 2ms is right. Pulses every 20ms.

 

[agamlen]

Adrian Jansen wrote:

Craig Curtin wrote:

"pcman" <tecortina@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:<4163a24b$0$20130$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>...

"Craig Curtin" <craig.curtin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:266c18c8.0410052235.6a9af173@posting.google.com...

Guys,

Anyone know where i can get a grunty servo at a reasonable price ?? I
want to use it to automate the turning of swimming pool valves i.e.
the large plastic handled valves you see on the 40 and 50mm hi
pressure PVC pipe near pool pumps and the like.

Jandy have a unit which is purpose built but costs around $200US - no
idea what a big servo would cost - but more to the point where to get
one from ???

Craig




wouldnt you be better off replacing the valves with electronic
controlled
solinoids ??



Problem is i am not aware of any at a reasonable price for 40mm
pressure pipe that do not restrict the flow. The Jandy solution
appears to be the industry accepted one for automating switching
betwen spas and pools etc and i was wondering if there was a cheaper
way of doing it

Craig


Check out some of the flow control valves from the bigger agricultural
equipment suppliers. They use motorised valves for eg boomspray
control, although I dont know of any as big as 40mm. But maybe you can
fit one of the motor assemblies on a bigger valve. I still think $200
or so is a reasonable price for this type of thing - low quantity,
specialised part, well sealed, etc.


If by servo you mean a radio controlled type servo rather than a

servomotor you can get a servo controller from
http://www.oatleyelectronics.com and it will control a cheap windscreen
wiper motor. The control method is a pulse of 1.5 ms is center, 1ms is
left and 2ms is right. Pulses every 20ms.

 

[adam_c]

I was gonna suggest a car wiper motor too.

U could just set limit switches, or, alternatively, Oatley Electronics has
the servo motor kit that converts wiper motors into huge servos.

Might wanna give them a go...

Adam


"Bob M" <bmorgoch@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:512df638.0410070426.518119b6@posting.google.com...

Greetings from Canada!

I did a similar thing for my sister/brother-in-law many years back. He
was a plumber and constructed a solar heater array to heat the
swimming pool. Basically, we needed a valve that could be controlled
by a circuit I constructed to determine if the water in the heater was
warmer than the water in the pool.

Basically, I cut out an 8 inch circular disc of 3/4 inch fir plywood.
In the centre of the disc, I cut out the shape of the "T" handle of
the 2 inch plastic ball valve. A second disc was stacked on top of the
first, with nothing cut out of it. On the underside of the first disc,
metal straps were secured to the plywood across the "T" handle to
permanently attach the plywood to the valve.

The pool light was powered by a 12 volt battery system, so I chose a
12 volt car windshield wiper motor to drive the valve (from a 1966
OLDS). They are very powerful and can easily move the valve. Depending
on the motor you choose, you need to make an eccentric arm to operate
the valve. Micro switches were used to stop the motor in the "valve
open" and "valve closed" position. The motor was powered by a relay.

Note that the wiper motor draws a significant amount of current. Not
an issue in our case as the batteries (2 X 6 volt gel cells) could
supply the intermittent "burst" of current required. The thing worked
reliably for many years after the mandatory first week of "tinkering"
to get everything adjusted correctly.

Hope this helps. If you want more details, send me an email directly
and I'll do my best. It was about 30 years ago.

Cheers from Canada!

Bob M

agamlen <a.gamlen@adfa.edu.au> wrote in message
news:<4164e566$1@news.adfa.edu.au>...
Adrian Jansen wrote:
Craig Curtin wrote:

"pcman" <tecortina@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:<4163a24b$0$20130$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>...

"Craig Curtin" <craig.curtin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:266c18c8.0410052235.6a9af173@posting.google.com...

Guys,

Anyone know where i can get a grunty servo at a reasonable price ??
I
want to use it to automate the turning of swimming pool valves i.e.
the large plastic handled valves you see on the 40 and 50mm hi
pressure PVC pipe near pool pumps and the like.

Jandy have a unit which is purpose built but costs around $200US -
no
idea what a big servo would cost - but more to the point where to
get
one from ???

Craig




wouldnt you be better off replacing the valves with electronic
controlled
solinoids ??



Problem is i am not aware of any at a reasonable price for 40mm
pressure pipe that do not restrict the flow. The Jandy solution
appears to be the industry accepted one for automating switching
betwen spas and pools etc and i was wondering if there was a cheaper
way of doing it

Craig


Check out some of the flow control valves from the bigger agricultural
equipment suppliers. They use motorised valves for eg boomspray
control, although I dont know of any as big as 40mm. But maybe you
can
fit one of the motor assemblies on a bigger valve. I still think $200
or so is a reasonable price for this type of thing - low quantity,
specialised part, well sealed, etc.


