# Pilot valve

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A **pilot valve** is a small [valve](/source/Valve) that controls a limited-flow control feed to a separate piloted valve.[1] A pilot valve is one part of a larger pilot‑operated valve assembly, typically controlling a high pressure or high flow feed. Pilot valves are useful because they allow a small and easily operated feed to control a much higher pressure or higher flow feed, which would otherwise require a much larger force to operate; indeed, this is even useful when a [solenoid](/source/Solenoid) is used to operate the valve.

Pilot valves are often used in critical applications (e.g., emergency and SIS controls) and are [human](/source/Human)-operated. They can be set up as a push-to-activate or [dead man's switch](/source/Dead_man's_switch).

## See also

- [Larner–Johnson valve](/source/Larner%E2%80%93Johnson_valve)
- [Pilot-operated relief valve](/source/Pilot-operated_relief_valve)

## References

1. [*UL 1739 – Standard for Safety of Pilot-Operated Pressure-Control Valves*](https://nfpa.isodoc.my/ul/UL%201739%202019.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Northbrook, Illinois, US: Underwriters Laboratories. 2019. Retrieved 2026-02-28.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pilot valve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_valve) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_valve?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.