Sprinkler Help!

[TahoeKen]

So my sprinkler system stopped working all of a sudden. I have a 9 zone system with a RainBird controller. The sprinklers don't come on with either the programmed settings or if I try doing each station manually.

The controller is a RainBird ESP-12 LX Plus. It has a feature to test all of the stations called RASTER. When I run the program it gives a "FAIL" code for each station.

The system was working fine and then we had some bad storms here in Texas. Lots of rain along with thunder and lightening. The controller seems fine I just can not get any of the zones to actually turn on.

Any suggestions? It is really starting to heat up here now and need to get them back on.

 

[Racer_X]

http://aroundtheyard.com/irrigation/

 

[Richard Cranium]

check the transformer. Most are 24 volts.

 

[Dberglind]

First, test to see if you have power coming off your controller with a multimeter. You should get somewhere around 24 VAC if you turn a zone on and test between your zone wire and the common wire.

If you have the proper voltage, next do the same check at the solenoid on one of your valves. If you have the right voltage at the clock, but not at the valve, then you have a problem with your wiring somewhere in between.

 

[jhelrey]

Check your ground wire. No ground, no zone valves opening.

 

[Coolabah]

check the transformer. Most are 24 volts.

First, test to see if you have power coming off your controller with a multimeter. You should get somewhere around 24 VAC if you turn a zone on and test between your zone wire and the common wire.

If you have the proper voltage, next do the same check at the solenoid on one of your valves. If you have the right voltage at the clock, but not at the valve, then you have a problem with your wiring somewhere in between.

Check your ground wire. No ground, no zone valves opening.

Gentlemen , my spider sense is throbbing here .... STORMS !! Lightning was mentioned... I agree anything could be the matter but power surge will fry 1/ transformer obviously still works as controller still "works" ( but controller maybe not entirely healthy ... ) , in my setup this same transformer operates the solenoids 2/ less likely to be a wiring issue all of a sudden unless really really REALLY close lightning hit- ask me how I know this !~ I still can't fully hear after being zapped- just my thoughts : .

I would *GUESS* that the controller got zapped and is working but not working. I have lost LOTS of electronics this way, where they are not dead but have comittment issues. My 2 cents.

 

[Cyberbear]

Simply put power to all the solenoids separately to determine if they are operational. If they are working properly, then I'd say the electronic internals are the problem, usually requiring a new unit, plus add a power surge protector for future events.

 

[TahoeKen]

OK - so I thought it was the controller as well. Replaced the controller with a new Rainbird Model SST-1200. Same issue. Sprinklers will not come on either programmed or individual. I am perplexed.....

 

[txst]

Dberglind and jhelry said it best. If it's a standard system without a well pump, then all the solenoids need is 24V and they open and water flows. Turn a zone on and check for 24V at the corresponding terminal on the controller. If you have 24V at the controller connection strip, either the control wire got severed somehow or the ground (common) lost connection (most likely if no zone works). All of the ground wires are usually tied together, with individual leads going from each zone output on the controller to each valve.

 

[Piper27]

You don't have a rain sensor tied into the controller do you? I know mine won't come on if I get a certain amount of rain. I'm not even able to manually turn mine on unless I bypass the sensor.

 

[Trey T]

Manually jump the wires to test different valve/zone

I had a rain bird unit w/ the rotary dial and I hated it. I remember it was difficult to put it into manual mode... so what I did was use a jumper-wire to complete the circuit to open the individual valve.

 

[rlitman]

You don't have a rain sensor tied into the controller do you? I know mine won't come on if I get a certain amount of rain. I'm not even able to manually turn mine on unless I bypass the sensor.

The rain sensor interrupts the common (ground) wire.
As said above:

Check your ground wire. No ground, no zone valves opening.

If the rain sensor is broken, no zone valves will open.