Dwell Time
Overview
Dwell time is the programmable duration that a marker’s valve or solenoid stays open to release air and propel the paintball, directly affecting efficiency and consistency.
Key Points
- Controls how long air is released during each shot.
- Critical for velocity stability and shot quality.
- Too low causes drop-off; too high wastes air.
- Varies between spool-valve and poppet-valve architectures.
- Adjusted through electronic board settings.
Details
Dwell time is a fundamental tuning parameter in electronic paintball markers. It represents the exact duration measured in milliseconds that the solenoid keeps the valve open. Short dwell times conserve air but can under-pressurize the shot, causing velocity fluctuations or failures to cycle. Longer dwell times ensure full propulsion but reduce efficiency.
Spool-valve markers typically require longer dwell due to the air routing needed to move internal components smoothly. In contrast, poppet-valve systems rely on mechanical valve strikes and generally operate efficiently with shorter dwell.
Optimizing dwell requires balancing operating pressure, bolt speed, temperature, and paint condition. Technicians frequently test dwell intervals during tuning cycles to achieve the best combination of air conservation, shot consistency, and firing smoothness.
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