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LabJack Bartender Phase 1

June 14, 2010

Valve Pressure/Flow Testing

The humble beginnings of an automated bartender.  When complete, it will be a system of valves controlled through a LabJack that can dispense your favorite cocktail at the press of a button.  The test scenario above involves a 24V DC solenoid valve, a pressure tank filled with air to 20psi, a 2-litre bottle of Dr. Pepper, and some 1/4" nylon tubing.  Next phase: Assemble a circuit to interface a LabJack with the solenoids. 

Comments

#1

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2011-07-21 20:41.

Great project!  Can you inform me the make and model of the solenoid valves you picked up for this project?

Thanks.

#2

Submitted by LabJack Support on Fri, 2011-07-22 12:19.

The solenoid valves were purchased from Industrial Plastic Valves, Inc, (Series 200).  A link for the Series 200 datasheet: http://www.ipvalves.com/printable200.html At qty: 20 they were $18/ea, but were not available for individual sale.  If you are looking for individual valves, there may be some low cost options on Ebay. 

#3

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2010-07-13 20:59.

In regards to the circuit that you are going to assemble to interface with the solenoids:

1) i do not suggest using your RB12 relay board, because those I\O modules are hella expensive!

2) do you think that you can use a relay for opening and closing solenoids, or are you going to use a transistor output, since PWM'ing the solenoid would give you finer control over the liquid delivery?

#4

Submitted by LabJack Support on Wed, 2010-07-14 08:33.

Yes, the cost of an RB12 plus modules would really add a lot to this project, so we are designing a new board with optically isolated transistor outputs capable of controlling perhaps 1 amp or so.  We plan to release this board as a product.