Most valve problems are attributed to dirt getting into the valve during installation!
Ensure the Solenoid Valve has been installed in the correct direction
- When installing your Solenoid Valve, ensure it is installed in the correct direction
- An arrow indicating the flow direction is clearly marked on the valves body
Ensure the manual switch in the OFF position
- Near the coil is a small lever which can manually operate the valve if normal 24V power is not available
- In most situations where there is power, this switch should remain in the OFF position
- If the manual switch is in the ON position, the valve will always remain open thus allowing water through the valve if other solenoids are activated
Ensure there is there an o-ring under the coil
- Unscrew the coil and ensure that there is an o-ring seal
- Be careful that the plunger doesn't fall out of the coil when you unscrew it
Ensure there is a plunger and it is not stuck
- If there is no plunger, or it is jammed up the coil, the valve will remain open
- The plunger should have a spring like movement when pressed with your finger
- If not, the plunger is stuck
- This can be fixed by removing the plunger and cleaning it with some water until it retains the spring like action again
- Never use a lubricant spray as this will attract dirt and cause additional problems
Ensure the flow shaft has been set correctly
- Some solenoid valves have flow control for the flow or volume of water through the
valve - If the flow control is screwed down, it will restrict the opening of the diaphragm and limit the flow of water through the valve
- Ensure that this (if available) is open or set correctly when required
Ensure valve internals are clean
- Sometimes dirt or grit can enter the valve and cause a blockage
- It is necessary to clean the valve and ensure that the port holes are clear of any foreign material
- It is also important to make sure that the internals of the valve are replaced the same way as they were before dismantling
Additional information
- Check that the coil is not burnt out
- This can be tested by swapping out the coil from a valve that has been confirmed to work properly
- Alternatively, follow these steps:
- Remove the coil by holding any wire from the coil at the controllers active station terminal
- Place the other wire from the coil at the common terminal
- The plunger should pull in when that station number is switched on
- The plunger acts like a magnet when the coil receives a current from the controller
- When doing this, it doesn't matter which wire from the coil is common and which one is active
- Other possible faults that may cause a valve not to operate include:
- Cut or damaged wiring
- Poor wire connections
- Blown transformer
- Blown fuse (generally caused by poor wire connections)
- Most Irrigation Controller instruction manuals include a fault finding guide which may help with this process
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