irrig8r
04-04-2008, 08:42 PM
I was working on troubleshooting a job where I installed a Smartline 1600 last year.
Three RB PEB valves were not working, within 10 ft. of a brand new parking lot light pole... With a little digging I exposed a 1-1/4" lateral line next to it, away from the stub of the old steel post and the new concrete supporting the new one.
With my Tempo 508 I traced the line to within 1 ft. of the post, and picked up a really weak signal beyond it back almost to the controller.
Mainline and wiring must be 18" or more deep in the area. I know I was right on top of it.. but thick redwood roots were all over the place.
To double check I ran a temporary cable from end of the common in the valve box back to the other end of same common (disconnected from the clock) to check for continuity, and that indicated an open circuit.
So, I used that same multi-strand cable for a temporary connection to the valves, just to get some water going.... then I realized I couldn't test the SL until I closed the door, which I couldn't do with the wires still hooked up.
I ended up drilling a hole though one of the unused knockouts in the box to accommodate the cable...
So hear's my question (finally)...
Is there a cable one can run temporarily, from the back of the SL panel to the connector behind it, in order to run the clock with the wiring compartment exposed and serviceable?
BTW, I ended up running 140 ft. of cable, under a sidewalk and then above ground in 1/2" conduit along the bottom of a fence to keep the squirrels from chewing it. Roots everywhere made it hard to find another solution.
Three RB PEB valves were not working, within 10 ft. of a brand new parking lot light pole... With a little digging I exposed a 1-1/4" lateral line next to it, away from the stub of the old steel post and the new concrete supporting the new one.
With my Tempo 508 I traced the line to within 1 ft. of the post, and picked up a really weak signal beyond it back almost to the controller.
Mainline and wiring must be 18" or more deep in the area. I know I was right on top of it.. but thick redwood roots were all over the place.
To double check I ran a temporary cable from end of the common in the valve box back to the other end of same common (disconnected from the clock) to check for continuity, and that indicated an open circuit.
So, I used that same multi-strand cable for a temporary connection to the valves, just to get some water going.... then I realized I couldn't test the SL until I closed the door, which I couldn't do with the wires still hooked up.
I ended up drilling a hole though one of the unused knockouts in the box to accommodate the cable...
So hear's my question (finally)...
Is there a cable one can run temporarily, from the back of the SL panel to the connector behind it, in order to run the clock with the wiring compartment exposed and serviceable?
BTW, I ended up running 140 ft. of cable, under a sidewalk and then above ground in 1/2" conduit along the bottom of a fence to keep the squirrels from chewing it. Roots everywhere made it hard to find another solution.