wiring problems

[londonrain]

Received a call about a valve that would not shut last week , we fixed two zone valves with rocks in the valve last week. Rocks in the main was caused by the septic company. We returned today for the wiring problem. The system has been shut down for over 2 years because of all the problems. Two valves would not close(rocks) and all 8 zones not working from controller(cut wires).

Pic#1 ground fault pinpointed this area.
http://webpages.charter.net/nixdiecast/cut1.jpg

Pic#2 uncover and pulled on the wire and came right apart.
http://webpages.charter.net/nixdiecast/cut2.jpg

Pic#3 uncover more and found the cable tv and telephone company had plowed in the cable and nicked the wires but missed the pipe.
http://webpages.charter.net/nixdiecast/cut3.jpg

Pic#4 another point the ground fault pinpointed, this was from a previous contractor repair, who also nicked the wires with a shovel and I pulled them right apart. We did a temp jumper on three of the wires, one common and 2 field wires. I still have 2 more zones not working and I believe the septic company cut the wires and will return next week for further hunting. Six zones now working and two more to go...

http://webpages.charter.net/nixdiecast/cut4.jpg

[CAPT Stream Rotar]

What are your thoughts in that ground fault?Great pics.

[londonrain]

What are your thoughts in that ground fault?Great pics.
Great for finding the slightest nick and wire splices. I would have been dead in the water on this job and one I did last Saturday without it...

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I'm big on that ground fault as well. Great tool when you need it.

[Rainman7]

How does that Pulser work. Do you first have to locate the wire path and drag that along it, or will it also trace the path of the wire itself?

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

My method is to flag or paint the wire path using the 521 then use the pulser on the wire path.

[londonrain]

My method is to flag or paint the wire path using the 521 then use the pulser on the wire path.
Yes same method as Peter....
I actually found 3 other places the wire was nicked, one was under a shrub from when it was planted and two more out in the yard.....

[PurpHaze]

The Pulser works great... sometimes too good as it will locate every nick along the way, even the ones not causing the problem. :)

[Dirty Water]

Don't touch the wire with the pulsar running.

[PurpHaze]

Wish all our wiring was that shallow. It would make for easier repairs. Course... if our wiring was that shallow there'd be a LOT more repairs needing to be made. :)

[Dirty Water]

I like how shallow the pipe is too.

Was this job plowed in London?

We used to gaurantee at least 8" of cover over plowed lines in our contract.

[londonrain]

I like how shallow the pipe is too.

Was this job plowed in London?

We used to gaurantee at least 8" of cover over plowed lines in our contract.I dont think it was plowed in but the cable and tv was plowed and that is par for the course as far as plowing goes.......
Ground fault pinpointed a nick under this shrub, notice it is right on the edge of the hole for the shrub....

[Wet_Boots]

Does that work for you if there isn't any break in the insulation? I used to work on a system where they used stranded wire to the valves, and the wire was corroding all by itself, and creating intermittents. The locator voltage would seem to arc across the faults, and temporarily restore continuity.

[londonrain]

Does that work for you if there isn't any break in the insulation? I used to work on a system where they used stranded wire to the valves, and the wire was corroding all by itself, and creating intermittents. The locator voltage would seem to arc across the faults, and temporarily restore continuity.
Yes , even if there is no cut outer sheathing and the wire is cut or corroded inside. That is why I always pull on the wire if it is telling me something below.

[Mike Leary]

All good reason to wire-tie the multi strand under the main..I'd rather they
hit the main (instant water feature) than the wire.. another reason to
not use a master valve...instant knowledge for the dips coming over you!
We've had tons of hits where simple communication could have avoided the
whole thing! On our systems, it's not bad, but on "by others" with no "as-bilt",
"cha-ching"...problem is, this time of year..who needs it?

[PurpHaze]

We often have requests from contractors to shut the main line down while they're doing their work. Our answer: "No... The main is marked. We want to know immediately if you hit it."

[londonrain]

Finished up the wiring problem today and found another nicked wire.

Ground fault pinpointed this wire, once uncovered I pulled on the wire and came right apart. The outer sheathing was still intact but wire was corroded inside. The 521 went right over this spot without any problem.
This was a total of 9 cut wires I found and now all zones are back working.
http://webpages.charter.net/nixdiecast/cut1a.jpg

[PurpHaze]

Finished up the wiring problem today and found another nicked wire.

This was a total of 9 cut wires I found and now all zones are back working.


Good job... completed by a professional!!! :)

[Greenguy1]

another solution to the wire problem would be to use more multiple valve manifolds so there is only a few feet of wire buried in the ground.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

another solution to the wire problem would be to use more multiple valve manifolds so there is only a few feet of wire buried in the ground.

As Don Meredith would say "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas".

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

To the top.......

[Mike Leary]

To the top.......

Half the time on the forum, I don't know if you and ROTAR are talking about
sprinklers or women!:dancing:

[Wet_Boots]

Half the time on the forum, I don't know if you and ROTAR are talking about
sprinklers or women!:dancing:To da Moon, Alice!!

[Mike Leary]

To da Moon, Alice!!

Is that the sprinkler uniform you easties wear?

[Wet_Boots]

The jacket and tie impress the ladies.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

To the top.......

This is how we do it on the fishing forum. Actually all we do is TTT but you need 10 spaces here so I write it out. Got that? Understand? Comprehend? Register in your brain? Should I explain again?

[BSME]

where's the fishing forum?

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

where's the fishing forum?

It ain't here that's for sure. Try this I'm sure their is an MI version as well.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/cfrm

[Wet_Boots]

where's the fishing forum?http://funwithdynamite.com/

[turfnh2oman]

5,000 volts at a 1/4 or 1/2 amp as I was told by Rain Bird Reps. That'll really make your hair stand up !
Hell a 521 locater is 3,000 and that'll go up your arm with nooooooo problem !
I always break in my new trainees with a 521, Hey grab that ground probe will ya' - Har, Har, Har !

[Mike Leary]

I always break in my new trainees with a 521, Hey grab that ground probe will ya' - Har, Har, Har !

No jolt, but just as funny..my guys used to carry a silver dollar on the truck,
put it on top of a I-20 or larger..when the newbie bent over to snatch the $,
they fired the zone with the remote!:laugh:

[PurpHaze]

No jolt, but just as funny..my guys used to carry a silver dollar on the truck,
put it on top of a I-20 or larger..when the newbie bent over to snatch the $,
they fired the zone with the remote!:laugh:

With all your $1500 zones surely you could afford a gold piece instead? :)

[Mike Leary]

With all your $1500 zones surely you could afford a gold piece instead? :)

Point well taken, mite have to bump up the zone charge to balance out the
laughter time & the chasing of the newbie when he bailed off the site with
the gold piece.:laugh: