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Electrical Surging

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IrrigationTech

New Member

Posts: 3

Location: USA

1

Sunday, June 11th 2006, 7:46am

Electrical Surging

This is an existing System, there are 11 zones. This system is a rainbird system. Only 3 zones would work with the clock out off 11, Changed clock to a hunter pro-c 3 station clock with 3-3station modules to gove me the 11 zones. Now with new clock installed, i now have 8 of the 11 zones working electrical and the other 3 only working manually. There a 2 zones when programmed with time on the manual station setting will show on controller for a quick second and then go right to the next zone, will not even stay on long enough to test it, what might be the problem?? The third zone will stay on and show time but the valve will not come on, is this a switched wire on the valve or?? Any suggestion would greatly be appreciated, Thanks

Wet_Boots

Supreme Member

Posts: 4,102

Location: Metro NYC

2

Sunday, June 11th 2006, 9:22am

Short Circuit. Bad wiring. Bad solenoids. Old solenoids. (some perfectly functional solenoids from the 'good old days' draw too much current for some solid-state controllers) ~ Start checking resistances.

IrrigationTech

New Member

Posts: 3

Location: USA

3

Sunday, June 11th 2006, 10:59am

ok and how do i go about doin the resistance testing, thanks

Wet_Boots

Supreme Member

Posts: 4,102

Location: Metro NYC

4

Sunday, June 11th 2006, 11:04am

Get a test meter. Even a cheapie Radio Shack VOM is enough for simple resistance measurements.

IrrigationTech

New Member

Posts: 3

Location: USA

5

Sunday, June 11th 2006, 4:05pm

I have a fluke meter but how and where am i doing the testing

Wet_Boots

Supreme Member

Posts: 4,102

Location: Metro NYC

6

Sunday, June 11th 2006, 5:07pm

You test the zones for resistance, from zones to Common. Good ones show about 50 to 100 ohms resistance. The Fluke will have a special 'low voltage' ohms setting, for testing resistances. Use that, and compare readings between operational zones and faulty ones.

Bill Painter

Advanced Member

Posts: 59

Location: Phoenix Az USA

7

Thursday, July 6th 2006, 10:03am

See if all the zone valves are of the same mfg'r and they have the same solenoids.... use those resistance readings as a guide to what those that don't work are.
Some solenoids today have resistances in the 25 ohm area and the older Richdel and Garden America solenoids, are in the 20 ohm area. In ANY case, replace soleoids that are 18 ohms or less in resistance.
b.
The Irrigation Specialist Mfg' Az.
Please check my website and you'll find what I do and the unique tools I make and market.
Real timesavers, especially the Suck-Tube and Krik-It.
http://www.tismaz.com
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