What solenoid directional control valve for thumb.

Lagwagon · Jul 11, 2021

Hi.
My thumb is controlled by foot pedal and I’m looking to convert over to a Joystick toggle switch.
I know what to do but can’t locate a D03 solenoid operated directional control valve that Meets the specs required.

Machine details:
1995 Se210-2
Pilot pump:
Flow rate 21 Lpm (5.5 gal) @ 470psi.
Option spool for thumb: 30lpm (7.9 gal) @ 4979 psi.

I have searched thoroughly and can only find valves with far greater max pressures & flow rates than what I need.
Can anyone point me in the right direction in terms of where to buy or suggest a model to look for?

cheers

mutti_wilson · Jul 11, 2021

You're not plumbing the thumb directly to this solenoid valve just replacing the pilot control correct?

Does the foot pedal operate hydraulically or is it cable operated to the control valve?

funwithfuel · Jul 11, 2021

Unless you can establish variable control, you're not going to like how it slams the thumb open and closed.

uffex · Jul 11, 2021

Good day
You can convert a pedal operation to a toggle switch, the choice is also if you require to make it proportional or simple On/Off. Make your choice, the parts are freely available, then we can help you convert.
We have published a lot of information on the website it is free and google safe, attached may answer some questions.
Kind regards
Uffex

John C. · Jul 11, 2021

Just because the valves are capable of handling higher pressures and flows doesn't mean that you can't use them. All the thumbs that I installed over the last thirty years were full on and off. I did have a way of reducing that by installing a subplate under the DO3 valve with a pressure reducing cartridge relief valve to drop the pressure spike when the pilot signals were sent to the main control valve.

You didn't say in your original post if the pedal supplies oil directly to the thumb cylinder or it just supplies pilot pressure to a valve in the main control valve block. Your solenoid valve should be closed center with A/B ports and a drain. The ones I used to get are 1/4" porting for the pilot circuits. I was using the top rocker switch type handle the last time I installed these but most people now days want the trigger switches and buttons. Sure Grip makes a simple handle with a decent cost.

mutti_wilson · Jul 11, 2021

John C. said:
Just because the valves are capable of handling higher pressures and flows doesn't mean that you can't use them. All the thumbs that I installed over the last thirty years were full on and off. I did have a way of reducing that by installing a subplate under the DO3 valve with a pressure reducing cartridge relief valve to drop the pressure spike when the pilot signals were sent to the main control valve.

You didn't say in your original post if the pedal supplies oil directly to the thumb cylinder or it just supplies pilot pressure to a valve in the main control valve block. Your solenoid valve should be closed center with A/B ports and a drain. The ones I used to get are 1/4" porting for the pilot circuits. I was using the top rocker switch type handle the last time I installed these but most people now days want the trigger switches and buttons. Sure Grip makes a simple handle with a decent cost.

Do you have any more info on this subplate with relief?

Lagwagon · Jul 11, 2021

Thanks for the feedback, I should of provided more info to make a few things clear.
Current thumb works fine off a foot pedal which is Teed into the drive pedal pilot lines under the cab. Pilot pressure drives the thumb spool in the MCV.
I would of thought a float centre valve would be the go so that the thumb spool can return to centre so I can stop the thumb mid-stroke? The idea I had was to use a spring centred toggle switch to achieve this, thus avoiding the thumb slamming open and shut, I decide when to stop it by pressure off the switch. Any finesse required to pick fragile object up can be achieved with the bucket.

thanks in advance

John C. · Jul 11, 2021

Closed center indicates the supply line is closed off when the valve is in neutral. A and B ports are open to return. Open center valve would dump your pilot supply flow back to the tank all the time. The frequency of use of the thumb function usually means a robust switch that gets many cycles in a day of operation.

mutti_wilson · Jul 11, 2021

Here is the solenoid I used when I added solenoid control to my machine.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hidraman-H...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

I used a on-off-on spring centered switch and drove the solenoid with relays.

Lagwagon · Jul 11, 2021

mutti_wilson said:
Here is the solenoid I used when I added solenoid control to my machine.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hidraman-H...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

I used a on-off-on spring centered switch and drove the solenoid with relays.

