Sprinkler System - Two stations come on at the same time

[Aaron]

I bought this house 3 years ago with the sprinkler system already
installed, so I don't know much about it. It has worked for the last
few years. Now when I run station #2 another station (#3) always
comes on with it. When I run station #3 it runs by itself and station
#2 remains off. All other stations run as expected. I do not know
where to begin troubleshooting. Please help with your ideas.

Thanks,
Aaron

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
If it is auto programmable control unit it may be faulty.
Did you try basic factory default setting?

[mm]

Remove power from the control box. Wait 30 seconds or 10 minutes and
reconnect the power.

If you can't get the instructions for your brand of sprinkler, get
instructions for other brands. It's probably like other products
where one company akes more than one brand or at least one company
makes the logic modules for more than one brand.

>Thanks,
>Aaron

[jamesgangnc]

Sounds like some adjacent noise is tripping the triac on #3. You may
have to replace the controller. Do you have stations that are not
being used? If so you could switch #3 to one of the unsed stations.

[tra...@optonline.net]

I'd put a volt meter on the wires to the zones with the zone wires]
disconnected to find out if the problem is originating at the
controller.

[Aaron]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will use them in the next few days to
try to solve the problem. It is a raintree automated controller, so I
will start there. I am glad to start there since I have no idea where
any of the valves are.

[Smitty Two]

In article <p92fo6dnlp4l69f9v...@4ax.com>,
Oren <Or...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

> On Sun, 20 Mar 2011 20:15:42 -0700 (PDT), Aaron
> <aarons...@gmail.com> wrote:
>

> I'd try moving the #2 wire over to #4 position (zone) on the
> controller and see if you get the same problem.
>
> Or as suggested reset the controller (pull power cord and battery).

On many controllers, pulling the backup battery will wipe out the
memory. So OP will have to figure out how to reprogram it. Given the
paucity of operator interface buttons, each button has approximately
19,000 different functions, depending on which buttons are pushed before
it and after it. Not impossible to suss it out without a manual, but
does require some focus and a bit of logic. Oddly, 99% of people have
zero logic skill.

[willshak]

Aaron wrote the following:

Originally, I thought that you were talking about fire sprinklers and
didn't know how you were testing them without flooding the house.
Since many states are requiring sprinkler systems in new houses, I
thought you were one of the firsts to install them.
No one answering mentioned that fact, so I now assume you are talking
about lawn sprinklers.
Silly me.
.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

[Stormin Mormon]

Only thing I can figure, is that he's talking about fire
sprinklers.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"willshak" <will...@00hvc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:7bqdnRpIqdZgKxrQ...@supernews.com...

[Bob F]

Stormin Mormon wrote:
> Only thing I can figure, is that he's talking about fire
> sprinklers.
>
> --
> Christopher A. Young

I sure would never have thought that.

[blueman]

Aaron <aarons...@gmail.com> writes:

It might help to give a little more information - brand, model number...
Otherwise a generic question can at best get a generic answer...

[4a...@mail.com]

I just had the problem that zones 1 and 5 were going off together. I replaced the controller - same problem. Hunter suggested cleaning out valve / diaphragm - I did, but again same problem. Someone along the way described how a nicked wire made their system go berserk. I replaced the entire wire between the controller and valves. Voila and done !!!😀😀😀😀😀

[artahel...@gmail.com]

[trader_4]

Was there a point to re-posting this from years ago?

[judy....@gmail.com]

On Sunday, August 14, 2016 at 2:29:01 PM UTC-4, 4a...@mail.com wrote:
> I just had the problem that zones 1 and 5 were going off together. I replaced the controller - same problem. Hunter suggested cleaning out valve / diaphragm - I did, but again same problem. Someone along the way described how a nicked wire made their system go berserk. I replaced the entire wire between the controller and valves. Voila and done !!!😀😀😀😀😀

But I have the same problem. If I turn on valve in the manifold box, #2 still comes on when #3 runs. So it's not the controller. DId this ever get solved?

