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

You shouldn't have any problems swapping out the wiring as long as it's hooked up correctly now. It should be self-explanitory where everything goes. I believe the TM is an indoor controller. I believe the ESP6 is in a cabinet. So if it's indoors you'll have no problem.

As far as blowing the fuse goes did you try running the controller with no wires hooked up to it? I haven't seen a controller do what you've described. Blowing a fuse AFTER everything has run. Strange.

Don't worry about the new TM controller being rebuit. I highly doubt this is the case. Supposing it is rebuilt. The controller would carry the same warranty as a new one. No worries.

it sounds like you may not have a timer problem at all.

you may have a valve problem. this will cause you to blow fuses.

before you buy a timer check it out.

Quoted from "venoy34"

I have been using a Rainbird ESP 6 for a number of years and have been using it in the manual mode due to a prblem with the scheduling feature. This past week the controller has started blowing fuses.This after completition of a comple cycle ( I have 6 stations). QUESTION. I have ordered the ESP 6 TM for a replacement and was assured that this was the correct replacement. Now the #1 Sprinkler/Watering system company here in town is tellling me that they no longer make a replacement for the ESP 6 and that any unit ordered will be rebuilt.

Has anyone had any experience replacing the older ESP6 with the ESP6 TM

Your response appreciated.

Venoy34

Yes, check your solenoids before assuming its the clock. Clocks almost never blow fuses without solenoid or field wiring problems. I havent heard anything about the esp clocks being discontinued.

I agree. Probably not a controller problem. More likely a field wiring problem or maybe a solenoid problem. First, I would check all the field wiring. May very well be that the wiring has become crossed or shorted somewhere over time.

Anyway, the ESP-6TM is basically the same, but does not have some of the features that the ESP-6 had. For instance, with an ESP-6 you could turn the dial to a certain zone and press "start" and just that zone would turn on. You can't do that with the 6-TM.

I would recommend the ESP-Mi controller. That's the MODULAR version of the ESP controller. It has all the features of the ESP-6 plus many more. It's also expandable so if you ever wanted to, you could add up to 13 zones total.