[zeronine]

Hi all,
I just bought my first house over the winter and it has inground sprinklers.

My problem:
I can't get them to work. I've checked everything and it's getting water and power.

If I turn the valves on manually, the system works, all the heads come up.

Someone told me that the clock on the controll panel might have to be replace, so I went out and bought a new controll panel. I've also respliced the wires one by one to the valves and manually set all zones to run.

Nothing is working. I'm so lost.

[sleepy]

get an extention cord and plug in your timer out in the feild next to your valves. Get a new piece of timer wire and try that . Sounds like your wire is bunk.

[GLAN]

run new wire from manifold to controller

[sleepy]

Stop throwing parts at it. Diagnose the problem first! Mabye the system never really worked? Mabye the common wire is not right?Mabye the wire size is goofed up for how long of a run it is. Throwing parts at it to fix somthing is the worst way to go. I hate it when a mechanic does that in the truck shop. Whats the problem? This is allways first. Poor guy might be down 100 dollars for nothing.

[dan deutekom]

Diagnose the problem using an ohm meter.

It is easier to refer you to these web sites rather than type out all of the instructions here.
http://grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_troub
http://www.igin.com/Irrigation/groundwiring.html

It sounds more complicated than it really is

[sleepy]

exactly

[sleepy]

Thanks for the links!

[albert]

check if the rain sensor is working , go into the timer and locate the 2 wires from the sensor, usually the common (white wire) is jumpered out ,take the white wire directly to the common block on the main terminal , if the system works either the sensor outside is wet or not functioning properly $20 item,good luck

[zeronine]

It was the wire going from the control panel to the valves. I just replace it and everything is up an running.

Thanks for all the replies. Now how offen do I water?

[GLAN]

I guess throwing parts at it worked.....

[GLAN]

How often to water


This past week, actualy 2 I have had mine off....plenty of rain.

This time of year.....weather this cool.....10 - 20 minutes for mist heads. The less time in shade or north side of buildings and such. Rotary head zones 20 - 30 minutes.

Start your system 4 am or so. Every other day coresponding to the even or odd days of the calendar with your house number.

As the weather warms up more....increase the watering time. July and August......I would add a day manualy to the watering cycle.

But I am not exactly sure where you are located on the Island......Where I am the general surrounding area was all potatoe farms and the soil is a sand fill below the top soil, we drain very well. Other parts of the Island going towards North Shore there are more drainage problems.........so water accordingly.

If you want we can up date as the season goes here or pm me during the season.

[sleepy]

In my face lol!
Mine was a super simple test though
good job everyone,, another problem solved!

[MountainShe]

Yes he simply neglected to attach the common wire to the valves. Just because the controller has power does not mean the valves have power. Whenever you can turn on and run a valve manually at the valve, but it won't turn on and run with the controller then that means the controller is not communicating with the valves through the wires one way or another. Can only be that the valve solenoid is bad, or the wiring is done wrong. It is rarely the controller itself.