Thread: Two Air Cylinders on the Same Solenoid

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This may be a dumb question, but is it possible to run two cylinders on one solenoid without a manifold. I would be using the same PSI for the cylinders. I have this visioned out in my head, but wanted a little input. I would be putting a couple of Male Branch Ys on the solenoid so that I can split two lines to each air cylinder. Would it be smart to put a quick exhaust on the cylinders doing it this way? Any ideas?

Are you trying to actuate both cylinders at the same time or oppisite of each other? What type of solenoid are you planning on using? I've done this before in an industrial enviornment so it is possible. In the application I used the cylinders were being actuated oppiste of each other and we did use a quick exhaust valve on each port that was being used. If I remember correctly, we used a 4 way, 5 port valve. Hope this helps.

I'm using a 4 way 5 port valve. i would like for the cylinders to go off on the same time, but it is a little off, it wouldn't be too bad. But I prefer the same time for the impact of the prop.

If I remember correctly we plumbed like this Extend port-------Quick exhaust valve------Tee-----Extend ports on cylinders. The same for the retract side. If I can I''try to find a diagram of the setup.

It will work but since you are splitting the air into two cylinders the reaction time might be a little slower if you are using a 1/4 line on the intake.

I would run a 3/8 air hose (like in the picture below) into the in port of your 5 port valve and the quick exhaust should help on the reset but you are still pushing twice the amount of air out one exhaust port and it could slow the reset of the cylinders. Other than that it should work ok.

Replace the quick connect push fitting with a quick connect Y or even a tee fitting and make sure your air lines going to the cylinders are the same length. If one is shorter then the air cylinders won't activate at the same time.

Just use a "T" connector...using a quick exhaust only if u want the retraction to be faster.

From experience with hydraulics, so it may not apply to pneumatics here, we located the Y split as close to the cylinder ports as possible so their actuation occured as simultaneous as possible, with as much the same travel rate as possible.

So if you can run from your solenoid valve, travel the distance, then make the Y split as close to the two cylinders, with equal lengths of hose from the Y-split to each port, you'll help to keep one cylinder from traveling sooner than the other.

Yes both will be exact in terms of movement if you split the 2 cylinders. In my props that do this I have not had any difference in timing even with different distance of hose. Of course you could put a control exhaust or 2 regulators (one in line to each cylinder) to change the speed. Say for example you use 3/8 compressor hose that goes into a 1/4


Compressor---3/8 hose---1/4 hose---1/4 Tee----solenoid 1/2