SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

SHORT ANSWER: The manual control has to be 'off' for automatic operation via the controller.

LONG ANSWER: Under the knob you turn for manual operation is a pilot hole. When this pilot hole is open, water flowing through the pilot hole turns the 'real' valve on to allow lots of water to flow. When the pilot hole is closed, the lack of water flowing through the pilot hole turns the 'real' valve off. (This is why there can be a delay between the time the valve is turned off and the water quits flowing).

When you turn the knob 'on' for manual operation, you are basically lifting the cap that closes the pilot hole. When you turn the knob 'off', you are pushing the cap back down sealing the pilot hole.

Inside that same knob is a solenoid. Normally, a spring is pushing the solenoid down to seal the cap over the pilot hole. But when the controller sends power to the valve, it lifts the solenoid to unseal the cap to allow water to flow through the pilot hole. When power is removed from the solenoid, the spring pushes the solenoid back down on the cap to seal the pilot hole. I'm guessing that when you manually turn the knob 'on' AND activate the solenoid from the controller, the solenoid must be getting pushed the wrong way and pushing down, resealing the cap over the pilot hole (at least that's the only explanation I can come up with why turning both 'on' results in turning the water 'off').

Hi Larry. I've never seen this happen. Here's a wild guess. Perhaps you're not turning on "that" valve at the timer but turning on another valve in a different part of the yard that you're not noticing? This way maybe you have two valves running at once so the sprinklers drop giving the impression of turning off? Maybe you've wired the valves incorrectly so multiple valves are trying to come on at once?

Hi i'm am new to this. I have an imperial valet system. We can not turn on any zone from the controller.
And for zone one and 2 we must take out the pin from the thing in the ground. What are we doing wrong. pleae help if you can.

Hi Rob, what you've described could be a number of things. We already know the valves have water because you can turn them on manually at the valve so nobody has turned the water off.

It could very well be that old controller you have but not necessarily.

It could be a broken ground wire. That ground wire attaches to all the valves.

It's hard to tell from here. You'll need to be able to test the controller and wiring at the valves.

Also the two valves that only operate manually by taking out the pin probaby have bad diaphragms or plugged ports. Could be stuck plungers.

You'll probably need to hire someone. This wont be an easy fix for someone new to sprinkler repair.

Good luck!

Quoted from "mrfixit"

Hi Rob, what you've described could be a number of things. We already know the valves have water because you can turn them on manually at the valve so nobody has turned the water off.

It could very well be that old controller you have but not necessarily.

It could be a broken ground wire. That ground wire attaches to all the valves.

It's hard to tell from here. You'll need to be able to test the controller and wiring at the valves.

Also the two valves that only operate manually by taking out the pin probaby have bad diaphragms or plugged ports. Could be stuck plungers.

You'll probably need to hire someone. This wont be an easy fix for someone new to sprinkler repair.

Good luck!

Thank you for your help I have someone coming out soon. Thanks