Auto Aqua DC Solenoid Valve
Wattage
6 W
Water type
Freshwater + Marine
Fits
AutoAqua top-off (ATO) systems using a submersible refill pump, AutoAqua auto water change (AWC) systems using a submersible refill pump
Part no.
SV-12V
Voltage
12 V DC (supplied by the host AutoAqua controller)
Cable length
1.2 m
Auto Aqua DC Solenoid Valve
Feeds top-off water straight from the RO line, with no refill pump to fail.
The AutoAqua DC Solenoid Valve (SV-12V) replaces the submersible refill pump on an AutoAqua top-off or water-change controller. When the controller calls for water, the valve opens and pressurised RO water flows directly into the tank or sump. It runs on 6 W at 12 V DC taken from the controller's pump socket, joins the line with quarter-inch push-fit RO tubing, and operates on any supply between 0.02 and 0.7 MPa. It suits reef and freshwater keepers who already make their own RO water and want the top-off reservoir out of the cabinet entirely.
Key features
- Runs off the controller's pump socket – 6 W at 12 V DC through a 5.5 x 2.5 mm plug, so there is no second power supply competing for an outlet.
- Direct feed instead of a reservoir – water comes from the pressurised RO line, so there is no drum to refill and no submerged pump sitting in it.
- Quarter-inch push-connect – the same tubing standard as every RO/DI unit, so it drops into an existing line.
- Wide operating window – 0.02 to 0.7 MPa covers household mains pressure and a gravity-fed drum mounted high enough.
- 120 cm valve lead – reaches from a controller in the cabinet to a line entering at the back.
- Nothing in the water – no impeller to scale up, block or wear out.
Specifications
| Power | 6 W at 12 V DC |
|---|---|
| Power source | Host AutoAqua controller's pump socket – no separate adaptor supplied |
| DC connector | 5.5 x 2.5 mm male |
| Valve cable length | 120 cm (4 ft) |
| Working pressure | 0.02 to 0.7 MPa (0.2 to 7 bar) |
| Water connection | Quarter-inch push-connect RO tubing |
| Water carried | Filtered RO or RO/DI water only |
| Fits | AutoAqua top-off and water-change systems that use a submersible refill pump |
| Manufacturer part number | SV-12V |
Feed pressure – will it open on my line?
A solenoid valve does not pull water. It only lets through what is already pushing on it, which makes feed pressure the specification that decides whether it works in your setup.
| Supply arrangement | Pressure at the valve | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mains-pressure RO line | Within 0.02 to 0.7 MPa | Opens and flows normally |
| Gravity feed, reservoir at least 200 cm above the valve | About 0.02 MPa | The minimum head AutoAqua specifies for a gravity feed |
| Gravity feed, reservoir less than 200 cm above the valve | Below 0.02 MPa | Below the stated minimum – the valve may not open reliably |
| High-pressure line | Above 0.7 MPa | Above the stated maximum – fit a pressure regulator upstream |
Fitting it safely
AutoAqua is explicit on two points, and both are worth reading before you cut any tubing.
- A mechanical float valve is mandatory. Where this solenoid is used with a top-off or water-change system, AutoAqua requires a mechanical float valve fitted as a fail-safe. Electronics that fail closed are harmless; electronics that fail open put the contents of your RO line on the floor.
- Filtered water only. AutoAqua restricts the valve to filtered water. Raw tap water and saltwater will clog it.
What's included
- DC solenoid valve with a 120 cm lead and 5.5 x 2.5 mm DC plug
Not included
- A 12 V power supply – the valve is powered by the AutoAqua controller it plugs into
- The top-off or water-change controller itself
- Quarter-inch RO tubing
- A mechanical float valve, which AutoAqua requires as a fail-safe
Suitable for, and not suitable for
Suitable for:
- AutoAqua top-off and water-change systems that currently use a submersible refill pump
- Freshwater and marine tanks fed from an RO or RO/DI unit
- Setups where you would rather not keep a top-off reservoir in the cabinet
Not suitable for:
- Unfiltered tap water or saltwater – AutoAqua restricts it to filtered water
- Lines below 0.02 MPa, including a gravity feed with less than 200 cm of height above the valve
- Lines above 0.7 MPa without a pressure regulator
- Standalone use – it needs a 12 V DC source and a controller to switch it
Care and maintenance
Keep the valve body dry and out of splash range. If flow drops away, check feed pressure at the valve before assuming the solenoid has failed – pressure is the more common cause. Check that the fail-safe float valve still seats freely each time you service the RO unit.
Goes well with
- AutoAqua Smart ATO Duo – a top-off controller this valve can replace the refill pump on
- AutoAqua Smart ATO RO – the RO-fed top-off unit in the same range
- Red Sea ATO float valve – a mechanical float valve for the fail-safe AutoAqua requires
- AutoAqua Digital Inline TDS Titanium S1 – confirms the water going through the valve is still clean
- Reef Pure 4 Stage Essentials+ – an RO/DI unit to supply the line
- The full AutoAqua range
Warranty and delivery
Ships as a standard parcel. Any manufacturer's warranty offered on this valve applies in addition to the consumer guarantees you have under Australian Consumer Law, which cannot be excluded.
Common questions
Does the AutoAqua DC Solenoid Valve need its own power supply?
No. The AutoAqua DC Solenoid Valve draws 6 W at 12 V DC through a 5.5 x 2.5 mm plug, which connects to the pump socket on the AutoAqua controller running it. No separate adaptor is supplied or required.
Can I run tap water or saltwater through it?
No. AutoAqua specifies filtered water only for this valve. Raw tap water and saltwater will clog it.
Do I still need a mechanical float valve?
Yes. AutoAqua requires a mechanical float valve as a fail-safe whenever this solenoid is used with a top-off or water-change system.
How much pressure does the valve need to open?
Between 0.02 and 0.7 MPa. If you are feeding by gravity rather than mains pressure, AutoAqua specifies at least 200 cm of height between the reservoir and the valve.
Which AutoAqua units does it fit?
AutoAqua lists it as compatible with its top-off and water-change systems that use a submersible refill pump, where it takes the place of that pump.