[Hawk]

I would believe "voila and done" would exemplify a resolution,
especially after 3 1/2 years.

[trader_4]

IDK, if what you're saying is that when you manually turn on the valve
for zone 3 then zone 2 comes on at the same time, sounds very strange.
What happens when you manually turn on 2? Only thing left I can see
would be that something is wrong with zone valve for 3, so that when
the pressure drops with zone 2 coming on, it triggers it to go on.
Does it only trigger when #3 is on, but not when #1 is on?

[tmitc...@gmail.com]

?

[steve]

Which zone was the nicked wire running to?

--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/maintenance/sprinkler-system-two-stations-come-on-at-the-same-time-626451-.htm

[trader_4]

No idea what this poster is talking about months later. But I recently had similar
happen to me, so now I know what could be a cause. I had what I thought was
two zones going on at the same time at first. But upon further investigation,
I discovered that one zone always went on whenever any other zone was on.
That was mystifying. Finally figured out that there is a main electric valve for
the whole system, plus one for each zone. So if one valve is stuck on, it will
go on whenever any other one is on.

But it doesn't end there. Turned out the reason the one was stuck on was that
the seal at the threads where the solenoid screws into the body was very slightly
leaking. The way these valves work, the solenoid first opens a little pilot valve,
which in turn starts water flowing which then opens the large valve. If there is
leaking at the solenoid it acts like the pilot valve is open, turning on the large valve.
All I had to do was stop that leak to fix it. Which is kind of weird, that a tiny leak
would turn on a valve.

[Sirvaysa]

Hi Trader 4........what did you do to stop the leak ? Some solutions I can think of are: Teflon tape, turn tignter, lubricate solenoid O-ring or replacing entire valve or valve diaphragm. Thank you for your input.

[trader_4]

I don't remember exactly what I did, but I do remember it took a few tries.
As I recall there was both the solenoid and also a little screw valve that you
could open that turned on the main valve manually. i might have had to use
some silicone sealer on it. But I would have started with what you listed, teflon tape,
turn tighter, first. It's been six months now and it's still working OK again.
The problem in my case I think was actually caused by the solenoid hitting
the side of the burial box. Probably shifted over 25 years and was putting
side ways pressure on the solenoid, distorting the plastic where it screws in
to the valve body. I fixed that too, by digging it out and resetting it. Biggest
problem was finding it. It had slowly disappeared and I didn't even know one
was anywhere in that location. I learned how to find them. Had to put the
air compressor on the system, then have an assistant work the controller to
turn the zone valve on and off while I listened. The valves make a click, it's
louder with air instead of water.

[John]

I had the same issue one zone came on when any of the other 3 other stations went on. By itself it was fine. I cut the wires to that solenoid and it still turned on so figured it must be pressure related. I replaced that valve to fix. The valve in question did have a small leak at the solenoid and was an anti siphon unlike the others. My theory is that the leak wasn't enough to trigger it until a zone turned on decreasing the pressure so leak plus weak pressure made the diaphragm open.

[trader_4]

Typically these systems have both a main valve and a zone valve. So the zone valve that is
stuck on or has a small leak at the solenoid that triggers it, will go on whenever any zone
goes on and opens the main valve. It;s the closed main valve that is preventing the bad zone
from flowing water all the time. Makes sense, you don't want a system that relies on just
one valve, which could fail and have water flowing endlessly.

[John]

Hi Aaron, did you fix this problem? I have just noticed I have the same issue, zone 5 runs on its own, I have cancelled zone 6. but then when zone 7 comes on it is with zone 5 (again) as well..

[Chris Neese]

I'm having a very similar issue. The same 2 zones come on regardless of which zone I am calling for. The other 2 zones never come on. Was working fine until I had an irrigation company come look at a leaky head, they replaced 2 of the valve uppers and now I can't use the system and the irrigation company won't return my calls. I subsequently replaced the controller and the wiring thinking that would do it but still have the same issue. Any thoughts? Running out of ideas.