Troubleshooting sprinkler system wiring issues
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- Опубліковано 22 лют 2018
- How sprinkler valves are wired to the controller and how to troubleshoot sprinkler wiring. Sprinkler Repair DIY. Sprinkler Repair. Do it yourself sprinkler repair. Sprinkler Troubleshooting
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What a Gentleman !! I had a bad Rain Bird sprinkler where the solenoid was shot due to lightning. I have searched on Internet and landed to this video. I called Jimmy and left a message. Jimmy called back and helped me troubleshoot the issue with my multi meter and told me where exactly was the problem. Thanks so much Sir. You helped me save my yard, time and so much money.
Aby Singhai my pleasure!
You are probably if not the best in this industry thanks for returning my call and solving the problem.
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Wow! You went to a lot of work to make this video. Thank you for setting up a mock system and explaining the components so well. I really appreciate your efforts.
My pleasure!
You did a lot of work to produce this video and show us how this works, and then you started cutting wires! Thank you very much!
Taylor Elliott thank you!
This video is the best!. My son lives in New Jersey, we did the tests and checks and were still stymied. We called Jimmy and left a voicemail, explaining exactly what we tested and what the problem was. Within an hour we received a phone call back. He asked us a couple questions and had us explain what we saw on the control box wiring. He explained we had a master control valve problem. We located the master valve and he was 100% correct. An animal had decided to eat thru the wiring. We replaced the wiring and had success. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Thanks for the kind words Ted. So glad I could help!
This is one of the greatest home-esque videos I've ever seen. Thank you for taking the time. I'm a visual dude and this connected all the dots for me.
My pleasure! Thank you for the kind words!
Thanks for the video. Watching what you do , I noticed that I had my power wire installed in the pump port and not in the common port. Thought I put all wires back when I replaced the new box. Apparently not! Keep up the good work.
Sincerely, DeWayne
You are a wonderful person Jimmy!! Beautifully explained how everything works! God bless you!!
My pleasure! Thank you Lucky!
This is wonderful! Thanks for taking the time and using your expertise to show us exactly how a system should be wired and how to use a multimeter to diagnose common wiring problems in home irrigation systems. I particularly appreciate your telling us the normal resistance readings we should be expecting. Your video is clear, well thought out, to the point, and presented extremely well. This video is a shining example of how a UA-cam video should be made and presented.
Anonymous98 my pleasure! Thanks for the kind words!
Jimmy is a perfect example of why the internet is so awesome. My brother just called with a random question about a broken system and was able to get it fixed in 20 minutes. Thanks again!
Paul great to hear Paul!
@@sprinklerrepair4L Hey Jimmy, I am the one (Paul's brother)who spoke to you earlier today. After your guidance and a trip to Ace it is up and running!!!!
David Purcell excellent! It was great talking with you and I’m glad you got it fixed! It feels great to overcome a challenge!
Thanks for the video. System stopped working after some trenching work. Watched your video and used a multimeter to determine that the MV circuit to the pump was the problem. Did some more digging and found that the pumps’ control wire had been cut. Repaired and the sprinkler system works like new!!!
M Browning so great to hear! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for your expert troubleshooting advice. We got our sprinkler system up and running again. All this time it was one of the white common wires that disconnected somehow. Easy fix! Imagine we almost called a repair guy. $$$
Lucy Flores so happy to hear! Thank you for the comments!
While I don't live close enough to physically have their services I was struggling with my system since it wouldn't work for the last few weeks. I called Jimmy and he provided me with some incredibly useful information which allowed me to fix my issue in 5 minutes. Thank you so much Jimmy!
Thank you so much for your kind words and 5 star review!!! I'm so glad it worked for you!
4L Irrigation Repair It's my pleasure and the least that I could do.
You sir, are a sprinkler god! Thanks so much for posting this excellent primer on basic irrigation wiring.
: ) My pleasure!
I replace controller last year with an Orbit B-Hyve Wi-Fi indoor. Worked great until about a month ago. Zone 3 will not come on unless I do a Manual Watering for it. All other zones work fine. I switched Zone 1 and Zone 3 wires at the controller and now all zones work as scheduled. Hope I didn't mess up anything. Enjoyed your video!
Interesting! Glad you got it going!
Jimmy you're the best! Thanks for all the great service with my sprinkler problem!
My pleasure, thank you Randy!
Awesome! I’m brand new to this and your explanation was simple and informative.
Thanks David!
This video and your other on layout of a sprinkler system has been extremely helpful. Now I know what to look for and see if I can fix/troubleshoot before I need professional help. Thanks!!!!!
Thanks JF!
Great videos, Jimmy! Appreciate your servant attitude in helping DIYers. I'm trying to diagnose my system which is not working properly and your videos have given me a good intro to how things should work.
So glad to hear Brian! I hope the best for you!
You all probably dont give a damn but does anyone know a method to log back into an Instagram account??
I stupidly lost the password. I would love any assistance you can give me!
@Deandre Robert instablaster ;)
@Zayne Cain Thanks for your reply. I found the site through google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will reply here later with my results.
@Zayne Cain it worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thanks so much you saved my account :D
Thank you tremendously. The ground wire and the other cords disconnected and your video saved me lots of weeping and nashing of teeth.
Thank you, so glad to hear!
Most excellent explanation of the function and troubleshooting of the irrigation system, it helped repair mine today...Big thanks
Excellent! So happy it helped!
Very simple and to the point. Thank you very much for taking time to explain this important function.
BR31 Woodlands my pleasure!
Thank u I highly appreciate ur time on making this video I learned so much by the way ur explanation
Great job!...this really makes it easier to troubleshoot wiring problems.
Thank you Steve!
What an incredibly clear explanation. Thank you so much!
Tylen Smith thank you!
Hey thanks for posting this, It allowed me to fix my sprinkler system!
Great to hear! Thanks for letting me know!
Clear and concise, wonderful!
Thank you!
Wow you just instilled a bunch of knowledge, took my meter and quickly found my problem, Thank you so much...
aldosv73 great to hear! Thanks for letting me know!
Excellent description and valuable content. Thanks!
Amrkan Lover thank you!
Extremely informative. Great learning tool. Thanks.
catirerubio, thanks for the kind words!
Infinitely helpful, thanks!
That was a great video my friend. Real nice work!
Thank you!
Great video, thanks, I have some sprinkler work to do during home isolation.
Thank you!
Awesome. Thank you for a fantastic lesson on wires.
My pleasure!
Loved the explanation! Well done!
Thank you!
You’re a life saver. Keep up the good work.
Thank you!
Thanks!
Omg. Great video from Keller Texas!
Thank you!
Awesome video. Thank you so much
Thank you very much!
You couldn't have made it easier. Thanks.
Great video! Thank you.
Thank you!
Great video, Thanks for the help.
My pleasure, so glad it helped!
Very helpful video, thanks!
Thank you! So glad it was helpful!
Excellent video!
Thank you!
Great video , easy as cake .
Thanks Yogi!
Soild info - Great job on the videos
Pest Tech Pest Control. Thank you!
Like it. Good explanation of wiring.
Thanks!
Great video(s) and this helped me understand and troubleshoot my problem and get it working.I'm still confused on how my 5 zone system worked in the first place until I attached the common wire to the controller.There was a red stranded wire attached to the common on the controller.All the other wires were copper,not stranded. I had an old Rainbird ESP-6si controller that was working fine but I wanted a WIFI so I installed Rainbird ESP-TM2 6 and wired it exactly as the old controller but no valves came on.I thought I must have fried something so I re-installed the old controller and it didn't work either.
I then dug up the valve box which probably hasn't been opened since the initial install 17 years ago and could see the 5 valves and their corresponding colored wires and a white common (not red).I went back in the garage and connected the white wire to the common on the old controller and it then worked.I then re-installed the new controller and it worked as well.It wasn't a case of me not wiring properly.The white wire at the controller had not even been stripped until I did it! It just blows me away how it worked to begin with and I have no idea what that red stranded wire is.Maybe it's a rain sensor but I don't want that hooked up any way.
So glad you figured it out!
Very good and we all need to know 😎
Great explanation…Thx
Thank you!
You are the greatest
Thank you!
Great video thank you
My pleasure!
Excellent video though many years ago!
Thanks!
awesome video.
Jose Zenteno thank you!
Great video! Thanks!
Thank you!!
Thanks for commenting!
So many guys performing irrigation work for a living, don't have this basic understanding. I'd wager that at least 80% of the entire service industry doesn't know this stuff. It costs everyone involved lots and lots of money.
Good job jimmy
Thank you!
Thank you Im glad I found you now I can trouble shoot my system
Thanks Tim!
Thanks Tim!
Your beard is impressive! And such a clean garage!
Thanks!
Helps and should be included in book for dummies.
Billy Gilbreath thank you!
Excellent 🙏
Thanks Jeremy!
What a great video
Thank you!
Exactly what I needed to know for diagnosing a system today. Thank you so much!
TonyfromEarth my pleasure!
Love those ground faults!
Excellent
Thanks!
Oh you did cover it! How would you expect to find this underground? Would all 4 dedicated wires run along side the supply lines and the common wire? What about for a 15 zone system? Is there really 15 wires in the ground? Thanks again
Yes, the wires are usually in the same trench as the main line. Sometimes they will come in from different sides depending on what the installer did, but yes for a 15 zone system, you would have 16 wires running in the ground to the controller and 17 if you have a master valve.
Jimmy, thanks for the great video. I just removed my rainbird timer and installed Orbitz b-hyve. The rainbird had a MV wire, however, on the Orbitz there is no slot for MV, do I connect this wire to common or pump? Thanks!
Pump should do it.
one of the better videos I have seen. I'm diagnosing an 8 zone system in Gadsden Al (mine) with numerous problems. Getting smarter all the time but certainly not an expert. I have a large box with a ball valve and two zone solenoid controls. One was a standard Irritrol but the other is MUCH larger and the local Plumbers Wholesale didn't recognize it or have one in stock. The valve body and diaphragm housing is 4" diameter and has 10 3/8" screws that are not Phillips or Torx, they were removed by socket. The last two were under the solenoid and it needed to be screwed out of its hole in order to remove the final two screws. The faucet type handle is completely immobile so would like to replace the innards. I'd send a picture if you give me a method. Would really like to know what kind of valve this is and where I can order a replacement?
Yes, send me some pics and I'll give you a call and see if I recognize it.
Thank you I found the problem...it was the water sensor that was in series with the system my dog ripped it 🤦♂️so it wasn't completing the circuit
Perfect! So glad you found it!
I need to replace my current sprinkler system. The sprinkler system that I currently have is a Weathermatic sprinkler system. I has up to 16-station connection. My lawn uses 14-station. I am unable to find any Rainbird sprinker system that can handle 14-station. The most I have seen is 12-station evan for any sprinkler system. Can I use a 12-station sprinkler system on a 14-station lawn? Can I use station 13 & 14 and plug it to the station 11 & 12?
Thank you for the explanation.
I’m guessing you have the controller off when you check ohms on each zone?
kevin burgess yes controller is off when checking ohms and a zone should be running when checking ac.
hey, Jimmy, so if there is no resistance reading on the last, 4th 8kvalve, we have no way of telling if it's the dedicated wire, or common, correct?
POVemigranta that’s correct. You can run a common on top of the ground from the closest valve and see if it’s the common for a quick test.
Thanks for your video, I had an french drain installed. After completion, My zone 1 will not turn on, and my zone 2 water comes out very weak. The rest of my zones are fine. I think a wire was cut in the process. can I run a wire instead of digging up the yard trying to find where the cut is located?
Yes, you can. It'll probably be easier unless you have a valve finder. I'd check the ohms just to make sure that is the problem. The one with low pressure especially. Could be a break somewhere on that one.
Thank you for the excellent demo, i noticed that you used the red wire from the Multimeter for the common and the black(ground) for the zones, does it make any difference when measuring resistance ??
It’s a good practice to use black on common, but for ohms & ac it doesn’t matter. If your measuring dc you need to make sure black is on the negative and red is on positive.
Great video! Would it be possible to make a
video focusing on wire tracing with a locator?
Here you go... ua-cam.com/video/losQPAWSkK8/v-deo.html
@4L irrigation repair. If you have a damaged wire what's the remedy? Run a new wire from the sprinkler box to the sprinkler valve?
The options are to find and repair the damage, run new wire, or if another valve is close you can use an "add a zone" that will save you from running wire all the way back to the controller.
Have you had any signals cross? meaning, have Zone 1, run Valve 2, or another other than it's originally wired valve? Thank you!
Yes, I’ve seen wires crossed in the field. Unless you know the area that work was done, it’s very difficult to find & sometimes easier to run a new wire.
Thank you for your video Jimmy. I got a Rain-bird SST9, got a red wire going to zone 1, an orange wire going to zone 2 and the rest are white wires, how can I find out which one of them is the common wire
If all the wires aren't pulled out, it will be the one in the common slot on the controller. If everything is disconnected, if you have a station master or similar device you can send a tone from the valve and then get the tone at the controller. Another method would be to put one probe on a colored wire and the other probe on each of the white wires (separately) until you get resistance. Hope this helps.
