Solenoid Tech - Model Chart
The number of companies manufacturing solenoid valves used in paintball equipment is relatively small, despite the large variety of valves used in markers at this time. The largest difference between solenoid valves is the type of mounting system, method for electronics to attach, pressure rating, use of a pilot valve, and a few other variables.
Most of the companies listed below already 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, 15-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 airflow and durability.
For information on how a specific solenoid manufacturer likes to get the job done, check the links on the menu above, under the category "solenoid design".
Here's a partial table of solenoids used in the paintball industry:
| Manuf.: | Model: | Pressure Mount: | Operation: | Used in... |
| Parker / Skinner / Kudora |
K4H01 | base-mount | 4-way | SP Shocker Sport bolt
SP Impulse classic SP '09 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 DLX Luxe JT Impulse |
|
| CRCB-0053W | M3 threaded | 4-way | no current use | |
| HEA10A5-GL-101W | base-mount | 4-way | ICD Freestyle
ICD 04 Bushmaster Alien 05 Interceptor Bob Long / BLAST G6R Bob Long / BLAST Vice | |
| HEA10F5-GL-101W | M3 threaded | 4-way | ICD Promaster
Bob Long Alias Intimidator System-X NME |
|
| 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 modified for base-mount |
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 modified for base-mount |
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 |
|
| S0715H-VG-X10 | base-mount | 4-way | Dye DM6 and newer | |
| SYJ3140-VG-X98 | base-mount | 4-way | Eclipse Etek | |
| Asco | 51801137 | M3 threaded | 4-way | no current use |
| ?? (Ego solenoid) | base-mount | 4-way | Eclipse Ego 05-06 (?) | |
| Tri-Tech | ?? (Ion solenoid) | threaded** | 3-way NO | SP Ion |
| Clippard | Clippard ES-3W-6 | base-mount | 3-way NC | Warmachine Assault-80 |
| ?? (Mayhem solenoid) | 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 modified for base mount |
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 | |
| 33A-AAA-RDUJ-1BL | 10-32 threaded | 3-way NO | Lucky Ion solenoid | |
| 33 series | 10-32 threaded modified for base mount |
3-way NC | J4 Torque | |
| 43 Series | base-mount | 4-way | Eclipse Ego 07+ | |
| 43A-AAAA-RDUA-0BA | base-mount | 4-way | Empire Vanquish | |
| "Bullet solenoid" | base-mount | 4-way | Bob Long / BLAST Insight NG
Hostile Creations Rogue(?) |
Note 1: M3, M5, and 10-32 is a reference to the thread specification used on threaded connections. The term "Base-mount" refers to the valve being screwed down against the marker, using o-rings or gaskets to seal.
Note 2: ** denotes a solenoid that isn't directly threaded, but it uses attaching components which are threaded.
Note 3: Some solenoids are modified by the marker manufacturer by plugging the threaded ports and drilling a new set of "base-mount" air ports, thereby retrofitting the solenoid to become a base-mount type.
Brief History of Solenoid Manufacturers in Paintball:
The first paintball markers to use electronics were the pneuVentures Shocker, WDP Angel, and BrassEagle Rainmaker (all in 1995). Each of these markers used a different type of solenoid, and the markers all functioned very differently from one-another. Some very common brands begun to take hold once electronic markers gained prevalence. SMC solenoids were very popular from the start, but Parker/Skinner solenoids also became popular in some circles. SMC has a larger variety of valves available which made them easier to adapt into markers, however they are almost always larger in physical size, and operate at lower pressure which requires the use of an LPR in those markers. Parker solenoids became used in some of the most popular markers during paintball's steady growth years between 1999-2004.
Humphrey solenoids first appeared in ICD markers, and were also used by Bob Long with certain Intimidator variants. They're very well-built solenoids but tend to cost more than their counterparts, likely due to their construction being less reliant on plastic injection-molded components (which saves cost on other solenoids). At the same time, the pricetag for Parker solenoids was steadily increasing higher and higher, driving some developers such as Smart Parts and Bob Long to begin using Humphrey valves. Humphrey developed a valve in 2006 called the CRCB series, which features the highest operating pressure of just about anything available [at the time of this writing] with a burst pressure around 280-psi. CRCB solenoids are relatively expensive, but they perform nicely and do not require the use of an LPR, as with most other solenoids which can only function at sub-100 psi levels.
Around 2010, Parker solenoids became very difficult to source for use in paintball equipment. Almost no manufacturer uses them at the time of this writing (2014). SMC solenoids are still heavily used throughout the industry, and their previous drawback of large size was mitigated by a special valve designed specifically for use in Dye markers, which features a very short-height profile (although they're much longer in length).
Mac valves have gained traction within the industry starting around 2005. They were used in markers prior to this time (AKALMP markers for instance) but the physical size of the older Mac valves was a drawback. The older solenoids were also relatively power-hungry so specialized marker circuitry was needed to run them. However, Mac developed a new series of solenoids called the 33 and 43 series, which are much smaller in size and also consume a more moderate amount of power. These are used in markers such as certain variations of Egos, and also very popular with custom modifications. Most Mac valves are designed to be directly-actuated by their solenoid, which is the cause for the high power consumption.
For more information, check the "solenoid design" link at the top of the page.