user14424: I have two pulse solenoids.  One is 6V...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/282002733837?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
and the other is 3.6V...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/131989042565?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I have a Wemos R2 Mini with an ESP8266 chip on it, and I'm running the switching operation through a H Bridge motor shield (which handily switches the polarity of the electricity for a short time, which opens/shuts the solenoid).
I want to run this thing off a smallish battery pack that will supply 5V to the WeMos. I have three questions:
1) Can I send a 3.6V solenoid a 60ms pulse to open/shut it from a 5V power source without burning out the coil or causing any other damage?
2) Is 3.3V too low to power a 3.6V solenoid?
3) Do pulse solenoids still generate back EMF?
I don't know a lot about solenoids or electromagnetic fields so, sorry if my questions are noobish.

user4143: 
1) Can I send a 3.6V solenoid a 60ms pulse to open/shut it from a 5V
  power source without burning out the coil or causing any other damage?

No. If it's 3.6V then you need 3.6V - 5V will most likely make it smoke. Use a regulator (preferably a buck one, since it is apparently 500mA) to power your H-bridge.

2) Is 3.3V too low to power a 3.6V solenoid?

Maybe, maybe not. It may be that 3.6V is the absolute maximum and may switch from 3V to 3.6V.

3) Do pulse solenoids still generate back EMF?

Normally, yes, since they are just a coil like any other inductive load. Your H-bridge should deal with that though if designed right.
To get any meaningful answers you will need a datasheet. Buying such things from eBay is never a good idea unless you have used it before and know what it is, what its specifications are, and how you use it, or they provide a link to a datasheet. Without a datasheet most questions will be answered with a "maybe".

14424: <p>I have two pulse solenoids.  One is 6V...</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/282002733837?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&amp;ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/282002733837?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&amp;ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT</a></p>

<p>and the other is 3.6V...</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/131989042565?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&amp;ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/131989042565?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&amp;ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT</a></p>

<p>I have a Wemos R2 Mini with an <code>ESP8266</code> chip on it, and I'm running the switching operation through a H Bridge motor shield (which handily switches the polarity of the electricity for a short time, which opens/shuts the solenoid).</p>

<p>I want to run this thing off a smallish battery pack that will supply 5V to the WeMos. I have three questions:</p>

<p>1) Can I send a 3.6V solenoid a 60ms pulse to open/shut it from a 5V power source without burning out the coil or causing any other damage?</p>

<p>2) Is 3.3V too low to power a 3.6V solenoid?</p>

<p>3) Do pulse solenoids still generate back EMF?</p>

<p>I don't know a lot about solenoids or electromagnetic fields so, sorry if my questions are noobish.</p>
 4143: <blockquote>
  <p>1) Can I send a 3.6V solenoid a 60ms pulse to open/shut it from a 5V
  power source without burning out the coil or causing any other damage?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>No. If it's 3.6V then you need 3.6V - 5V will most likely make it smoke. Use a regulator (preferably a buck one, since it is apparently 500mA) to power your H-bridge.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>2) Is 3.3V too low to power a 3.6V solenoid?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Maybe, maybe not. It may be that 3.6V is the absolute maximum and may switch from 3V to 3.6V.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>3) Do pulse solenoids still generate back EMF?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Normally, yes, since they are just a coil like any other inductive load. Your H-bridge should deal with that though if designed right.</p>

<p>To get any meaningful answers you will need a datasheet. Buying such things from eBay is never a good idea unless you have used it before and know what it is, what its specifications are, and how you use it, or they provide a link to a datasheet. Without a datasheet most questions will be answered with a "maybe".</p>