The place I moved into has a complete system like this connected but nothing works regarding the timer. The wires coming off the valve heads are eroded and no longer sealed. I assume I can buy the celenoids? Or have to replace the whole thing? Also, if I manually turn off all valves by hand would that stop the timer from turning on the water as well?
Specialist K , if they are contemporary valves, then yes you can buy them and replace them. If they are old and you can’t find the parts, then you’ll have to replace the whole valve.
If you could zoom in on the wiring to the timer, I would have been able to 👍 and share it with a Facebook group. Since you didn't, I'll give you an A for effort because you do know what you're talking about.
Awesome, echoing what's been said prior, this video is very clear; thank you. It's been 5 years but... what if you have a pump start relay between the water-pump and the sprinkler timer? I have a 6-Zone Rain Bird system that's connected to a relay, there's power going to the relay from the breaker, and the Rain Bird system is also powered, all the wiring running to and from both units look good, but I cant' get the water-pump to turn on. Where or what else should I be looking for?
I’m not a pump guy, but I’d check and make sure your controller is giving it AC and then make sure AC is getting to the pump. After that it would be a pump issue.
Hi! Thanks for the helpful video! I recently moved into a new house and 2 of my 3 zones are not functioning. The valve box I have found only houses the piping/valves that are located to the left of your master valve shown on this video. It does not have any of the solenoid valves or wires within this box. Would the solenoid valves for each of the zones be in a different area in the yard? And do you have any tips for locating them? I would like to try to manually turn on each zone at the solenoid valve to verify functionality.
Depending on what part of the country you are in will determine where they put the valves. Here in North Texas the valves are usually scattered throughout the yard. To find them you will most likely need a valve finder or to hire someone. Here is a video that may be helpful. ua-cam.com/video/losQPAWSkK8/v-deo.html
4L Irrigation Repair thank you! I am in Chattanooga Tennessee
When turning my Hunter SRC from manual station to 'run', it doesnt activate the zone run timer as usual and defaults back to the date display. I cant get it to run, it keeps resetting back to date display. No error code or anything. Ive used multimeter on the AC power, checked the fuse, unplugged it for a while, changed the battery, reset the unit, re-programmed the timers and zones, checked the ohms from the controller to the solenoid, everything checks out. Bad controller?
If the ohms are good and the controller is giving it voltage, it’s probably a mechanical failure in the valve, most likely the diaphragm. Good luck!
Adventures In Dirt you may want to call the Hunter help line and they will walk you through everything 760-591-7383
Is there a way to test the common wire to see if it's active? I have three boxes all connected to the same timer but am only getting power to one of them? I want to know if power is getting to the second and third one?
You can send a tone down it and test it at the other end with a tool like the Armada Protec 48. That's the best way. Trying to find voltage in the field is tricky and I don't use that methodology in the field. Hope this helps!
I'm right down the road from you! I have 2 questions: what should the resistance be for a lawn genie solenoid? I'm getting around 18. Second, I have 2 zones that are dead. I believe the common was nicked by a sharp shooter. They show 30 volts at controller but only about 8 volts at solenoid. Could I just run a new common from the controller to each of them to fix this? Also, a bonus question: the color of the wire at the valve is not the color at the controller. How and why did the installer do that?
Not sure about that specific brand but in general they should be between 20-60 ohms. Yes you can always run a new wire, if you know which one is bad. It is very common to see color changes in the wiring from the valve to the controller. Usually it’s because of a repair or the installers run out of the same kind of wire and finish up with what they have on the truck.
Is the wiring the same to the master valve as it is for the other valves...one solenoid wire to common and one to a different wire? Because what appears to be my master valve looks like it has both solenoid wires going to the same wire. Is it supposed to be like that?
You are correct the wiring to the master valve shares the same common as the other valves and the other wire goes directly to the controller and into the master valve slot.
I notice that my Orbit valves are pretty noisy when energized and so were yours in this video, is this normal? My old system used Rain Bird Valves that barely hummed.
I'm not sure to be honest. I rarely work on orbit valves. Most residents don't have orbit valves. Most are Rainbird, Hunter, or Toro/irritrol, or weathermatic.
Hi, I do need some troubleshooting help. I do need to buy a new voltage meter, so none of this was down with one.
My issue: 5 zone residential circuit. Zone 3 originally was stuck on for a whole 1-5 zone cycle. Now zone 2 & 3 go on and stay one all of the time. I have replaced both valves in whole, solenoids, cleaned all wire connections and the controller box (old). Also, I installed a main water value shut off for zones 1-4 entirely.
