Solenoid & Electromagnet Drivers & Controllers

Driving solenoids and electromagnets is often as simple as using an on/off switch to apply the current or voltage to the device. However, in some applications, using a dedicated driver to manage the power can deliver improved performance.

Most solenoids need a strong pulse to actuate, but far less current to hold their position. Drivers can reduce power after actuation in order to conserve energy and avoid overheating the solenoid. Pick and Hold Modules SDM840 and SDM950 are perfect drivers for such applications.

In some applications such as when a latching solenoid is being used, the solenoid may just need to receive a pulse to actuate for short period of time and then be turned off for the remainder of the cycle. The steady state (secondary voltage) on the Pick and Hold Modules can be set to approximately zero value to apply the power for only a limited length of time.

By switching the power on and off rapidly (usually thousands of times per second), drivers can effectively control the average current and magnetic force without wasting energy as heat. This can be done by using Power Driver Modules PWM400 and PWM950.