7 Creative Uses for Solenoid Valves

Solenoid valves are a truly incredible piece of equipment. They provide reliability, efficiency, and durability. They can be used for any number of things, from the common to the obscure. Today, we will look at eight innovative uses for solenoid valves. Hopefully these can inspire the clever DIY’er, the young inventor, or the aspiring scientist. U.S. Solid valves all come with different specifications, so be sure to fully understand any project, and the valve it requires, before undergoing it.

Air Horn
The classic electric horn was invented in 1910. It has become a standard in cars across the globes. It is an important way to warn pedestrians or other traffic. More frequently, it is used as a means of saying hello or aggression. Nary a day passes without the absent minded motorist blaring his car horn to get the attention of his buddy walking in the crosswalk. For those frivolous beepers, an air horn can be a great addition. These air horns come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and sounds. There are the loud train horns, and the funny car that beeps out a famous tune. When installing an air horn, compressed air is used, and something is needed to regulate this air. Enter the solenoid valve. This small piece of equipment enables the horn to sound loud and proud. The next time you hear your neighbor beeping out the theme to his favorite movie, remember the trusty solenoid valve made it possible.

Was that a steamboat or a custom car horn you just heard?

Confetti Cannon
It’s not a party till the confetti shoots out of a cannon. This is a mantra that many people live by, and it’s tough to argue against. Confetti cannons rely on a short burst of compressed air to shoot out the contents of its tube. Closely related to its sinister relative the potato cannon, the confetti cannon comes with far less risk, and far more fun for all involved. Depending on the size of the PVC tubing used, the pressure of the air, and the amount of confetti, it can shoot out in a cloud that goes only a few inches, or rocket out all across the room.

 

Water Drop Photography
Ever seen beautiful photos of water drops colliding with a body of water? If not, take a look at the images below. Then wonder with the rest of us at how one can get a picture that incredible. The answer: some high powered photography equipment, a lot of resilience, and a trusty solenoid valve (along with some other parts). The solenoid valves are great at controlling the flow of things, including liquids. In this case, solenoid valves can be used to release droplets of water in a contained manner. This can lead to stunning photography.

 

Automated Waterfall
As beautiful as the individual water drops are, this video showcases what hundreds of solenoid valves can do in unison. This waterfall with lights is controlled with some programming and the same concept as the water drop photography. This time, though, there are hundreds of water droplets falling at different times. This is a much more complicated project, but as the video below shows, the rewards are worth it.

 

 

Halloween Decorations
There’s always that one house on the street that takes holiday decorating to the extreme. While not everyone’s cup of tea, one can’t help but have respect for the Halloween fanatic. We mean the neighbor with the graveyard, fog, and spooky music. One way to quickly tell if the ghoul up the street is a contender or a pretender is whether there are solenoid valves in his display. Solenoid valves can be used to shoot fog or smoke out, and can also be used to give ghoulish breath to hanging mannequins. Next October, don’t be scared when the ghost breathes on you. Reflect on the solenoid valve at work.

CO² Injector for a Plant Aquarium
Underwater plants can be a beautiful aquarium piece. The way the plants move in the water is captivating, and when lit properly will be the talk of the town. Why would people want to inject CO² into a setup like this? Unlike humans, plants ‘breath’ carbon dioxide. While there is already some present for them, depending on the lighting and quantity of plants, it may become limited. To keep the plants thriving, some people turn to a CO² injector. These pump carbon dioxide into the water, keeping the plants full of life. If you want a beautiful tank like the one shown below, consider a CO² injector, with a solenoid valve to control the flow of the gas into the water.

Auxiliary Fuel Tank
Some people like to just get out and drive. Depending on the nature of your driving, or the area of your driving, it might be inconvenient to be stopping to refuel every 300,400, or even 500 miles. One solution to this problem is an auxiliary fuel tank. These tanks hold extra fuel for your vehicle. A solenoid valve can be set up so that when energized fuel runs from the auxiliary tank to the manufacturer tank. This is a fuel up on the go, with no gas station stop necessary.

Do you have any incredible uses for solenoid valves? Reach out to us and we will post some of the best and most creative responses!