Building Valve Structure

Step 2: Building Valve Structure

First thing you'll want to do is get your valves set up.

You'll need a pressure valve (that opens the actuator to the pressurized line and lets it be pulled) and an exhaust valve (to let out the pressurized air and contract the actuator).

NOTE: Most valves have work better with a certain side exposed to the high pressure. In my case, the metal side needed to be attached to the pressurized side or I got too much leakage. I could never figure out which way the current was supposed to run on the valves (they worked both ways) so I just picked a direction and went for it.

The nubs on my valves were a little small so I stuck the connectors over them and used hot melt glue to make a nice seal.

The tee goes between the two valves and extends down to the balloon actuator. The pressure valve connects to the tubing being pressurized by the pump.

I recommend adding extensions to the wires already on the valves. Hook the two ground wires together so that you only have 3 wires extending from each valve set.