Navigation:
Tech index -> Tech articles -> Electronic markers FAQ

This is a frequently asked questions page for readers upgrading their marker from mechanical to electronic. Although different markers work using different means, the same general information applies to all.

General Questions:

Q: Mechanical versus electronic, what's the deal?
A: Electronic markers use small magnetc valves (called solenoids) to fire the marker, instead of using a mechanical trigger and spring. In some cases the mech marker can be converted by installing the new electronic hardware. Electronic markers typically use a circuit board, battery, solenoid, and might have other accessories too.

Q: What is the difference between an electronic marker and an electro-pneumatic one?
A: Electronic markers have a sear and drive spring (aka. main spring), electropneumatics instead have an air piston (no sear). Many mechanical markers can be converted to electronic with the installation of an electronic grip frame, but it's uncommon for an electropneumatic conversion to be possible since the designs are very different.

Q: What is a trigger microswitch?
A: This is a small component of the marker's on-board electronic circuit that all electronic or electropneumatic markers utilize. Basically, when this switch is tripped, the marker will tell the solenoid to fire the gun. Mechanical microswitches are actually pretty complex, and have many small intricate parts (this means; do not disassemble your microswitch unless you know what you're doing).

Q: What is an ACE?
A: This stands for anti-chop eye; this is a special system that involves a small sensor to be placed in the wall(s) of the chamber to detect when a paintball loads. If the eyes have not yet detected the paintball in the chamber, they will not allow the marker to fire. This eliminates the chopping of paintballs in the chamber caused by the closing of the bolt through them.

Pressure Questions:

Q: What is a [pressure] regulator?
A: This is a device that will reduce the pressure of the air going into the marker. This pressure is called input pressure. The regulator is placed somewhere between the marker and the tank. Most regulators are placed in the foregrip position.

Q: What is an LPR?
A: This stands for low pressure regulator. Some markers have one regulator for their operating pressure, others also have an LPR. The LPR pressure feeds the solenoid valve. Some markers that use soleniods require the use on an LPR, others do not. For instance your marker may have a regulator that allows it to operate at 400-psi, then it has an LPR that operates the the soleniod at 80-psi.

Input pressure	Pressure going into the marker. This might be regulated down further using an LPR, or the marker might have no LPR.
Operating pressure	Typically the same as input pressure. This is pressure used to fire the ball, different from pneumatics pressure.
Tank output pressure	Pressure exiting the tank, goes into the marker's reg. This is unregulated with CO2 (800-psi), HPA tanks always have a reg on the tank which drops it down to 400-800 psi.
Pneumatics pressure	Pressure from an LPR which operates the solenoid valve.
LPR pressure	Same and pneumatics pressure.

Q: What is the difference between primary and secondary regs?
A: These terms aren't used too often, but here's the list...
Primary reg: Regulator mounted to the tank. If you use CO2 then you don't have a primary reg.
Secondary reg: Regulator controlling the intput pressure. This is typically a vertical reg on most markers nowadays.
Tertiary reg: This is a marker's LPR.

Solenoid Questions:

Q: What is a solenoid?
A: In simplest terms, a solenoid is an electromagnet. An electromagnet is a magnet that excerts its forces against another magnet when supplied with a current of electricity. Said electrical current is supplied by a battery, carried within the marker somewhere. The solenoid on a paintball gun is a small piston that directs airflow to different parts of the marker when it is activated. It is the physical connection between the electronics and the pneumatics.

Q: What does a solenoid do for electronic markers?
A: In electronic markers, the solenoid actuates the sear behind the trigger to release the hammer. The hammer is blown back using excess air from the valve, where it will again become seated on the sear. The marker is now ready to fire again.

Q: What does a solenoid do for electro-pneumatic markers?
A: In electropneumatic markers, the solenoid actuates the movements of some variety of air piston to fire the marker. The piston may be part of the marker’s valve or it may be connected to the hammer.

Q: What is dwell?
A: Dwell is the amount of time the solenoid remains open, which usually translates to the amount of time the marker takes to fire. This number is usually less than 20 milliseconds.