So, at this point, I'm guessing there is an issue with the dedicated zone 2 & zone 3 wires (not the common wire). It is AZ and 102 today, digging up the main wireline from the front yard (controller) to the backyard (where valve box is located) is definitely the last thing that I want to do.
Can you confirm that there is no other option but a broken dedicated wire zone 2 & 3 somewhere?.. Or something else? I am open to ideas.
Yikes, you hit everything I'm thinking as well. Usually a stuck valve is a result of a bad diaphragm. If you have changed the valves that should have fixed it. The other thing is the controller can give AC to more than one zone when it's malfunctioning. If you've changed the controller, that should have fixed it. If you have a master valve, you can turn it on manually and see the zones come on without the controller. If they do it's a mechanical failure in the valve. If not that, I'm not sure what it would be but would check the valve again.
There is the possibility of a programming issue in the controller box, since you have changed every thing else. A little known (by me anyway) issue is a 3 volt lithium button cell battery that provides power to the mother board in the controller box. On my old Rainbird box, this battery is not mentioned in the text of the manual and cannot be found by checking the table of contents or index. It is designed to last 10 years and you describe your controller as being old. To check this out, cut off power to the system, take normal precautions to prevent electrical shocks, and take the case apart to get to the motherboard, unless there is some other access to that battery. This type of battery is often seen in automobile key fobs, etc., and is typically available where ever batteries are sold. By the way, I got an electronic copy of my Rainbird manual, and used the search function of my computer to find all references to batteries. Rainbird did put a reference to this battery on the back page of the manual, mentioned its 10 year life expectancy, and said it could not be replaced and that you would have to buy a new controller. This is B.S. Once you locate this battery, it can be replaced in seconds if you happen to have one on hand (I keep these around for key fobs and TV remotes) - if not, just get the number off of the old one (take a picture of it with your phone) and buy a new one. Replacing it is simple. No new controller is needed. I would never have known about the existence of this battery if someone had not mentioned it in passing in a comment to another UA-cam video. Good luck.
How can I tell if I have a Master Valve? I do have 4 zones but since I replaced my rain sensor my irritrol panel is blinking (indicating a short) and will not turn on.
Chris Kies look at your controller and there should be a slot next to the common that says MV or Pump or Master Valve. If you have a wire in it with resistance, then you have a working master valve.
I need to replace my mother-in-laws ancient controller. There is no master valve, but there is a well pump motor that needs to be on. Would i wire into the master on the controler to switch the pump on?
Martin Richardson in the same spot, it may say pump or MV.
Hi, thanks you for making this informative video, my first zone keeps blowing my controller fuse, i did ohm test on solenoid and also wiring, both test show within range but almost 1ohm less reading, what could be causing the fuse to blow,all other zones work normal if i disconnect zone 1wire or turn its setting to zero on controller.
Most likely the solenoid or short somewhere in the wire, unless your controller is having an issue. If you move the wire to another slot and it does it, I’d go back to the solenoid or field wire.
@@sprinklerrepair4Li think just trying replacing solenoid at first is the best option.
I’ve got a 4 zone system the previous home owner put in, with 2 extra colored wires not connected at the control box or to any valve. The solenoids are like 250’ from the controller box. Will this work to test the continuity of the unused wires as I’d like to use them to add zones, and not damage anything while testing ? If I unplug the power to the control box from the wall, take the two colored unused wires and touch a 9v battery lead to each wire. Then at the solenoid 250’ away test the voltage of the 2 unused colored wires with my multimeter connected to each wire. Will this work as a continuity test? If any voltage shows up, it shows the wires have no breaks. And if anything is connected to those wires it shouldn’t damage it right bc it’s only 9v, right? Thanks for any help on this.
I’d approach a little different. Connect a valve to wires in question, then connect wires in controller and turn it on and see if the valve comes on…
What would be the problem if I don't get any resistance in any zone? And when I turn on a single zone all of them get voltage at the same time? Everything was working just fine a month ago. But now I can't get them to turn on.
Carlos Sandoval, it is most likely a problem with the common, somewhere between your controller and the last valve. Could be the solenoid in that last valve, a bad connection, a bad splice, or even a hard wired rain sensor. Good luck!
Thank you so much for this video. So helpful. However I have one question...zone 1-4 are wired by the same wire spool. Zones 2-4 work but Im getting an open on zone 1 and solenoid is good. Doesnt make sense that zone 1 would have a cut wire and not the others since they are in the same strand. Any ideas?
