Rainbird Sprinkler controller possibly faulty?


  #1  
Old 08-21-22, 03:12 PM
T
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Florida
Posts: 220
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Rainbird Sprinkler controller possibly faulty?

Hi everyone,

I've been trying to sort out by irrigation system and unearthed several sprinkler heads and excited my valve system in the backyard as well. I seem to have one zone that will not power on. I've checked the resistance at the wires in the controller and the wires/solenoid seem to be fine. When i turn on that zone, it doesn't get power at the terminals. The controller is a Rainbird ESP 12-lx. I tried zones 11 and 12 as well and they don't get power either, but all of the other ones work fine.

Is it possible the controller is going bad? Does it need reset? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve
 
  #2  
Old 08-21-22, 03:36 PM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,061
Received 1,910 Upvotes on 1,716 Posts
Where are you checking for voltage? At the screw terminals on the controller? I've had Rainbird circuit boards go bad... if so, you can sometimes see a light burn mark on the circuit board somewhere along the the path. Have also seen solder joints go bad.
 
  #3  
Old 08-21-22, 04:25 PM
T
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Florida
Posts: 220
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
I'll have to check for burn marks. Yes, i am checking at the screw terminals.
 
  #4  
Old 08-22-22, 01:03 PM
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 411
Received 54 Upvotes on 47 Posts
Can you manually turn the valve and get water? If not, the valve is a goner.
 
  #5  
Old 08-22-22, 01:11 PM
T
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Florida
Posts: 220
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Circuit board looks great.
 
  #6  
Old 08-22-22, 01:23 PM
T
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Florida
Posts: 220
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Yes, if i manually turn the solenoid or open the bleed screw, the valve opens and the sprinklers operate.
 
  #7  
Old 08-22-22, 02:24 PM
Marq1's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA MI
Posts: 9,745
Received 1,210 Upvotes on 1,098 Posts
Did you switch the possible dead zone to one of the other known good zones?
 
  #8  
Old 08-22-22, 03:58 PM
T
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Florida
Posts: 220
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Yes, the problem zone works fine when attached to a working terminal.
 
  #9  
Old 08-22-22, 04:09 PM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,061
Received 1,910 Upvotes on 1,716 Posts
Sounds like a bad control switch or circuit board then. Time to upgrade to a more modern panel.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: