Hello,

I am going to drive 8 of these solenoids at 12VDC, with a single relay for each of them. I've measured them to 0,8A at 12DC, but lets say 1,0A to have some headroom. Each of them are turned on for maximum 100ms, with a pause down to 150ms. Mostly they will be turned on at an irregular frequency, but sometimes they will all be in sync for around 5 minuttes.

I have a hard time calculating the actual current need, and I do not want to buy a 150W PSU if I do not need to.

So my question is, what kind of PSU is recommended to drive these solenoids?
Should I also use some kind of capacitor bank to have a current reservoir ?
Or should I use multiple PSU's to even out the load?

I really appreciate any help you can provide.

 

I would go for a 10A 12V psu, like an old ATX, these will give out 20A easily dirt cheap!

Threse are 120W switchmode types,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-120W-...hash=item2f215c1bfa:m:mUOcics2s0KjwhX1bSJvVWA

Or you're looking at a Linear Transformer type psu.

The solenoids will need back emf diodes on each on, like 1N4148, 1N414 types.

 

8 solenoids at 1A each would require 96W from the PSU if they were all operated at the same time.
From your description there is no reason why you could not use multiple supplies.

 

A PSU that has the output capability to drive all 8 solenoids at once is not that expensive:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CCTV-Pow...hash=item3ae6e66d90:m:mPTGKYrvpy6pOGcT4yOwpjg

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-5V-12...hash=item52034a78e0:m:mt5v_TGS7aqcQXXM7uWnymg