Editor’s Note: Every department has its own reasons for specifying certain components on its fire apparatus, including valves on a pumper. In recent years, electric valve use for intakes and discharges has increased. However, there is still a large contingent in the fire service that prefers valves with manual linkages. This month, we asked Editorial Advisory Board members Ricky Riley (left) and Bill Adams (right) to comment on electric and manual valves.
My views on electric valves are biased and outdated and do not reflect current products or trends. Some older acquaintances still in the industry and fire service have similar sentiments—so do those uneducated on the subject. Their opinions are incorporated into my narration. To temper my predisposed views, I sought input from Jason Witmier, northeast regional sales manager for Safe Fleet (representing FRC, Elkhart Brass, ROM, and FoamPro). Witmier previously worked for KME as a product manager for 14 years.
The term electric valve is a misnomer. Most valves are the same. It’s the controller that is either manually moved or activated by air, electricity, or hydraulic power (see photo). Discounting mechanical sirens and beacon rays, I dislike most electronics on fire apparatus. Manual levers, linkages, and pull-rods appear fail-safe. And when engaged, they give assurance that something is happening. Assurance is felt, heard, and seen. It can be the resistance (pressure) against a valve, the sound of water moving, or watching pressure gauge needles moving. You don’t sense that with electric valves. Besides, you can have a broken wire, a malfunctioning switch, a stuck valve, a malfunctioning visual screen, or a burned-out indicator light.
1 In the mid 1980s, the former Young Fire Apparatus delivered custom chassied pumpers with hydraulically operated valves on pump panels remotely located from the front-mounted pump. When questioned, owner Dick Young stated, “Well, we used a hydraulically operated cylinder to control each valve. It was domestically available right off the shelf. It was a double-acting cylinder with a six-inch throw. A single one-gallon oil reservoir operated all the valves; I believe it ran about 480 pounds per square inch (psi). You could put the reservoir anyplace and ju
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