3/4" Baccara DC Valve

A quick guide to correctly plumbing and wiring your DC latching valve.

Step 1: Tape the Fittings
Wrap 3/4-inch Male Pipe Thread (MPT) adapters with 2 to 3 layers of thread sealant tape. Never use liquid pipe dope on plastic irrigation valves.

Step 2: Plumb the Valve
Hand-tighten the taped adapters into the 3/4" FPT inlet and outlet on the valve. Check the arrows stamped on the valve body to ensure you install it facing the correct direction of water flow.

Step 3: Connect the Wires (Polarity Matters)
Unlike AC valves, DC latching solenoids require correct polarity. Connect the red wire from the solenoid to the positive (+) or designated zone wire on your battery controller. Connect the black wire to the negative (-) or common terminal.

Step 4: Waterproof the Splices
Twist the wires together and secure them using silicone-filled waterproof wire connectors. This is a critical step to prevent corrosion, especially if the valve is buried in a wet underground valve box.

During spring startup, how do I test if the 3/4" Baccara DC Valve is working?
Use your battery timer's manual run feature to test the 3/4" Baccara DC Valve. Listen for the solenoid clicking and verify water is flowing without leaks at the threads.

If you do not hear a sharp "click" from the solenoid when the timer sends a signal, replace the batteries in your controller first. Low batteries often have enough juice to power a digital display, but not enough to throw a latching solenoid.

Will the 3/4" Baccara DC Valve work on a rain barrel system?
Yes, the 3/4" Baccara DC Valve is perfect for rain barrels. It only requires 4.3 PSI to operate, whereas standard valves require 10 to 15 PSI.

Gravity systems produce about 0.43 PSI for every foot of elevation drop. Because this valve opens at just 4.3 PSI, your rain barrel only needs to be elevated 10 feet above your garden to provide enough pressure to trigger the valve automatically.

Can I use the 3/4" Baccara DC Valve with a standard plug-in timer?
No, the 3/4" Baccara DC Valve uses a DC latching solenoid. It must be paired with a battery-operated controller, not a plug-in 24 VAC timer.

Connecting a DC valve to an AC power source will immediately fry the solenoid. If you are using a controller that plugs into a wall outlet, you must purchase a standard AC valve instead.

Does wire polarity matter when installing the 3/4" Baccara DC Valve?
Yes, polarity is critical for the 3/4" Baccara DC Valve. You must connect the red wire to the positive terminal and the black wire to the negative terminal on your controller.

DC latching solenoids work by sending a quick pulse of electricity in one direction to open the valve, and reversing that pulse to close it. If you wire them backward, the valve will not function properly.