Is a malfunction plaguing your controller? Irrigation system malfunctions generally have hydraulic or electric causes—so if the cause isn’t one problem, then it’s the other, making troubleshooting a little easier.
Often, it’s something that’s quick to diagnose: the water supply is off, the valve is broken or a sensor is faulty. But what if the system’s failure lies with the controller? Then the malfunction could be electrical in origin, like a power overload.
How to avoid shorts in your controller
The chances of a controller reading a power overload—or short—are greater when the system has multiple points of connection that increase the current in the system. Many irrigation valve solenoids have an inrush current (the sudden surge of current, measured in amps, occurring when the solenoid is first energized) anywhere from .35 to .70 amps. When the valve is powered, the inrush current will reduce to a hold current, which has a lower amperage value between .10 and .30 amps depending on the valve.
The combined amperage of the system’s master valve and rotary cylinder valve may exceed the controller’s limits for resisting current and preventing damage—thus causing a short. A solution you can apply in the field is to reduce the number of valves the system turns on simultaneously. You can do this by reprogramming some of the valves to start at different times.
If changing start times doesn’t solve the problem, then check with the valve manufacturer for solenoid options that include lower amperage loads for your master valve.
Troubleshoot any issue with Ewing’s help
To learn more about troubleshooting your irrigation system, visit your local Ewing store. Or watch this Ewing video about how you can use an ohmmeter to diagnose many of the electrical problems that can affect your irrigation system.
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