The AirTAC Airtac 4V Solenoid Valves 4V230C08BT-W is a genuine 5/3-way 5/3 double solenoid — closed center solenoid valve with W ports and an effective area of 13.6 mm² (Cv 0.8). It is an internally piloted spool valve that directs compressed air to double-acting cylinders and actuators.
The 4V230C08BT-W is a 4V200-series 5/3-way double-solenoid valve with a closed center, built with NPT 1/4in ports and a 24 VDC coil wired to a terminal box. In the center position both cylinder ports are blocked, so a double-acting cylinder stops and holds its position mid-stroke - useful for dwell steps and two-hand press stations where the ram must stay put between commands. Because both solenoids must be pulsed to move the spool, the valve cannot drift to a new position on its own if a wire is bumped or a signal is lost.
This -W variant is the external-pilot version: pilot air arrives through a dedicated external port rather than being tapped from the main supply internally. That keeps switching reliable on low main-line pressure or in vacuum and low-pressure circuits where an internal pilot would starve. As a 5/3 body it flows 13.6 mm2 effective area (Cv 0.8) with a 3 cycle/sec ceiling, weighs 360 g, and matches O32-50 mm bores. Activation time is 0.05 s or less, and the terminal-box coil draws 3.0 W at 24 VDC.
| Model | Airtac 4V Solenoid Valves 4V230C08BT-W |
|---|---|
| Series | 4V200 solenoid valve (spool type) |
| Valve type | 5/3-way |
| Function | 5/3 double solenoid — Closed center |
| Port size | W |
| Exhaust port | W |
| Effective area (Cv) | 13.6 mm² (Cv 0.8) |
| Fluid | Air (filtered by 40µm element) |
|---|---|
| Pilot type | Internal / external pilot |
| Operating pressure | 0.15 – 0.8 MPa |
| Proof pressure | 1.2 MPa |
| Max frequency | 3 cycle/sec |
| Response time | ≤ 0.05 s (activating) |
| Temperature | -20 to +70 °C |
| Body material | Aluminum alloy |
| Weight | 360 g |
Specifications follow the official AirTAC 4V series datasheet. Lubrication not required. Confirm coil voltage and thread (PT / NPT / G) against the product label before wiring.
| Effective area | 13.6 mm² |
|---|---|
| Flow coefficient | Cv 0.8 |
| Response time | ≤ 0.05 s |
| Coil power | AC 4.5 VA · DC24V 3.0 W · DC12V 2.5 W |
| Protection / insulation | IP65 (DIN40050), B-class |
| Voltage options | DC24V, DC12V, AC110V, AC220V |
| Manual override | Yes (locking / non-locking) |
Size the valve so effective area / Cv is not the bottleneck for your cylinder bore and speed. Undersized valves slow the actuator. Note 5/3 (center) versions have a smaller effective area than the 5/2 of the same body size.
| 4V | Solenoid valve, spool type, 4-series. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Body size (4V200) — sets port & flow. |
| 3 | Function: 1 = single 5/2, 2 = double 5/2, 3 = 5/3. |
| -W | Port thread: M5 / 06=1/8" / 08=1/4" / 10=3/8" / 15=1/2". |
Related: 4V210 (single), 4V220 (double), 4V230C/E/P (5/3 center). Add the voltage suffix when ordering.
Assembly fixtures that stop a double-acting cylinder part-way for an inspection or press step rely on the closed center to block both ports and freeze the cylinder where it was pulsed.
On process lines, test rigs or vacuum handling where main-line pressure is too low to feed an internal pilot, the external pilot port keeps the spool switching crisply and repeatably.
Carton pushers and product stops on packaging machines use the 3.0 W DC24V coil and terminal-box wiring for straightforward panel hookup, with the center position holding the pusher between cycles.
Pick this model when you need mid-stroke position holding on a double-acting cylinder AND your pilot source is separate from the main line - for example a low-pressure process line, a vacuum circuit, or a machine where the main supply can sag below what an internal pilot needs. If your main air is a steady 0.15-0.8 MPa, the standard internal-pilot 4V230C-08BT does the same job with one less tube to run. For simple extend/retract without a center state, a 5/2 like the 4V220 gives you Cv 1.0 and 5 cycles/sec; for smaller bores step down to the 4V100 (Cv 0.6), for larger bores or faster cycling step up to the 4V300 (Cv 1.65).
Single valves mount directly, or stack several on a manifold base to share one supply and simplify tubing. When replacing, verify all five points: 4V200 body, 5/3 closed-center double-solenoid function, 1/4in NPT thread, 24 VDC coil, terminal-box entry, plus the external-pilot -W suffix. Note that a blocked-center valve alone is not a certified load-holding device - for suspended or fall-hazard loads add pilot-operated check valves or a mechanical brake at the cylinder.
Quick checklist
The -W suffix means the pilot stage is fed from a separate external pilot port instead of tapping air internally from the main supply. Use it whenever main-line pressure is low, unstable, or in a vacuum/low-pressure circuit - connect the external port to a reliable pilot supply. On normal 0.15-0.8 MPa air an internal-pilot 4V230C-08BT would work without the extra line, but this external-pilot version still switches fully if main pressure drops.
It directs compressed air to double-acting cylinders and actuators in the O32-50 mm range, with 13.6 mm2 effective area (Cv 0.8) and up to 3 cycles per second. With both solenoids de-energized the closed center blocks the cylinder ports, so the piston stops where it is - for guaranteed holding of suspended loads, back it up with pilot-operated check valves or a mechanical brake.
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