Will AA batteries power this solenoid OK?

Question

Hello,I am building a project that uses a wireless RF remote control tomomentarily fire a solenoid to release a latch mechanism.The solenoid I am using is this one:It has a 26.7 ohm coil and rusn at 12 volts, so using ohms lay Ifigured that it will draw about .45 amps during the moment where theplunger is retracted.Because this project is portable, I would like to keep the weightdown.  My plan was to go with (8) AA batteries to produce the 12 voltsource.  So, are eight AA batteries capable of handling a .45 ampcurrent draw for a moment?  The solenoid would be actuated for lessthan a second, and fairly infrequently.Thanks,Scott

John Larkin · Accepted Answer

Easily. Alkaline AAs have a short-circuit current close to 10 amps.John

Fritz Schlunder · Answer

Fresh AA alkaline batteries will easily be up to your task at hand. To get an idea of what they are capable of fresh AA alkaline batteries can typically juice out a fair amount more than 10 Amps (IIRC) of short circuit current into a low resistance short. A typical two cell AA flashlight lamp for instance will often draw around 0.5A from the cells. Zinc chloride and carbon zinc batteries are rather another matter. When these types of batteries start getting even the slightest bit low they have hideously wimpy output capability. Even when fresh and new they are wimpy though could still handle your 0.45A for a little while.

Scott Fuhrman · Answer

Cool. Thanks for the replies everyone.Scott

gnvv101 · Answer

Yes, remember to always use alkaline over cheap heavy duty brands. Theyare far superior in every way.

Will AA batteries power this solenoid OK?

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