If you arrived here by searching for part numbers such as SHIN123640, SH-109, or SH.000016: these are not part numbers from Shih Shin Technology. They may be equipment manufacturers’ internal codes, distributor catalog numbers, or discontinued part numbers from other manufacturers.
The good news is: a solenoid is determined by a small set of physical parameters, not by the label on its housing. If you can measure the part in hand (or read its nameplate), our engineers can typically find a functionally equivalent replacement from our 44 standard models, or evaluate a quote for a customized alternative.
Why Part Number Searches Dead-End
- OEM relabeling: the machine builder printed its own code on a solenoid sourced from a manufacturer like us.
- Discontinued suppliers: the original maker exited the market; the number now exists only on old drawings.
- Distributor catalogue codes: the number belongs to a reseller’s system, not to the actual manufacturer.
How do you switch to specification cross-referencing?
Collect as many of these six parameters as you can. The first three usually narrow the field to a handful of candidates:
Discontinued solenoids are the most common starting point: the original manufacturer has discontinued production, the datasheet is lost, and all that remains is a physical unit and an unsearchable legacy part number. In this situation, there is no need to look for a “solenoid replacement part number” cross-reference table—such a chart does not exist because frame dimensions and pole face geometries vary across manufacturers. The viable approach is to measure the actual operating conditions and then compare.
| 1. Mounting dimensions | Overall length, width/diameter, height; bolt pattern or thread size. Measure the old part with calipers if no drawing exists. |
|---|---|
| 2. Stroke | How far the plunger travels, in mm. Measure from rest position to fully seated. |
| 3. Force at stroke | The load the plunger must move, and at which point of the stroke it must move it. Force changes dramatically along the stroke, so a photo of the original force-stroke curve helps enormously. |
| 4. Voltage & power | Coil voltage (and AC or DC), rated wattage or measured coil resistance in ohms. |
| 5. Duty cycle | How long the coil stays energised vs. rest time (100% / 50% / 25% / 10%). An always-on application needs a very different coil from a pulse application. |
| 6. Environment | Ambient temperature, humidity or washdown exposure, expected mechanical life. |
Just Send What You Have on Hand
You don’t need to gather all six items. Just send whatever information you have along with photos: a clear photo of the part next to a ruler and a photo of the nameplate or label are usually enough for an initial assessment.
Free Cross-Reference Service
Email our engineering team with the subject line “Cross-reference request”, and attach your measurements, photos, or original part number and where it came from. We typically reply within 24–48 business hours with matching standard models, custom solutions, or explanations of what additional measurements are needed to make a determination.
Request a Quote: Solenoid RFQ with Engineering Spec Checklist Email to Request Cross-Reference
What options are available in the standard series?
Prefer to look yourself? Our 44 standard models fall into five families:
- Open frame solenoids: 20 models, push/pull
- Tubular solenoids: 7 models, low flux leakage
- Latching solenoids: 7 models, zero-power holding
- Holding electromagnets: Ø20–Ø70 mm, 2–120 kg
- AC laminated solenoids: 110/220 V AC direct
Note: specification tables currently open on our product-data site solenoids.com.tw, also operated by Shih Shin Technology.
How Shih Shin Technology Handles a Cross-Reference Request
Inquiries for part number cross-referencing usually come with the same set of circumstances: discontinued by the original manufacturer, lost datasheet, and only a single physical unit on hand. Such cases don’t rely on cross-reference tables—they rely on measurement. Once dimensions, coil voltage, and actual operating conditions are established, we compare them against our 44 standard models, and for specifications that don’t match, we extend customization from existing frame series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I not simply search a competitor’s part number and get an equivalent?
Because part numbers are internal codes, not a shared standard. Two manufacturers can assign similar-looking numbers to units with different duty-cycle ratings, insulation classes and force curves. A number that matches on paper can be built around assumptions your application does not share, which is why a specification-based match is more reliable than a number-based one.
Will a dimensionally identical unit always work as a drop-in?
No. Matching the envelope guarantees it fits, not that it performs. The two properties that most often differ between dimensionally similar units are the force available at the working air gap and the permitted duty cycle. A unit that fits perfectly and is rated for intermittent duty will overheat in a continuous-duty position, and the failure looks like a quality problem rather than a selection one. See the troubleshooting hub for what that failure looks like in service.
Can you help if the original solenoid is obsolete and the datasheet is lost?
Usually yes, working backwards from the machine rather than the part. Measure the coil resistance and supply voltage, measure the stroke the mechanism actually travels, and describe what the solenoid has to move and how often. Those observations reconstruct the working point well enough to select against, even with no documentation at all.