OK guys and gals I spend a whole week trying to figure out how to control some solenoids and found this forum with great advice but I might need a little more explaining. I am basically a tinkerer and love to mess with electronics etc. My goal for this project is:

I have a 600' irrigation machine that I use for irrigating crops.
It as 129 sprinklers on it with manual ball valves that I have to go change on/off depending on area being irrigated. This can be a wet muddy mess...

I would like to automate or at least control all the valves from one central point.
I found some latch type (meaning they are pulsed with ~12V+ to turn on and pulsed again with ~12V- to turn off) solenoids that should do the trick, I just don't know what to build- to be able to control these solenoids individually. I keep seeing shift registers, H bridges etc. mentioned but if I can get a complete run down. From maybe just a huge bank of switches all the way to a touch screen would be nice. For the cherry on top I have an external input that can be used to trigger on/off events. If there is something on the market that can handle this already a link or directions for searching would be appreciated or some advice. My budget for the controls are $1000-$2000.

 

Are there 129 solenoids to control?
You can do the control with a simple DPDT centre off switch but 129 of them would be a bit unmanageable, but cheap and simple to do.

 

Yup 129 solenoids!

 

Can you operate several valves simultaneously? That would simplify the switching/wiring.

 

Prefer not but if I have to I could probably pair them up but even then I would like individual control. I found this...http://www.oesincorp.com/pickholdmodule.htm

 

Prefer not but if I have to I could probably pair them up but even then I would like individual control. I found this...http://www.oesincorp.com/pickholdmodule.htm

That module won't reverse the voltage to release the solenoid.

 

I would like to automate or at least control all the valves from one central point.
I found some latch type (meaning they are pulsed with ~12V+ to turn on and pulsed again with ~12V- to turn off) solenoids that should do the trick, I just don't know what to build- to be able to control these solenoids individually. I keep seeing shift registers, H bridges etc. mentioned but if I can get a complete run down. From maybe just a huge bank of switches all the way to a touch screen would be nice. For the cherry on top I have an external input that can be used to trigger on/off events. If there is something on the market that can handle this already a link or directions for searching would be appreciated or some advice. My budget for the controls are $1000-$2000.

Hi

Sounds like your looking for some type of pulse addressable control system where each valve could be addressed and commanded to be on/off from a central console. Do you have a part number for the valve and have you already purchased them?

 

One approach that starts to make sense with this many devices to control is the row / column matrix.

If the overall rate of necessary control cycling is low enough, and the devices have two latching states, this could be done
with a 10 X 13 switching matrix.
A secondary relay can be employed to reverse the polarity applied to the matrix for latch and unlatch.

I am having trouble imagining a ball valve interfaced to a latching solenoid? Do you have a part selected already?

 

The matrix seems to make sense the same way you would address leds correct? Sorry maybe I was not clear but I will remove the ball valves and replace them with these
https://www.dripdepot.com/item/galc...FA9A005F1906&gclid=CMHNoYi6-c8CFQMoaQod9cENBg

Not concerned about speed in the sense they don't have to move all at once they can go in sequence

 

Yes, that would be simple then, you need 23 SPST contacts and one DPDT relay to reverse the polarity.
This monster could control 130 valves, from 24 I/O lines, nice.

There are many types of relay interface boards you could buy off the shelf.

 

Great. I think you might have missed to insert a link?but are you referring to something like this? http://m.ebay.com/itm/151734210726?_mwBanner=1
If so I am a little confused how you control 130 valves with 24 spst contacts. If you have a schematic would help me understand thanks!

 

The matrix seems to make sense the same way you would address leds correct? Sorry maybe I was not clear but I will remove the ball valves and replace them with these
https://www.dripdepot.com/item/galc...FA9A005F1906&gclid=CMHNoYi6-c8CFQMoaQod9cENBg

Not concerned about speed in the sense they don't have to move all at once they can go in sequence

Not really. Its different than a matrix. If each valve were addressable, you would only need maybe 6 wires, ( xmt,rcv, pwr) forming a bus that each valve would connect. The console would send a digital pulse command containing the valve address and on/off request. I don't know if these exist for irrigation systems.