A plastic solenoid is a remote switching device enclosed in a plastic casing that prevents corrosion and the risk of shock. It works by generating an electromagnetic field when its coils are energized, attracting a spring-loaded plunger to provide linear motion. The plastic casing protects the solenoid from moisture and makes it cheaper and easier to manufacture.
A plastic solenoid is a device enclosed in a plastic casing that provides remote switching, regulation, or actuating motion for other packaged devices. For example, a washing machine’s plastic solenoid valve is triggered by the machine’s cycle timer circuit to open and allow water to flow into the machine. The valve is usually deep in the bowels of the machine in a location that the person using the machine would never be able to reach, so the solenoid does the job from a distance. Solenoids do their job thanks to an electromagnetic field generated when their coils are energized. The plastic solenoid is generally exactly the same as other types in function, differing only in its plastic housing which prevents corrosion of the solenoid and the risk of shock.
The solenoid is a universal workhorse used in applications as diverse as the household vacuum cleaner and the space shuttle. They provide a simple, linear working motion to adjust machine parts, ignition devices or to activate appliance functions. They are not the only types of remote motion devices, although they are by far the simplest consisting of only two parts. The former is a static coil of copper wire wound around a hollow insulating core. The second part is a spring-loaded movable plunger positioned so that its end is adjacent to the opening in the coil core.
When an electric current is passed through the coil of a plastic solenoid, the concentric nature of the windings creates a strong magnetic field around the coil. This magnetic force attracts the solenoid plunger, causing it to move rapidly in the hollow core of the coil. The actuating device is secured to the plunger via a linkage, so this movement provides the required actuation. When power to the spool is turned off, the plunger return spring pulls it off the spool, resetting the plunger for the next duty cycle. The electrical current used to operate the solenoid can be started manually by an operator or be sent through an automated process such as a washing machine timer circuit.
Many environments in which these devices are used feature constant exposure to moisture with a commensurate risk of corrosion of solenoid parts and electric shock or short circuit. To prevent this, the plastic solenoid is enclosed in a sealed plastic casing which protects the internal mechanism. It also saves weight where it matters and makes the solenoid cheaper and easier to manufacture.
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