Although there's a huge variety of electronic markers using pneumatic solenoids to function, there is actually a relatively slim number of companies that manufacture a solenoid used in paintball. Most of the time, valves made by one manufacturer will vary only by slight details, including [but not limited to] valve mounting method, method for electronics to attach, or pressure rating. Most of the below companies produce a wide variety of solenoids, but the ones used in paintball markers are generally the smallest available, while still maintaining adequate flow to repeatedly fire the marker fast enough for practical purposes (say, 20-bps). Many of the solenoid manufacturers listed here also produce even smaller solenoids, however they're usually not suited for use in a paintball marker due to the small size and durability.
For information on how a specific solenoid manufacturer likes to get the job done, check the links on the menu to the left, under the category "solenoid design". I will add more articles there as time goes on.
Here's a table of some solenoids used in the industry.
| Manuf.: |
Model: |
Pressure Mount: |
Operation: |
Used in... |
Parker
/ Skinner
/ Kudora |
K4H01 |
base-mount |
4-way |
SP Shocker Sport bolt
SP Impulse
Bob Long Defiant
Tribal
DLX Luxe |
| K4H03 |
base-mount |
4-way |
SP Shocker SFT
SP Nerve |
| K4H04 |
M3 threaded |
4-way |
Bob Long Intimidator |
| K3H01 |
base-mount |
3-way NC |
SP Shocker Sport valve |
| Humphrey |
CRCB-0051W |
base-mount |
4-way |
ICD Freestyle
MacDev 06 Cyborg |
| CRCB-0045W |
base-mount |
4-way |
SP Shocker SFT
SP Nerve |
| CRCB-0053W |
M3 threaded |
4-way |
no current use |
| HEA10A5-GL-101W |
base-mount |
4-way |
ICD Freestyle
ICD 04 Bushmaster
Alien 05 Interceptor |
| HEA10F5-GL-101W |
M3 threaded |
4-way |
ICD Promaster
Bob Long Alias Intimidator |
| HEB10F3-GL |
base-mount |
3-way NC |
M3 Dragun
M3 The One |
| HEB10A4-GL-102W |
base-mount |
3-way NO |
Proto Rail |
| HA041E1 |
base-mount |
3-way NC? |
ICD Bushmaster BK0 |
| H0404E1-49W |
M3 threaded* |
4-way |
AKALMP Excalibur
AKALMP Viking |
| H0404E1-48W |
M3 threaded |
4-way |
Alias Intimidator |
| SMC |
SYJ312-SG-M3 |
M3 threaded |
3-way NC |
no current use |
| SYJ3120-SLOZ-M5 |
M5 threaded |
4-way |
older Racegun bolt |
| SYJ3120-SG-M5 |
M3 threaded |
4-way |
Dragunfly |
| SYJ3120-SG-M3 |
M3 threaded* |
4-way |
Evil Pimp |
| SYJ3120-SLO-M3 |
M3 threaded |
4-way |
CYP Nemesis
05 Racegun bolt |
| SYJ3123-SLOZ-M3 |
M3 threaded |
4-way |
older Racegun bolt |
| SYJ3123-SLOU-M3-Q |
M3 threaded |
4-way |
MacDev 04, 05, Sonic Cyborg |
| SYJ314-SG |
base-mount |
3-way NC? |
Spyder EM-1 |
| SYJ3140-SG |
base-mount |
4-way |
Drallion |
| SYJ3140-VG |
base-mount |
4-way |
WDP Angel |
| SYJ3140-VG-X72-Q |
M3? threaded |
4-way |
E-Blade E2 bolt |
| SY113-A-SG-PM3 |
M3 threaded |
3-way NC |
no current use |
| SY123A-SG-PM3 |
M3 threaded |
3-way NO |
no current use |
| S070C-SDG-32 |
1/8" barbs |
3-way NC |
no current use |
| VQZ1151K-9G-X86 |
base-mount |
4-way |
Matrix
DM4/5/C
FEP Quest |
| unknown |
base-mount |
4-way |
DM6/7/+ |
| SYJ3140-VG-X98 |
base-mount |
4-way |
Eclipse Etek Ego |
| Asco |
51801137 |
M3 threaded |
4-way |
no current use |
| ? |
base-mount |
4-way |
Eclipse Ego |
| Tri-Tech |
? |
threaded** |
3-way NO |
SP Ion |
| Clippard |
ES-3W-6 |
base-mount |
3-way NC |
Warmachine Assault-80 |
| ? |
base-mount |
3-way NC |
PGI Mayhem |
| Pneutronics |
11-10-3-BV-5L06 |
base-mount |
3-way NC |
pVI Shocker |
| MAC |
44B-AAA-GDSO-1DA |
10-32 threaded* |
4-way |
AKALMP Excalibur
AKALMP Viking |
| 44B-AAAA-GDSA-1BA |
10-32 threaded |
4-way |
Brass Eagle Rainmaker |
| 44A-AAAA-GDSA-1KA |
10-32 threaded |
4-way |
F5 Autococker bolt |
| 43 series |
10-32 threaded |
4-way |
"WAS" solenoid |
| 33A-AAA-RDUJ-1BL |
10-32 threaded |
3-way NO |
Lucky Ion solenoid |
| 43 Series |
base-mount |
4-way |
Eclipse Ego 07+ |
M3, M5, and 10-32 are the thread style for hose barbs. Base-mount refers to the valve being screwed down to the body of the marker, using seals between it and the solenoid.
