I have a hydraulic power pack made for a pickup dump bed conversion. I
bought it used from my son about 10 years ago and am now getting ready
to install it. The unit is controlled with a valve and solenoid
contactor. The solenoid is the typical starter motor type. The valve
lever has two pieces of piano wire sticking out at an angle. When the
valve lever is moved to either extreme, for either up or down, one or
the other of the piano wires makes contact with a stud on the
solenoid. This grounds the solenoid which actuates it and turns on the
pump motor. Simple and robust. The company that made this unit is
still in business so I guess they're doing something right. In the
original installation a cable was connected to the valve lever and you
just pulled or pushed the knob at the end. The original cable was
damaged from driving over something that dented the sheath and so it
was sticky and hard to use. I was talking with my neighbor about how
I was going to mount the whole works and how I wanted to be able to
operate the dump from inside the truck cab or outside. He suggested
using a remote switch with a coiled cord. His idea is great except a
wireless remote would be even better. And the control could be kept in
where people couldn't get at it easily. This would prevent my neighbor
from operating the dump when we were driving somewhere. He admitted
that he would raise the bed if he had the chance. Anyway, after that
long winded intro, here are some things I'd like input on:

1) Should I use IR or RF? Both are widely available in surplus, new,
or in kit form.

2) The valve lever moves about two inches total. One inch either way
from center. So it needs some type of actuator, like a solenoid,
that's electrical so it will work with the remote control scheme. 1
inch throw seems like a lot for a solenoid. Could a hobby servo be a
better solution? Or maybe a rotary solenoid?

Thanks,
Eric

On Fri, 19 May 2006 17:12:47 -0700, Eric R Snow
wrote:

I have a hydraulic power pack made for a pickup dump bed conversion. I
bought it used from my son about 10 years ago and am now getting ready
to install it. The unit is controlled with a valve and solenoid
contactor. The solenoid is the typical starter motor type. The valve
lever has two pieces of piano wire sticking out at an angle. When the
valve lever is moved to either extreme, for either up or down, one or
the other of the piano wires makes contact with a stud on the
solenoid. This grounds the solenoid which actuates it and turns on the
pump motor. Simple and robust. The company that made this unit is
still in business so I guess they're doing something right. In the
original installation a cable was connected to the valve lever and you
just pulled or pushed the knob at the end. The original cable was
damaged from driving over something that dented the sheath and so it
was sticky and hard to use. I was talking with my neighbor about how
I was going to mount the whole works and how I wanted to be able to
operate the dump from inside the truck cab or outside. He suggested
using a remote switch with a coiled cord. His idea is great except a
wireless remote would be even better. And the control could be kept in
where people couldn't get at it easily. This would prevent my neighbor
from operating the dump when we were driving somewhere. He admitted
that he would raise the bed if he had the chance. Anyway, after that
long winded intro, here are some things I'd like input on:

1) Should I use IR or RF? Both are widely available in surplus, new,
or in kit form.

2) The valve lever moves about two inches total. One inch either way
from center. So it needs some type of actuator, like a solenoid,
that's electrical so it will work with the remote control scheme. 1
inch throw seems like a lot for a solenoid. Could a hobby servo be a
better solution? Or maybe a rotary solenoid?

Forget the piano wire feelers and wire a real switch in their place to
control the solenoid. Get rid of as much mechanical complication as
possible. Basic electrics are more reliable, and simpler, than
electromechanical solutions.

Thanks,
Eric


*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***

"Eric R Snow" wrote in message
...

This would prevent my neighbor
from operating the dump when we were driving somewhere. He admitted
that he would raise the bed if he had the chance.

No, Eric and I are not neighbors.

An aftermarket electric door lock actuator for cars will have enough
throw, possibly with some linkage tweaks. Comes with electronic key-fob
acuation, of course. Cheap. Don't know if the actuator will have enough
force to move the valve, but they are pretty powerful. You can use the
position contacts in the actuator to drive a switching relay for the
pump. Clean.
JR
Dweller in the cellar

Eric R Snow wrote:
I have a hydraulic power pack made for a pickup dump bed conversion. I
bought it used from my son about 10 years ago and am now getting ready
to install it. The unit is controlled with a valve and solenoid
contactor. The solenoid is the typical starter motor type. The valve
lever has two pieces of piano wire sticking out at an angle. When the
valve lever is moved to either extreme, for either up or down, one or
the other of the piano wires makes contact with a stud on the
solenoid. This grounds the solenoid which actuates it and turns on the
pump motor. Simple and robust. The company that made this unit is
still in business so I guess they're doing something right. In the
original installation a cable was connected to the valve lever and you
just pulled or pushed the knob at the end. The original cable was
damaged from driving over something that dented the sheath and so it
was sticky and hard to use. I was talking with my neighbor about how
I was going to mount the whole works and how I wanted to be able to
operate the dump from inside the truck cab or outside. He suggested
using a remote switch with a coiled cord. His idea is great except a
wireless remote would be even better. And the control could be kept in
where people couldn't get at it easily. This would prevent my neighbor
from operating the dump when we were driving somewhere. He admitted
that he would raise the bed if he had the chance. Anyway, after that
long winded intro, here are some things I'd like input on:

1) Should I use IR or RF? Both are widely available in surplus, new,
or in kit form.

2) The valve lever moves about two inches total. One inch either way
from center. So it needs some type of actuator, like a solenoid,
that's electrical so it will work with the remote control scheme. 1
inch throw seems like a lot for a solenoid. Could a hobby servo be a
better solution? Or maybe a rotary solenoid?

Thanks,
Eric


--
--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth
If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes
Doubt yourself, and the real world will eat you alive
The world doesn't revolve around you, it revolves around me
No skeletons in the closet; just decomposing corpses
--------------------------------------------------------------
Dependence is Vulnerability:
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Open the Pod Bay Doors please, Hal"
"I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.."

On Sat, 20 May 2006 02:54:30 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, "Tom
Gardner" quickly quoth:


"Eric R Snow" wrote in message
.. .

This would prevent my neighbor
from operating the dump when we were driving somewhere. He admitted
that he would raise the bed if he had the chance.

No, Eric and I are not neighbors.

Just how did you know that ALL of us were thinking that, Tom?


--
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
---- --Unknown

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 May 2006 02:54:30 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, "Tom
Gardner" quickly quoth:


"Eric R Snow" wrote in message
. ..

This would prevent my neighbor
from operating the dump when we were driving somewhere. He admitted
that he would raise the bed if he had the chance.

No, Eric and I are not neighbors.

Just how did you know that ALL of us were thinking that, Tom?

Even I couldn't help thinking of ...me!

On Sat, 20 May 2006 22:22:22 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, "Tom
Gardner" quickly quoth:


"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 20 May 2006 02:54:30 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, "Tom
Gardner" quickly quoth:


"Eric R Snow" wrote in message
...

This would prevent my neighbor
from operating the dump when we were driving somewhere. He admitted
that he would raise the bed if he had the chance.

No, Eric and I are not neighbors.

Just how did you know that ALL of us were thinking that, Tom?

Even I couldn't help thinking of ...me!

BUSTED!

--
Put some color in your cheeks: Garden Naked!
------
www.diversify.com Colorful Website Development