Well guys, thanks for all the help - I almost caught that wild goose ;-) Three power supplies and a battery later, I've determined that the problem is not the power supply. I even threw in a giant cap in parallel with the power supply!!
I had to go back to the good old transactions of the...
I like 2 of your ideas. Regarding the eddy currents, do you have a reference for how one might model their effects? Also, on the diode, good idea. That is really a key component that needs to be in my model, not sure why I didn't add it in the first place. I assume that this still applies if...
Hmmm... I know about all the time constant stuff and the basic physics and as stated in the first post, I am measuring current. Also, the design of this coil is such that it is unaffected by installation in the valve body. There is a steel frame around the coil that provides the magnetic...
This is along the same lines as my previous post, but different enough to start a new thread.
I've got a solenoid that is controlled by a PWM driver. I am creating a dynamic model of a valve actuator and I am including a very simple model of the PWM driver and solenoid in the analysis.
I've...
Neither path is impacted by the spring. This is a proportional solenoid with a spring that moves the armature to the energized position. The valve spool and a spring attached to the spool push the armature away from the energized position. For these tests, the solenoid is removed from the...
I am a mechanical engineer trying to understand how a solenoid works. I always thought the EE's had it easy. I mean a resistor is pretty linear in comparison to a hydraulic orifice. Apparently I have found an electrical non-linearity I don't understand.
I have a 12V DC solenoid. The...