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

I just moved into a house less than a month ago. It has a Rainjet sprinkler system. This is my first experience with a watering system. It has 5 zones. When I first turned the system on (with the digital controller), zones 1,2,3 all operated. Zone 4 I could only turn on manually. Zone 5 wouldn't turn on at all. After a month of manually watering I turned zone 5 on manually and it started to work. At the same time, zone 4 was now operable via the digital controller. A week later all 5 zones were operating via the controller with my changing nothing. NOW, I can turn on all zones manually, however, the digital controller can now only operate zone 1. I am confused, I checked to make sure that all the wires are snug and I hadn't altered anything myself. Now I am left manually turning on the system, sinc I can still do that, or pay someone to come out, which being in my first house I choose not to do right now! Any suggestions is much appreciated. Thanks.

Quoted from "mrfixit"

I'm going under the assumption you have the old green anti-syphon valves. A model number would help. It's hard to tell from here but it sounds like the diaphragms are old and stiff. They wont open with the controller but they will with the bleeder screw. Diaphragms are cheap. 5-6 bucks. Valves are cheap also.

I am new to this and am still searching for model numbers. I have taken some pics to help with my descriptions. I am trying to figure out how to attach them. The valves in the ground only say KRRE on the round circular piece and Greenlawn on the box with the 4 nuts/screws. The PVB is FEBCO. I am working on getting more information. I just figured i would throw this out there while i got some errands done. And thank you all for the help thus far.
[img]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34996025&id=34306697[/img]

[img]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34996024&id=34306697[/img]

[img]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34996026&id=34306697[/img]

[img]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34996027&id=34306697[/img]

Quoted from "kdfhockey1"

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34996026&id=34306697

I am not sure if you can copy those picture links into a new internet page but I do not know how else to get them a link.

Quoted from "mrfixit"

I'm going under the assumption you have the old green anti-syphon valves. A model number would help. It's hard to tell from here but it sounds like the diaphragms are old and stiff. They wont open with the controller but they will with the bleeder screw. Diaphragms are cheap. 5-6 bucks. Valves are cheap also.

Ok, with some more research it appears that the valves are the 61 Series Valves found at http://www.hydro-gardens.com/Greenlawn_Products.htm. It appears that the previous homeowner had this company set the system up with all of their products.

Quoted from "mrfixit"

Obviously not RainJet. I've never seen these valves. Apparently they don't sell them west of Colorado. I do have a question though. My eyes aren't what they used to be but how are you turning these valves on manually?

For the sprinkler heads to water/operate, I have to turn the solenoid counter clock wise for on and clockwise to turn back off. I have the controller set to specific watering times and this is when i discovered that some zones wouldn't come on. The controller does have a "manual start" button and this is what i use to test if the controller will operate the zones. But as of now, for the zones the controller isn't controlling, I am manually turning them on at the solenoid. Should the solenoid be loose to the point right before it turns on or really tight?

Quoted from "hi.todd"

With out a multimeter and readings on the valve wires I would only be able to guess. Is there a rainsensor hooked up to the system. Start looking around for something that is elevated on a fence or a gutter or on the eve of the garage or house near the timer. It may have cables connected to the timer or not. This could be an explanation of sometimes the entire system working or not. The individual valves working or not could be bad connections or splices that are there that you may not be aware of. With out a multimeter it is hard to say. You may need a new timer, but if it is cables or splices you will throw the money away.

Good luck!!

I couldn't find any rain meter anywhere. I haven't been able to get multi meter readings yet. Would it be a guess that there might be a short somewhere if they are operating sometimes, and sometimes not?