Pneumatic Directional Control Valves (5/2, 3/2, 5/3)

A pneumatic valve decides which way air reaches the cylinder. It is the deciding element of the circuit: the cylinder does the work, the valve says when and in which direction.

The designation is two numbers, and the table above unpacks it. The first is the number of ports, the second the number of positions. A 5/2 valve has five ports and two positions and drives a double-acting cylinder both ways. A 3/2 valve has three ports; it drives single-acting cylinders or simply opens and closes a line. 5/3 valves carry a third, middle position.

Single coil or double coil is a safety question. A single-coil valve springs back to its initial position when power is lost, so the cylinder returns by itself. A double-coil valve has memory and stays where it was. If a load hangs on the rod, or a part must stay clamped, that difference decides whether the part drops during a power cut. That is what the last column of the table is for.

On 5/3 valves the type of centre is a separate choice. A closed centre blocks both lines and locks the cylinder where it stands, which is what you want for stopping mid-stroke. An open centre vents both lines, leaving the cylinder free to be pushed by hand — the behaviour wanted during setup and adjustment.

Actuation is the third choice. Solenoid valves take an electrical signal and connect to automation; pedal, lever, roller and hand-operated types suit simple circuits an operator drives directly. NAMUR-bodied valves mount straight onto the actuator with no interconnecting pipework.

Coil voltage must be stated at order. The body may be identical while the coil differs: 24 V DC and 220 V AC are the common two. Most solenoid valves carry a manual override turned with a screwdriver, which lets you shift the valve without energising the coil — useful for proving mechanical movement during commissioning.

Valve size, not cylinder bore, sets cylinder speed. When a cylinder is slow, check valve size, fitting capacity and hose bore before anything else. A silencer on the exhaust cuts noise; the adjustable type also throttles the outgoing air, which is how cylinder speed is set. Where several valves sit together, a manifold plate shares one air supply, tidies the mounting and simplifies maintenance.

Firetech products are searched for in the field by the manufacturer's part number, not by our stock code. The code follows this pattern: SERİ + VARYANT — for example ZDB6 VP1. Every code in the series below can be supplied; some are held in stock ready to ship.

These products are searched for in the field by the manufacturer's part number, not by our stock code. The code follows this pattern: TİP + HORTUM ÖLÇÜSÜ + DİŞ — for example JF01. Every code in the lists below can be supplied; some are held in stock ready to ship.