Hi,
Looking for help with powering a v5 solenoid and triggering it using a mirco bit. Wanting to use it with Gravitrax as a marble cannon.
Thanks
Hi Justin
Exactly what do you need help with. There are several ways to do this. If you are not too familiar with this probably the safest would be an opto coupled relay driver and use the relay contacts to operate the solenoid. Or this one which is not opto isolated but should do the job
The relevant page on Core web site has a circuit which shows the connections.
EDIT: If you use this one place a 1kΩ resistor between “EN” connection and Microbit output. It is called protecting the Microbit.
Whatever you do the solenoid and relay coil will have to be separately powered. I don’t know anything about Microbit but I very much doubt there will be enough grunt for this.
The current requirement will be largely dictated by the solenoid requirements plus the relay current. I think for any further help from the forum the solenoid requirements need to be known.
Cheers Bob
Here is another one specifically for Microbit but the Core site says it is out of stock.
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Hi Justin,
Welcome to the forum 
As far as micro:bit controlled solenoids go I’d agree with Bob’s suggestion. It’s well-documented and easy to use.
Was this going to be a gravity-powered marble cannon? We might be able to make some more suggestions if we knew a bit more about how you see the big picture coming together and how you expect it to work.
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To see how one can control a solenoid using relays and Microbit, you can use this video which shows a lot of detail.
