I am trying to get a solenoid water valve to work with my raspberrypi pico and python. The system works with a LED but when I swap the led with the valve, add the diode and switch the power to 5v (external, not pico), the valve does not open. When I use a voltage meter, I can measure a resistance for a short moment when connect to the valve so I suppose it functions?
Below is the schematics (the triangle thing represents the solenoid valve). The diode is a 1N4007
The valve has a pulse with of 30ms at 5V so I programmed a PWM to open 30ms and then 200ms (I tried to follow this tutorial: https://learn.adafruit.com/use-dc-stepper-servo-motor-solenoid-rp2040-pico/solenoids )
Am I missing something?



This is the one i bought https://www.tinytronics.nl/en/mechanics-and-actuators/solenoids/solenoid-valves/solenoid-valve-latching-5v-brass-g1-2
Interesting. I’ve never seen a solenoid want an hbridge to drive it.
Give it what it asks for
https://arduinoyard.com/l298n-motor-driver-with-arduino/
Edit Forgot this was for a pico. Same basic ideas.
https://microdigisoft.com/control-dc-motor-using-l298n-raspberry-pi-pico-micropython/
Thanks for the help btw. Together with other comments I will look into this. I thought it was a nice and easy project to start with😅
They never go how we think they will. Learning along the way is what’s fun, for me at least. Please update when you get there or get stuck again.