In the initial design, I was planning on using 1" hose as the discharge line for the debris cone. I ran into 2 problems: 1.) 1" solenoid valves are EXPENSIVE, and so is all the hardware involved with that tube size. 2.) 1/4" solenoid valves are cheaper, but once you add in all the fittings for ganging 4 of them in parallel, you guessed it, it gets EXPENSIVE.
Time for plan B. After purchasing the tank of CL, I realized that the tank outlet is only 1/2" NPT. Thus running a 1" line out of it makes little sense. Yes, I realize that a 1" line will result in less pressure and velocity drop as compared to a 1/2" line, but I figure I should still be able to get enough through a 1/2" line to do the job.
So I went online to look for 1/2" solenoid valves. Wound up digging around on Amazon for them just out of convenience's sake. Found plenty in the $20-$35 range, which was great for the budget. Winning!!
Only one problem. They ALL were shipping from either Hong Kong or Shenzhen, which meant about a 15 day wait time at the least. Only problem is that we start shooting in a week and a half. Crap.
After spending a couple days being really depressed about this and trying frantically to come up with another solution, I decided to work on the other half of this project, being installing OBA (on-board air) in my 1986 Toyota pickup. One of the locations we're shooting on is waaaaaay up in the mountains. No electricity, no air compressors. Since I don't feel like standing there with a friggin bike pump thrusting away for 20 minutes every time we do another take, I decided to move up the timetable on the air compressor project on my truck. In the process of hunting components for the OBA project I came across a solenoid valve.
In 1/2" inch size.
With twice the orifice diameter of the other ones.
And it ships from the US!!!
Less than $40. Ordered it yesterday and it ships on Monday.
Whew. Now I just hope I'm not burning up all my good luck before we even get out the camera.
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