It’s definitely possible that it was the only on cut in a bundle. Does it have ohms at the controller? If it does, then measure voltage to make sure the controller is doing its job.
Figured it out 😀 it was the black wire coming out of the grease tube, the end broke off ☹️. Thank you for the reply 😀😀😀
Thank-you for this informative video. I have an issue I've not read in the comments here, yet. Perhaps you can get me pointed in the right direction. My control box is inside the garage, and power is tied into the same line as the garage door opener, yard light, two wall outlets and a GFCI located at the back of the garage. This year, a little while after I run the sprinkler system, I lose power to all the listed points. It's as if water is getting into the ground and shorting something. First time, I changed the GFCI and the breaker in the electrical box in the basement of the house. After a couple days, seemingly when things dry out, I'm able to reset the GFCI and everything works fine until the next time I water the lawn again and power is lost. The breaker in the basement has never tripped, Just the GFCI.
Any ideas? Thank-you.
Kevin Bell I’m sorry this sounds more on the electrical side which is outside of my expertise. I hope the best for you!
Everything at my Rachio looks good, no break in the wire based on all the tests to one of my zones. I go out to the zone and run the system and instantly hear a click but not watering start. The valve had and old Richdel R-204 top next to it but has an Irritrol one fitted. Any idea?
If you hear it click but not open and you are getting continuity and 20-60 ohms, then it sounds like something mechanically is wrong with the valve. Port could be blocked or bad diaphragm.
If the solenoid is continuing to click, then it's probably the solenoid even if you have good readings.
@@sprinklerrepair4L Thank you, if I undo the solenoid water will travel to the sprinklers, does this sound like a bad diaphragm? The old valve top left behind was a Richdel R-204 but it now has a Irritol cover. Are these compatible?
@@regiramon6932 you should be able to turn the solenoid a 1/4 of turn and open the flow of water or if it has a bleed screw, you can do the same thing. So this wouldn't necessarily mean a bad diaphragm. Richdel and some irritrol are interchangeable. Toro owns them all now, but they still have an irritrol line of products. I've had success with the 8 screw one being interchangeable, but not the jar top.
Hello sir,
Thank you for all of your informative videos. I am reaching out to you to see if I can email you and learn about irrigation design, specifically line of sight measurements,etc...?
To be very honest I am not the best guy for that arena. I only do repairs on existing systems. While I do add zones and have to understand design, mine is on a very small level. I would suggest going to an actual class. In Irrigation licensing programs, part of your class is actually designing and laying out a system. It would be well worth your time if that is something you want to pursue. I hope the best for you!
I have an issue where I set the timer and one of my zones (zone1) is intermittent; sometimes not working at all. However if I go manual no issue and it works just fine. Any ideas?
Paul Jones I’d check the ac with a multi meter when it’s being intermittent and if the voltage is going in and out it’s probably your controller. You can call the manufacturer and see if there is anything you can do, but probably you’ll just have to replace it if that’s the case.
Hi Jimmy
I bought an old house with a sprinkler system that was working with a very old rainbird controller and a pump relay. It was working great with 2 zones and I disconnected the controller to replace with a newer one, first mistake!!!!! now I cant get any valve to work. the wiring is confusing. the controller wiring hooks to the relay using brown and white then continues to the valves . All common wires are connected to white and other wires connected to red... then there are 3 "harder wires coming up inside the valve box that are connected to the common wires. At the controller I connected the withe to common and brown to MV and the red to zone 1 I get nothing except the pump turns on but no valves working. I tested the valves manually and they are fine.
I'd take ohm readings and make sure they are all good. if so, then I'd double-check the controller settings. If those are good, it is probably the MV wire is in the wrong place. I'd rotate all the wires into the MV slot with the others in the zone slots and see if you can get it going that way. I hope the best for you!
Thank you for the great video. I have a 20 year old 6 station system run by a Rainbird ESP-8 controller. Problem that just started is that when timer turns on station #1 - three other stations come on. Wondering if my controller is in need of replacement ?
If you have a multi meter, you can check and see if when zone one is on is the controller giving ac to the other zones. Then you will know if it is your controller or mechanical failure with your valves.
@@sprinklerrepair4L Thank you so much for your reply. I do have a multi meter, and although my mechanical skills are good, my multi meter skills are not one of my strong points - could you tell me where to set it and where to to place the probes ?
So - watched your video with the Rainbird controller and followed your steps and everything seems to be working correctly - so must be a valve problem. I have only been able to get one zone to open and close manual by turning the solenoid - so that is a mystery - getting dark here so will attack again tomorrow.