An electromechanical solenoid control system with reduced hold current includes an electromechanical solenoid including an armature and a coil; a voltage source; a resistor placed in an electrical line between the voltage source and the solenoid coil; a switching device configured to selectively apply power from the voltage source to the solenoid coil; and a control element connected electrically to the switching device, the control element operable to receive a signal from the electrical line and use the signal to control the switching device to selectively apply power from the voltage source to the solenoid coil.