Features

• Two-wire connection
• Soft-I/O supplies power to the solenoid, up to 12 Watts!
• You can drive the solenoid with either 5 volts or 24 volts
• You choose the state names
• You can invert the state names
• Flexible pin assignments
• Non-volatile saving of settings
• Flexible tags for remote control

In Action

You configure the soienoid by giving it a name--for example "Door Lock" and then drag-and-drop the connections to any Soft-I/O pins.  Solenoids are highly inductive.  When inductors are turned off, the dynamic part of the inductor will continue to supply current, thus trying to drive the voltage of the turn-off transistor up or down, depending upon how you configured Soft-I/O.  With most PLC's and I/O systems, you are required to put a diode across the solenoid coil to handle this inductive current.  While it's not a bad thing to do, you don't have to do this with Soft-I/O.  It's up to you.  When you have finished the solenoid configuration, merely submit your choices and then test the solenoid on the Soft-Device page.  What could be simpler? 

Technical Specifications

Each solenoid is connected to the Soft-I/O module with two wires—the module supplies solenoid power, and that simplifies wiring.
Non-volatile, user-configurable parameters include: Soft-I/O module supplied 24 V or 5 V power selection; sourcing or sinking circuit configuration and state naming and Soft-I/O pin assignments.