If by servo you mean a radio controlled type servo rather than a
servomotor you can get a servo controller from
http://www.oatleyelectronics.com and it will control a cheap windscreen
wiper motor. The control method is a pulse of 1.5 ms is center, 1ms is
left and 2ms is right. Pulses every 20ms.

 

[Craig Curtin]

Thansk very much for the suggestions guys, looks like some tinkering
with car wiper motors. I will check out the Oatley Kit

Craig


"adam_c" <adam_c@NOSPAMiprimus.com.au> wrote in message news:<4165e646_1@news.iprimus.com.au>...

I was gonna suggest a car wiper motor too.

U could just set limit switches, or, alternatively, Oatley Electronics has
the servo motor kit that converts wiper motors into huge servos.

Might wanna give them a go...

Adam


"Bob M" <bmorgoch@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:512df638.0410070426.518119b6@posting.google.com...
Greetings from Canada!

I did a similar thing for my sister/brother-in-law many years back. He
was a plumber and constructed a solar heater array to heat the
swimming pool. Basically, we needed a valve that could be controlled
by a circuit I constructed to determine if the water in the heater was
warmer than the water in the pool.

Basically, I cut out an 8 inch circular disc of 3/4 inch fir plywood.
In the centre of the disc, I cut out the shape of the "T" handle of
the 2 inch plastic ball valve. A second disc was stacked on top of the
first, with nothing cut out of it. On the underside of the first disc,
metal straps were secured to the plywood across the "T" handle to
permanently attach the plywood to the valve.

The pool light was powered by a 12 volt battery system, so I chose a
12 volt car windshield wiper motor to drive the valve (from a 1966
OLDS). They are very powerful and can easily move the valve. Depending
on the motor you choose, you need to make an eccentric arm to operate
the valve. Micro switches were used to stop the motor in the "valve
open" and "valve closed" position. The motor was powered by a relay.

Note that the wiper motor draws a significant amount of current. Not
an issue in our case as the batteries (2 X 6 volt gel cells) could
supply the intermittent "burst" of current required. The thing worked
reliably for many years after the mandatory first week of "tinkering"
to get everything adjusted correctly.

Hope this helps. If you want more details, send me an email directly
and I'll do my best. It was about 30 years ago.

Cheers from Canada!

Bob M

agamlen <a.gamlen@adfa.edu.au> wrote in message
news:<4164e566$1@news.adfa.edu.au>...
Adrian Jansen wrote:
Craig Curtin wrote:

"pcman" <tecortina@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:<4163a24b$0$20130$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>...

"Craig Curtin" <craig.curtin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:266c18c8.0410052235.6a9af173@posting.google.com...

Guys,

Anyone know where i can get a grunty servo at a reasonable price ??
I
want to use it to automate the turning of swimming pool valves i.e.
the large plastic handled valves you see on the 40 and 50mm hi
pressure PVC pipe near pool pumps and the like.

Jandy have a unit which is purpose built but costs around $200US -
no
idea what a big servo would cost - but more to the point where to
get
one from ???

Craig




wouldnt you be better off replacing the valves with electronic
controlled
solinoids ??



Problem is i am not aware of any at a reasonable price for 40mm
pressure pipe that do not restrict the flow. The Jandy solution
appears to be the industry accepted one for automating switching
betwen spas and pools etc and i was wondering if there was a cheaper
way of doing it

Craig


Check out some of the flow control valves from the bigger agricultural
equipment suppliers. They use motorised valves for eg boomspray
control, although I dont know of any as big as 40mm. But maybe you
can
fit one of the motor assemblies on a bigger valve. I still think $200
or so is a reasonable price for this type of thing - low quantity,
specialised part, well sealed, etc.


If by servo you mean a radio controlled type servo rather than a
servomotor you can get a servo controller from
http://www.oatleyelectronics.com and it will control a cheap windscreen
wiper motor. The control method is a pulse of 1.5 ms is center, 1ms is
left and 2ms is right. Pulses every 20ms.

 

[Clifford Heath]

Craig Curtin wrote:

I want to use it to automate the turning of swimming pool valves i.e.
the large plastic handled valves you see on the 40 and 50mm hi
pressure PVC pipe near pool pumps and the like.

Sounds like you have some things to try now, but just beware of
one thing. Some of these valves, especially the 6-way ones, have
a lever handle which must be depressed before being turned. This
is done to remove the pressure from the seal, which will quickly
fail if you modify the valve to be turned without needing the
lever to be depressed.