Toro replacement solenoids
#1
Toro replacement solenoids
Preparing to have my 5 zone underground sprinkler system winterized next Friday I discovered that two valves on adjacent zones are not opening. (I had this problem on a different zone last year but the problem did not occur when starting up in the spring and the zone worked fine all season. Fortunate for me because I have no idea where the valve box is for that zone.)
I opened the valve box for the current problem zones and was able to get water flow manually by unscrewing the solenoids. There is a third zone valve in that same box that is operating OK, so I tried each of the other zones with that solenoid and they operated fine.
I have three ways to energize a zone: Timer on automatic, timer on manual, exterior service switch that mimics manual operation--none would operate the problem zones.
I have checked for voltage at each solenoid using a Klein NCVT-2 tester and each zone wiring tests fine for 24 VAC when energized.
From this I am concluding that two solenoids have failed and need to be replaced. I have ordered Toro Jar-Top solenoids from HD but the magnet end looks slightly different than the existing. HD allows returns if they don't fit.
Does this sound like a reasonable assessment and resolution for the problem or should I be checking something else too?
The new solenoids won't be here by Friday so we will open the valves manually to blow the zones out.
I opened the valve box for the current problem zones and was able to get water flow manually by unscrewing the solenoids. There is a third zone valve in that same box that is operating OK, so I tried each of the other zones with that solenoid and they operated fine.
I have three ways to energize a zone: Timer on automatic, timer on manual, exterior service switch that mimics manual operation--none would operate the problem zones.
I have checked for voltage at each solenoid using a Klein NCVT-2 tester and each zone wiring tests fine for 24 VAC when energized.
From this I am concluding that two solenoids have failed and need to be replaced. I have ordered Toro Jar-Top solenoids from HD but the magnet end looks slightly different than the existing. HD allows returns if they don't fit.
Does this sound like a reasonable assessment and resolution for the problem or should I be checking something else too?
The new solenoids won't be here by Friday so we will open the valves manually to blow the zones out.
#2
Finding 24vac at the solenoids and them not operating usually means they're bad.
I like to check them for continuity with an ohmmeter before replacing them.
I like to check them for continuity with an ohmmeter before replacing them.