HVAC Solenoid

A magnetic field seeks the path of minimum reluctance, just as an electric current seeks the path of least resistance. Reluctance and resistance are related. Resistance refers to the opposition to current flow in a circuit. Reluctance refers to the opposition of the flow of a magnetic field. The lower the reluctance, the greater is the attraction of materials to a magnetic field.

A solenoid is a device that uses these principles. A helical coil of wire produces a magnetic field. An iron core fits loosely within the coil of wire. When the current is off, the core rests outside the area of the coil. When the current is applied, the core is sucked into the coil. This is referred to as the sucking effect of a coil (see Fig. 6-17).

The sucking effect is often used in devices that require a small amount of physical movement. One type of solenoid is shown in Fig. 6-18. A common use for solenoids is in a device called solenoid valves (see Fig. 6-19). This is a device that opens and closes to permit the flow of liquids or gases. In most valves, for example, you turn a handle or knob to start or stop the flow of gas. Solenoid valves are used widely as safety devices. They are found in gas lines, air lines, and water lines. Many types are used in air-conditioning, refrigeration, and heating systems.

The solenoid in the valve shown in Fig. 6-19 is closed when there is no current through its coil. The valve stem is held in a closed position by a spring that applies light pressure. When the valve is closed, gas cannot flow. Current is applied when a person or thermostat turns on a heater. The current draws the movable core, or plunger, into the coil. This opens the gate to the flow of gas. When the current is turned off, the spring moves the valve system back into a closed position.

This same principle is used widely in solenoid-type relays. Asolenoid relay is like an electrically operated switch. The coil in this type of relay pulls a core piece that has a number of electrical contacts. The contacts are designed so that they may either close or open electrical circuits. The relay contacts can themselves be designed to handle large amounts of current. But the coil of the control solenoid may operate on only a fraction of an ampere. The effect is that low-voltage, low-current electricity is used to control the flow of larger amounts of electricity.

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