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dodgy solenoids

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  • dodgy solenoids

    1. Why do solenoids fail?
    2. How can this be prevented?
    3. What can I do to test them without having to wait and see beer is at wrong temperature?
    4. Are there alternatives to solenoids?

  • #2
    This ties into your other post. A brewery I worked at installed the solenoids directly under the uninsulated glycol lines, and the condensation dripped into the electrical connections - which were not properly sealed - and half of the shorted out within a few months. Another one, the installers did not flush the glycol system with water, and the solenoids had to be taken apart a few times to get the pvc bits out of them, but they were still functional, only blocked open.

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    • #3
      Easily.....

      Originally posted by Brewberosa View Post
      1. Why do solenoids fail?
      2. How can this be prevented?
      3. What can I do to test them without having to wait and see beer is at wrong temperature?
      4. Are there alternatives to solenoids?
      This is another area where everyone under the Sun is attempting to revinvent the wheel and go with servos that cost a LOT $$ and fail often.
      I can tell you how to stop it cold for dirt cheap, but definitely not on open Forum.

      Star
      Warren Turner
      Industrial Engineering Technician
      HVACR-Electrical Systems Specialist
      Moab Brewery
      The Thought Police are Attempting to Suppress Free Speech and Sugar coat everything. This is both Cowardice and Treason given to their own kind.

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      • #4
        I have 85% of the original Red Hat solenoids that were installed in our brewery 22 years ago still in use.

        1 Many reasons
        2 Install them so condensate does not run into the coil. Put screens in your glycol return stream.
        3 If you hold a paper clip or screw driver up to the coil while it should be energized you should be able to feel the vibration of the current flowing thru the coil.
        4 Never checked.
        Joel Halbleib
        Partner / Zymurgist
        Hive and Barrel Meadery
        6302 Old La Grange Rd
        Crestwood, KY
        www.hiveandbarrel.com

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        • #5
          We use ASCO Red Hat solenoids. The coils are sealed, and if you use the correct junction box and fittings, they are damned near waterproof. I've never yet had a coil fail--and some are well over 20 years old.

          The biggest cause of failure I've seen is the valve sticking "open" due to a tiny piece of debris (usually from the plumbing install, but more often Teflon thread tape). I've ceased using Teflon thread tape entirely due to this, and use LocTite 542 thread locker/sealer instead, and haven't had a solenoid stick open in years.

          If you locate your solenoids with some forethought and properly placed isolation valves, they can be rebuilt in place. Rebuild kits are available for all the Red Hat line. Be sure you get the right kit--there is a difference between AC and DC kits--you can use an AC kit for DC, but not vise-versa.
          Timm Turrentine

          Brewerywright,
          Terminal Gravity Brewing,
          Enterprise. Oregon.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by TGTimm View Post
            The biggest cause of failure I've seen is the valve sticking "open" due to a tiny piece of debris (usually from the plumbing install, but more often Teflon thread tape). I've ceased using Teflon thread tape entirely due to this, and use LocTite 542 thread locker/sealer instead, and haven't had a solenoid stick open in years.

            If you locate your solenoids with some forethought and properly placed isolation valves, they can be rebuilt in place. Rebuild kits are available for all the Red Hat line. Be sure you get the right kit--there is a difference between AC and DC kits--you can use an AC kit for DC, but not vise-versa.
            All of this....Red Hats are awesome....but I will also say that my favorite switched from red hat ii’s to Belimos. I have never had them stick or fail on me. Haven’t used them for as many years yet, but pretty confident in their longevity after a handful of years. I like that I can manually turn the valve in the event of a motorized failure and the larger liquid passage.

            If water and electricity are your concern, then wire a pneumatic distribution block in a safe location and run air actuated Burkert valves. It’s nice to be able to fully foam down an area and not worry about it.

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