I’m trying to emulate what you’ve done precisely. Is that the exact valve you used, with the float centre?

mutti_wilson · Jul 12, 2021

Lagwagon said:
I’m trying to emulate what you’ve done precisely. Is that the exact valve you used, with the float centre?

The C4 is the one I used. The A and B ports flow to tank when the solenoid is in the off position. I'm not sure which one you would need. Mine gets it's pressure from a T into a pilot line.

uffex · Jul 12, 2021

Good day Folks
May be this may of help, the specifications for the valve are attached along with sub plate drawing. Should you choose to install dampners for smoother operation company such as Hawe & Hydac have those.
Kind regards
Uffex

excavator · Jul 13, 2021

Like has been said before, DO3 valve, cylinder spool, A&B ports to tank with an aluminum sub plate, #4 or 6 ORB ports. As far as speed of thumb if it ends up being to fast you can always put a flow control valve in the cylinder line. I did many installs long before the proportional controls came out and had very little problems with speed. I'm assuming that since it's now foot controlled that you already have port reliefs installed. As far wiring goes, the only time I have seen it necessary to use relays is if you are running a rotating grapple in something like a logging operation where that DO3 is cycling continuously all day long. I have always wired directly from the handle to the valve and again have had little to no failures. Hope this helps.

Lagwagon · Jul 13, 2021

Yes have port reliefs installed and flow control valves in the cylinder lines. Interesting that you haven’t used relays in the past, I’ve installed 12v diverter valves on tractors without relays and had no issues. Maybe I could run thicker wire and get away with it. I’m not wiring in a new joystick but modifying the original button which drove a rock breaker.

uffex · Jul 13, 2021

Good day
May be I should explain relays when installed correctly can prevent ECU damage as well as burnt components please see attached, you can read the complete document by visiting the web site.I know that the Samsung machine has an ECU check out the availibity and replacement cost.
Kind regards
Uffex

funwithfuel · Jul 13, 2021

Uffex. He's not planning on implementing the ECUat all. He wants to go straight from power to the joystick and out to an AB solenoid to control his pilot signal to option spool. No variable control, just on and off.

uffex · Jul 13, 2021

Good day Fun with F
Yes that is how I understood the thread you do not need to connect the ECU to destroy the same, a good kick back can come from any coil be it relay or solenoid valve. My comment come from two customers who had additional solenoids installed and could not understand why the ECU hung out the white flag. Trying to save the guy from the same experience, I recall in the 1950's changing the headlight beam on cars was made from a pedal switch main cables run to the switch from the feed, most of the world has moved on from the 1950's. Nobody likes buying ECU's understanding the complexity is difficult, prevention is better than replacement.
Keep smiling
Uffex

John C. · Jul 13, 2021

Never had a ECU fail because of a thumb circuit. Link-Belt had problems in that the ECU would stop working after a sudden burst of multiple applications on the thumb buttons. Shut the machine down and restarted and all went back to normal. We installed diodes across the switches and never had another problem. Relays are an extra expense both in the part, installation labor and added complexity of the system. I have some Weldco Beales installs with an added relay box and no source of parts that I have had to modify to something simpler that would work over a longer time period.

excavator · Jul 13, 2021

I have to admit that I have not plumbed any machines newer that the Hitachi Zaxis dash 1 so with the "newer,better" systems I guess there is always the possibility of a spike blowing an ECM. Stranger things have happened. I had a customer who bought a Kobelco with a hydraulic thumb on it, it had a relief block mounted in line on the boom and they T'd the tank line into the tank line on top of the swing motor. Not sure what the operator did but it must have caused a tremendous pressure spike over relief because it cracked the top of the swing motor.

John C. · Jul 14, 2021

I'm guessing the problem was in the swing motor itself. The reliefs we used to put in on the boom only had a #4 drain line even on the big machines. Maybe they had two pump flow to the thumb?

What solenoid directional control valve for thumb.

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Attachments

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Attachments

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member