* These solenoids come threaded from the manufacturer, but the ports are plugged and the spool housing is drilled for a base-mount for use in the markers.
** This solenoid isn't threaded directly, but attaching components are threaded to accept fittings.
Manufacturer Comparison:
For the sake of covering all bases, I've made this short list to help compare the different solenoid types out there. Outside of paintball, personally I've run into many people that have strong opinions toward or against various solenoid types. It's for those non-players that I make this list, based off my experience.
· Parker: These solenoids have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. Some factors to their design are extremely reliable and well-performing (such as the spool) however other factors can be troublesome due to shortcuts in mass production (such as the plastic-molded pilot section, and the un-serviceable coil housing). These solenoids are reasonably strong in terms of maximum pressure, since most can take up to 200-psi with the addition of an HP core spring. This folds into the other advantage, which is that nearly all the different Parker solenoids use the same design and most will also share many components, save a few depending on the specs (such as a different spool housing). The noticeable disadvantage to Parker solenoids (besides the whacky production methods) is that they're fairly expensive to purchase. The other disadvantage to Parker solenoids is the manufacturer has a factory lead time of nearly an entire year! As a developer, this can make logistics difficult since you will be forced to over-order your solenoids, given that you would be completely SOL if you ran out ahead of schedule (since it takes months and months...and months...to get more). Today, realistically very few paintball marker developers rely on Parker solenoids as a result of this factor alone.
· SMC: I find these to be well-rounded considering all factors. These solenoids are reasonable in price while still maintaining very good performance and a simplistic design. The disadvantage to SMC solenoids is that they're often the physically largest assemblies compared to the competition. Additionally, SMC solenoids typically have a lower pressure rating in comparison. Accordingly, they can only be used in conjunction with an LPR, unless the marker operates at sub-100 psi levels (which is uncommon). As a matter of fact, it's entirely true that many of the markers using an SMC solenoid actually wouldn't need an LPR if they used a different solenoid. LPRs are mainly used out of necessity; if the solenoid could take more pressure, LPRs may be much less common. That’s just a little tidbit I threw in there. The last factor about SMC valves is that they have a huge variety of solenoids available, however some of the smaller ones are too small to be largely useful in most paintball markers.
· Humphrey: These solenoids are similar in quality/manufacturing to SMC, they will perform the same as SMC or Parker, however they will take 200-psi pressures like a Parker solenoid. Parts are also reasonably compatible between similar series-models. Basic Humphrey solenoids can be slightly more expensive than SMC, though, while still being cheaper than Parker.
Humphrey also offers a very different solenoid series in addition to their regular valves, called the CRCB series. CRCB solenoids are super high pressure; they're rated to 225-psi but I've been able to crank them up to over 320-psi before they even start to leak. I consider this a massive advantage myself, since this is FAR higher than anything else offered by any other manufacturer. CRCB solenoids will take up only slightly more battery power than regular-pressure solenoids, so that isn't a problem. Their performance is impressive but the only bad factor to mention is that they usually have the longest dwell times of all indirect-acting solenoids out there due to the unique design. This isn't a practical factor unless you're shooting faster than 25-30 bps, however is worth mentioning anyway.
· Asco: Very strong performance and reliability (similar to Humphrey in design and layout) however these might be the most expensive solenoid available today. Not much else to say.
· MAC: These are the only direct-acting valves that are very commonly used in paintball. The "older" versions of MAC solenoids are slightly larger than any of other manufacturers mentioned, however MAC's new 33 and 43 series solenoids are noticeably smaller than most other valves out there. MAC's design is pretty similar from valve to valve, however they rarely will share components (not that it matters, though, since so few markers use these). MAC solenoids are reasonably priced, however their disadvantage is back to the fact that they're direct-acting. This means they require much more battery power than the standard indirect-acting valve doing the same job. Additionally, some circuit boards designed to operate indirect-acting valves won't even be able to use a MAC solenoid. This is due to both the MAC solenoid power requirement, as well as the MAC solenoid working better with a pulsed signal (used to avoid heat buildup, and conserve battery power). They also have a lower pressure rating than Parker or Humphrey solenoids. MAC's design prefers to use oil as a lubricant (instead of grease) if that matters.