Q: What is a spool?
A: The spool is the part of the solenoid that actually directs the air flow. It is the main moving part of the solenoid; it is the part with the o-rings around it. This is the equivalent of an Autococker three-way valve's shaft. Don't be confused with the term spool valve design, which generally refeers to a certain type of marker (one which only has one moving part, the bolt).

Q: How does a solenoid work?
A: Different solenoids have different air ports, either one or two. If the solenoid has one output then it could be normally-open or normally-closed. These are all changes used depending on the marker's design, and are often not interchangeable.
If you are familiar with Autocockers you'll recognize the term three-way as the pneumatic valve that recocks the bolt. What these valves do is direct pressurized air to different ends of a pneumatic piston (commonly called the ram with Autocockers). In electronic markers, this pistion is connected to the sear, so it will push it up to fire the marker much like a mechanical trigger would. In electropneumatics, the piston will somehow fire the marker while the soleniod is open, then once it moves closed again it will discontinue the firing process and allow the marker to be recocked.

Q: How exactly do they work?
A: The actual means by which the device functions is extremely complicated, and takes several page lengths to explain. If you really wish to learn how it works then click here.

Q: How can soleniods break?
Q: What happens when solenoids break?
A: The most frequent solenoid malfunction is a leak. This problem is usually cured by disassembling the marker then putting it back together, because what usually happens is the internal seals within the solenoid become mis-aligned. The other main problem that soleniods have is when their spools simply no longer move, or when they don't move easily. This is usually caused by over or under-lubrication of the o-rings around the spool, however there may also be other causes.
Solenoids are low-pressure devices so when they're hit with a pressure spike (350+ psi generally) they may become damaged. This is called a blown solenoid.

Q: What is a blown solenoid?
A: If a solenoid is overpressurized, it might be permanently damaged and thus be referred to as "blown". When this happens the solenoid typically needs to be replaced.
Blown solenoids are actually very uncommon. It seems many players automatically assume their solenoid is blown even if they're having a very minor problem unrelated to the solenoid. It's easy to blame the solenoid for many marker problems since the designs are more complex and harder to diagnose.
Just becuase your solenoid may be leaking doesn't mean it's blown.

Questions Asked Prior to Purchase:

Q: What kind of tank can I use with the gun I want?
Q: What tank output pressure can I use with the gun I want?
A: You must use a tank with an output hgher than your marker's operating pressure. Typically your tank output needs to be 300-psi more than the marker operating pressure.

Q: What kind of maintenance can I expect with the marker I want?
A: Although this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, most markers require periodic re-lubrication of their primary o-ring groups. Some markers are designed for grease, others are designed for oil (do not mix them). Some markers require next to no maintenance, whereas others suggest you do it before every day of play.

Q: Can I get an anti-chop eye upgrade kit for my marker?
A: Most electropneumatic markers come with eyes as standard parts. Some cheaper electronic markers do too, but not all. In some cases the eyes can be installed as an upgrade, but this varies from marker to marker. Eyes are typically specific only to one marker, even if two guns are made by the same company.
Older markers might not be designed for eyes. If this is the case then they would have to be drilled for the eye lenses and the related eye covers and wiring. Examples include early Impulses, AKALMP markers, older Angels, etc.

Q: What are the advantages to an electronic marker over a mechanical one?
A: The use of the solenoid to move the sear allows for firing modes such as fully-auto or burst shots, so a general increase in fire rate and allow for shorter and lighter trigger pulls while doing it. There are also added levels of firing precision due to electronics controlling the marker's internals.

Q: What are the advantages to an electropneumatic marker over an electronic one?
A: This will give you increased consistency and reduced recoil in most cases, and far superior fire rates up into the numbers of 50 cycles per second and above. Although no loader could feed this rate, it is nice to have the availability. Some electropneumatic designs are extremely simple in comparison to other marker types, and are highly reliable as a result.
Marker technology is evolving and the electronics are becomming more and more complex. In the future we're likely to see advanced computer interfaces, connections to a headset HUD (heads-up display), etc.

Navigation:
Tech index -> Tech articles -> Electronic markers FAQ