solenoid acting up

[sfedeli3]

Hi Wayne,

If the polarity is reversed on the Sporlan, will it force the rod closed, as
opposed to opening it? I always thought that when you reversed the flow of
electrons, the induction field reversed too- or does that only apply to AC?

Shane Fedeli
85PT40
Hershey, PA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Wayne Kotila wrote:
>
> A solenoid is basically an electro magnet, when it is energized it creates a
magnetic field that pulls up on the inner stem of the water valve and this opens
the valve to allow the antifreeze to flow past the valve. when the solenoid is
de-energized the inner stem (if the valve is clean and working properly) goes
back to it's normal position which closes off the valve and stops the antifreeze
from passing. If you have the winter/summer switch set to winter and your front
heat switch set to heat and the chassis heat thermostat on and the temp lever up
and the ignition on, your solenoids for the heat functions should be energized.
You can test the solenoids a couple different ways, you may be able to feel the
solenoid vibrate slightly or even make a slight hum ( some do and some don't )
or you can take a clamp style amp meter and clamp it around the the 12 volt
power wire to the solenoid and see if your getting an amp draw. There are 2
wires to the
> solenoid, a power and a neutral, you have to be on the power wire to get the
reading and you have to have the clamp around 1 wire only, if you have it around
both wires you won't get an amp reading. Another way to see if it's working is
to slide the solenoid off the water valve stem it's mounted on and see if you
can feel the magnetic pull as you slide it off and when you slide it back on you
may even hear the water valve pull open. another way is If you have the solenoid
valve off of the water valve stem and you put the metal end of a phillips
screwdriver in the hole in the solenoid that slides down on the water valve
stem, if the solenoid is working you will feel a strong magnetic pull on the
screwdriver. Remember for any of these tests you have to have power to the
solenoid and if you have the correct switch's on and the ignition on and you
know that you have12 volt power at the solenoid then you will be able to
determine if the solenoid works.
> Good Luck
> Wayne
> 1985PT40
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Michael <michael3536@...>
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2009 8:34:50 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] solenoid acting up
>
>
>
>
>
> How do you test a test solenoid?
>
> my A/T switch does not completely shut off the power to the dash
>
> I got out my meter and performed these tests;
>
> #1 found it had 3.8 to 4.5 volts still passing through the relay when switched
off and went to "0" only when I activated another switch with a larger draw like
the (mirror heat) The step extend switch just changes the tone of a low voltage
chatter.
>
> #2 with load wire disconnected from the switch, it seemed to work
consistently, showing only .01 or.02 VDC on the meter.
>
> I'm not sure what that means or how I should really test it.... why would it
work without a load?
>
> I've checked temperature of the relay when left on and gets up to 120+
degrees. Is that normal? I hate to lose all that energy to heat.
>
> Thanks for any help
>