--- title: HydraForce Insider Blog | Proportional Directional Control Valves description: Proportional Directional Control Valves | Our hydraulic valve blog features cartridge valve application tips, circuit techniques, and industry trends. --- [![logo-1](https://info.hydraforce.com/hs-fs/hub/84685/file-1401344043.jpg)](http://www.hydraforce.com/) - [Home](http://www.hydraforce.com/) - [Contact Us](http://www.hydraforce.com/About_HF/global_locations.html) - [Careers](http://www.hydraforce.com/Employ/Emp-World.htm) - [News](http://www.hydraforce.com/News/Newprds.htm) - [Find Valve by Model No.](http://www.hydraforce.com/Modelnos.htm) # HydraForce Insider Blog ## [5 Things to Consider When Applying Proportional Valves](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/bid/39954/5-Things-to-Consider-When-Applying-Proportional-Valves) Posted by [David Price](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/author/david-price) on Tue, Jul 05, 2011 @ 12:07 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.hydraforce.com/hs-fs/file-15765293-jpg/images/sp-svxx-47.jpg)](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/bid/39954/5-Things-to-Consider-When-Applying-Proportional-Valves) ## Here at HydraForce our Technical Services department typically receives multiple question daily regarding our Proportional Valves.  Common questions include, "What is the proper dither frequency for a particular proportional valve?' and "What coil should I use with this type of system?".  Following these five simple rules when applying  [proportional valves](http://www.hydraforce.com/Proport/Propcon.htm)  will prevent field failures, reduce valve instability, and ensure that your system performs as desired without having to reach out to a tech service representative.   1. Applying dither to a valve reduces actuator friction and reduces hysteresis.  A good rule of thumb is to use 70 -250 Hz dither frequency on all SP, ZL, and PV valves (flow and directional control valves), and 200-300 Hz dither frequency on TS Valves (proportional pressure control valves). Otherwise, at lower frequencies the actuator will follow the dither signal and the valve output will appear unstable. [Read More](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/bid/39954/5-Things-to-Consider-When-Applying-Proportional-Valves) 4 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/bid/39954/5-Things-to-Consider-When-Applying-Proportional-Valves#comments-listing) Tags: [proportional valves](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/proportional-valves), [Directional Control Valves](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/directional-control-valves), [pressure control valve](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/pressure-control-valve), [proportional flow control valve](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/proportional-flow-control-valve), [proportional pressure control valve](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/proportional-pressure-control-valve), [Proportional Directional Control Valves](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/proportional-directional-control-valves) [All posts](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/all) ### Subscribe by Email ### Other related info [![Sign up for Product news.](https://info.hydraforce.com/hs-fs/images/C--Documents%20and%20Settings-dp2-Desktop-Email-Signup-resized-156.jpg?width=171&height=72&name=C--Documents%20and%20Settings-dp2-Desktop-Email-Signup-resized-156.jpg)](https://info.hydraforce.com/HydraForceProductUpdates/) [![describe the image](https://info.hydraforce.com/hs-fs/images/k--sales-training-image%20library-request%20a%20catalog_2-resized-156.jpg?width=172&height=152&name=k--sales-training-image%20library-request%20a%20catalog_2-resized-156.jpg)](http://www.hydraforceleads.com/form/catalogForm.php) [![describe the image](https://info.hydraforce.com/hs-fs/images/K--SALES-TRAINING-Image%20Library-Download%20a%20copy%20of%20i-Design-resized-156.jpg?width=176&height=152&name=K--SALES-TRAINING-Image%20Library-Download%20a%20copy%20of%20i-Design-resized-156.jpg)](https://info.hydraforce.com/download-your-free-copy-of-i-design-v3-today/) [![K SALES TRAINING Image Library Custom Manifold Consultation resized 156](https://info.hydraforce.com/hs-fs/images/K--SALES-TRAINING-Image%20Library-Custom%20Manifold%20Consultation-resized-156.jpg?width=175&height=145&name=K--SALES-TRAINING-Image%20Library-Custom%20Manifold%20Consultation-resized-156.jpg)](https://info.hydraforce.com/Free-Custom-Circuit-Consultation/) ### Follow Me ### News Ticker **[Click Here ](http://www.hydraforce.com/News/News_tickr.htm)to see the latest HydraForce News.** ### Latest Posts ### Posts by category - [cartridge valves (25)](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/cartridge-valves) - [proportional valves (11)](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/proportional-valves) - [pressure control valve (8)](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/pressure-control-valve) - [HydraForce (7)](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/hydraforce) - [manifold design (7)](https://info.hydraforce.com/hydraforceinsiderblog/topic/manifold-design) ### OTHER RELATED INFO [![describe the image](https://info.hydraforce.com/hs-fs/images/k--sales-training-image%20library-request%20a%20catalog_2-resized-156.jpg?width=172&height=152&name=k--sales-training-image%20library-request%20a%20catalog_2-resized-156.jpg)](http://www.hydraforceleads.com/form/catalogForm.php) [![describe the image](https://info.hydraforce.com/hs-fs/images/K--SALES-TRAINING-Image%20Library-Download%20a%20copy%20of%20i-Design-resized-156.jpg?width=176&height=152&name=K--SALES-TRAINING-Image%20Library-Download%20a%20copy%20of%20i-Design-resized-156.jpg)](https://info.hydraforce.com/download-your-free-copy-of-i-design-v3-today/) [![K SALES TRAINING Image Library Custom Manifold Consultation resized 156](https://info.hydraforce.com/hs-fs/images/K--SALES-TRAINING-Image%20Library-Custom%20Manifold%20Consultation-resized-156.jpg?width=175&height=145&name=K--SALES-TRAINING-Image%20Library-Custom%20Manifold%20Consultation-resized-156.jpg)](https://info.hydraforce.com/Free-Custom-Circuit-Consultation/)