Make a forge solonoid controled

SBuzek

SBuzek

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Dec 7, 2006
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I am running a blown burner propane forge and would like to put a solonoid control valve on it to conserve propane and help regulate the heat.I have a pid and thermocouple on it now and I assume my pid can control the solinoid valve.Need to know which one to get and how to plumb it.
Thanks
Stan
 
Stan it certainly can be done without much of a problem, but unles you rig up some sort of igniter then you are going to have to rely on the hot forge to ignite the gas and you are going to get an unnerving pop or bang everytime. Maybe Stacy will see this thread and add some input to it.
 
Read all the way through these threads. Stacy's plans are in there, and JT was able to organize them a bit and put it into practice/pictures. This is how you get around the re-ignition problem. Basically a low/high stage setup. Set your low stage to maintain some sort of lower heat, say 1400, and then the high stage kicks on to achieve your set point temp before kicking off again. The low stage takes care of the ignition and helps keep the forge at heat longer.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=523845

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=600318

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=612497

--nathan
 
Wade this is just my opinion. I think you would be better off with a needle valve to control gas flow and an air gate to control the air flow. You can get a forge to hold a steady temperature that way and that will be better than a steady on - off. I use a solenoid and pid on my salt tanks but there you are heating a mass instead of an empty space like a forge is. Again just my opinion.
 
Thanks guys, I haven't gotten the search thing down yet so could not find those threads. I control my forge now with needle valve and air gate and may be just trying to make things more complicated than they need to be. I can get my forge to hold temp within 20 deg or so and was just wondering if it would be a big enough savings in gas to make the switchover worth while.
Stan
 
Bill,
With my two stage system, the forge doesn't cycle on and off. It cycles from low to high. Control of +/- two degrees is normal, even for very long sessions. With a needle valve the forge will slowly drift ( usually upward).
Stacy
 
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