What is this solenoid for?

[wash4me]

View attachment 584
This is a Washworld High Velocity. What is the solenoid between the relief valve and the elbow for? I have lost a 15 gallon and a 5 gallon of chemical because of debris in a solenoid valve. I thought maybe this valve was supposed to close when no valve had power as a backup. Also, what screen should a strainer have in it? In the manual on page 19-11 it says the solution pump inlet filter has a 155 mesh screen. My automatic was installed with no filter.

 

[bigleo48]

Not sure if I'm looking at the right one...but it looks like it was added after for the LP manifold. I don't see why you would need it. I have a Laser M5 which is very similar and I don't have it.

BTW, in the future, circle the part in Microsoft paint or something and show the picture in the right orientation. You're just making it harder for us to identify. Like this....

 

[wash4me]

Bigleo, you are an animal with more tools than me Thank you for that help and that is the solenoid I was asking about.

 

[JGinther]

I'm not sure, but that looks 'custom'. I thought the inlet to the low pressure manifold was at the bottom of the stainless pipe where there is now an elbow. Where is the inlet? Also, that looks like a high pressure regulator... What type of spring is in it? I can't think of why you would have a 1500+ psi regulator on a low pressure manifold. Are you sure that solenoid caused the chemical problem? Seems that it would have to be one of the chemical solenoids that stuck open to keep sucking chemical. But for that to happen, you would have to have pressure to the manifold all the time - like from city water. Is that your case?

 

[sparkey]

My razor has the same valve. I believe its called an anti-siphon valve in the electrical prints. I assume it is there in case another solenoid valve fails the city water pressure wouldn't push water through the low pressure pump and keep running water and chemical.

 

[JGinther]

Since the manifold is fed with city water, you should install a mesh filter for sure in front of the solenoids. And if you are loosing chemical every time that valve fails, you also have a chemical valve that has failed.

 

[wash4me]

I'm not sure, but that looks 'custom'. I thought the inlet to the low pressure manifold was at the bottom of the stainless pipe where there is now an elbow. Where is the inlet? Also, that looks like a high pressure regulator... What type of spring is in it? I can't think of why you would have a 1500+ psi regulator on a low pressure manifold. Are you sure that solenoid caused the chemical problem? Seems that it would have to be one of the chemical solenoids that stuck open to keep sucking chemical. But for that to happen, you would have to have pressure to the manifold all the time - like from city water. Is that your case?

I don't know what type of spring is in it I'll look when I'm there. I believe that hose circles back to the pump inlet and is tied together with the main hot supply water. Yes there is city pressure there continuously. That's the 55 pounds you can see on the gauge. I am not sure that solenoid caused the problem. I was not to clear in the original post. What I was thinking is that this solenoid may be a "backup" so that if there is no solenoid calling for soap this second solenoid would also be closed and that would prevent my soap from being consumed if a solenoid got stuck open.

 

[wash4me]

My razor has the same valve. I believe its called an anti-siphon valve in the electrical prints. I assume it is there in case another solenoid valve fails the city water pressure wouldn't push water through the low pressure pump and keep running water and chemical.

That's the only reason I could come up with for it being there. Ok, so I'll check it and see whether it's failing to get power or if the solenoid valve is bad.

 

[wash4me]

Ok, the solenoid valve is the anti siphon valve. I cleaned it and it does shut off city pressure to the manifold block. The relief is the pressure setting for the low pressure chemical pump. Anyone recommend a particular strainer or mesh size? I'm puzzled on why the valves keep getting something in them. Washing machines, dishwashers etc all have solenoid valves and they don't get obstructed.