Sprinkler System Question....

[joe_stack20]

This is my first year having a sprinkler system....I have 6 zones and the system is a rainbird. everytime i want to run my sprinkler system i have to plug the pump in to the outlet...That really seems fishy to me..cuz if i manually have to plug in my pump to start my system...how in the heck can i set my system to kick on when i am not home because i am not there to plug it in...And even after i plug in my pump and go through all 6 zones...i manually have to unplug the pump. I am thinking a Pressure Switch..but i am not all that knowledgeable with this stuff...any suggestions?? And alos my pressre guage reads 30...that seems weak to me...but i am completely on the opposite side of town as the water tower too!?!? Please help me

[setterguy]

If you have a pump, I am assuming you are pumping out of a well or did they install a booster pump onto your system that is already hooked up to city water? What should have been installed is called a pump start relay. The relay is wired to the pump and the timer and when the timer calls for the system to fire up it turns the pump on at the same time. There are newer pumps that do run on pressure, and require no relay but are a bit more expensive. Did you buy the house with the system or did you have it installed? I have a few ideas as to what it could be after I get a little more info from you....

[joe_stack20]

Yes i bought the house with the system already installed..The pump itself is down in my utility room..where it is pumping out city water...The relay switch i think is there because when i plug the pump into the outlet the control box is "ticking" and when i slightly move the dial to what zone i want to water...it automaticallly turns for me...hope this helps thank you for your reply

[setterguy]

It sounds like an older rain-bird controller. Green timer with white pegs that you can push in or pull out to set times ect.? There would be a seperate relay box(usually grey) somewhere between the pump and the timer that the pump and timer would be wired to. It sounds like they installed a booster pump on your city water because your pressure is so low. If you can't find this relay, then there is the problem. So what happens if you were to leave the pump running after the system had shut off? Is the pump plumbed in exclusivly for the system or is it set up for the whole house? We will figure this mystery out yet....

[joe_stack20]

The pump will just continue to run...i have tried it thinking that it would at somepoiont automatically turn itself off....not the case...when i finally unplug the pump it feels very warm and i am worried about burning out the motor due to excessive use. The pump is only used for the sprinkler system. The control box does have the push and pull dials for the timers....(time of day...and what day) the box itself is white and gray. I am at work and am going to look for the relay box itself...i am positive it is there i remmeberseeing it. I will check when i get home and get back to you

[setterguy]

If the relay is there then I would check the wiring to and from the timer/pump to the relay and make sure the wiring is correct. Some relays can be shut off, open the panel and make sure the relay is turned on. I don't know if those timers have a MV(master vavle) terminal in the wiring, if it does check to make sure that the wires are good from there to the relay. I've never installed those timers only serviced them, so I'm just going off of memory.

[setterguy]

After doing a little research on your problem, I found that your timer does have a master valve terminal in the timer. I bet the guy disconnected the pump wire to the master valve during the winter, I would open the timer and see if all the wires are connected. If they are your timer may be bad. I can suggest a couple place to order one if you are confident on replacing it yourself.

[joe_stack20]

thanks for all of your help..and sorry i didnt reply agains last night. As i turned the system on last night i followed the wiring...(however my house is completely finished) so from where the wire from the pump enters the sheetrock...to where it pokes out from the wall in my garage. I can only assume is good. i do have a "black box" almost looks like a "Big AC adapter" that is plugged into the outlet in the garage just to the left of my control box. with a black wire running from the "AC Adapter" to the box itself. like said before i have no knowledge with this stuff...my guess is its just the power supply to the box itself..but i am not an electrician. The system itself was installed in 1998...hope this helps you....and again thank you