Need help with Sprinkler stations not working. Got me stymied!

7 years ago

Hi all... admittedly, I am learning as I go, so I might not be seeing something obvious.

Two of my sprinkler stations will not come on. They worked last year just fine, but this year are kaput.

I have replaced and tested the solenoids on the two valves for these stations, and the plungers activate when triggered manually, so I know power and solenoids should be good. The valves open manually perfectly when I twist the solenoids a half turn and when I use the bleed screws.

When the stations are activated on the controller, the solenoids activate, and you can hear water trying to flow (that hiss of running water in pipes), but the stations still will not come on.

I removed the bonnet from each valve and did not notice anything amiss there either. Granted, I can't see a way to remove my diaphragms to look under them, but the visible parts look good, rubbery and not cracked.

If I run one of the stations, and then give the solenoid a half turn (which causes a little leaking) the station will turn on. Then I can tighten the solenoid, and the station stays on until the timer is up, and then the solenoid works to shut down the station normally.

Any ideas? I am kind of going crazy trying to figure it out...

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MrHIrrigation

7 years ago

while rare I have had new replacement solenoids fail to open a valve while showing the same symptoms your describing. in each case I had to replace the solenoids again.

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Comments (6)

Phillip Linford
Original Author
7 years ago
Unfortunately, I have tried 3 different solenoids. And they all work according to the manual test, and they all shut off the station, it just won't come on without manually opening the solenoid or bleed valve...
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mishmosh
7 years ago
Did you check the ends of the wiring to make sure it's the proper 24V when activated at the controller? Maybe the cables are corroded or damaged.
Phillip Linford thanked mishmosh
Phillip Linford
Original Author
7 years ago
I didn't do that yet - I'll give it a shot. Thanks.
woodbutcher_ca
6 years ago
hi, I had a problem with one station that would not water,

I manually tuned the station on via the timer the station worked . I then knew that all the wiring and solenoid were OK. My timer has six stations and I use four. I unhooked the wire from the station that didn't work and connected to a station not in use and cured the problem.

Good Luck Woodbutcher
elkriverparadise455
6 years ago
Test each station output at the controller with a meter. Swap the wires at the controller with a good station. If the problem "swaps", you know it's wiring. Test the wires at the valves for continuity. Solenoids are all different, some won't work at less than 24 volts, others can go to 18 volts. I have found that newer solenoids are more sensitive to low voltage. Make sure that you have the right type of solenoid, it's unlikely your system uses latching solenoids, but if you bought latching solenoids, they don't work on conventional systems. Make sure the solenoids are exactly the same and/or have the right adapter, and the o-ring is (if needed) in the right place. Make sure that the holes in the diaphragm line up and allow water to flow through. I don't understand about the diaphragms, they should just pop out. If they are stuck, they might tear a bit, replace if they do. If it's not an electrical problem, just replace the diaphragm. If I could not find an obvious problem, I used to replace the whole valve, except for the body of the valve. Just buy a whole new valve and replace everything at one time, except the bottom (the body), this is faster, and you don't have to wonder if one little part was the problem. We used to call this a "gut-job".