Controller Pump Relay and 6 solenoids fried??

[lawns Etc]

I went to check a call today on a old system dated 1992, has a Hardie 6 station controller and a Hardie Pump Start Relay and 6 old 2400 valves.

I replaced the controller as it was not lighting up with a Rainbird ESP as soon as I went to activate zone 1 on a test run the red light came on and MV Err was displayed. I next hot wired the relay to just bypass and leave the pump running to test the pump works. I retried zone 1 and nothing so I go out and find a valve box and it ends up being the zone 1 I went to manually turn it on at the valve and the solenoid was smoking hot ,hot enough to smoke when it got wet. My question is we had a very bad storm Saturday night could a voltage spike fry all the solenoids,the controller and the Pump Start Relay.

[Mike Leary]

Hire a pro.

[Wet_Boots]

Solid-state controllers are always subject to sudden death.

[Mike Leary]

Solid-state controllers are always subject to sudden death.

When plugged-into circuits that have other demands; garage-door open, freezers, etc., solid state is at risk.

[Wet_Boots]

Circuit breakers don't bar surges, so everything is in play, but the more circuit distance between your controller and large motors, the better.

[lawns Etc]

I went and traced and found all valves put in new solenoids and a new pump start relay and all is working now. Customer never told me that they had a lightning strike and lost their tv and freezer so I guess thats what happened. Hire a Pro well I have been doing Irrigation for over 7 years and was just asking if anyone has ever had this happen before.Didnt need any nonsense from the peanut gallery MR Leary I thought you were a big time installer until you showed your invoice for a measely 400 ft of pvc. I buy it by the rack over 8000 Ft at a time 3-4 times a yr.

[DanaMac]

Hire a Pro well I have been doing Irrigation for over 7 years and was just asking if anyone has ever had this happen before.Didnt need any nonsense from the peanut gallery MR Leary I thought you were a big time installer until you showed your invoice for a measely 400 ft of pvc. I buy it by the rack over 8000 Ft at a time 3-4 times a yr.

I learned long ago, if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the sprinkler forum.

[Wet_Boots]

At least it wasn't a ground strike that fried the wiring.

[lawns Etc]

I can take the heat but I think some guys never actually work, they just sit and post all day long.

[Wet_Boots]

It's part of the stimulus package, doncha know? payup

[lawns Etc]

I am starting the 1st of 900 plus blowouts next week so I wont be doing much posting for a while. I only post when I need help or can be of some help to others.

[DanaMac]

I am starting the 1st of 900 plus blowouts next week so I wont be doing much posting for a while. I only post when I need help or can be of some help to others.

and some of us are here to have some fun away from the 900+ blow outs as well. Hoping for that magic number of 1000 this year.

[EagleLandscape]

We won't be doing any blowouts this year...:(

BAHAHAaa

However, just completed a 20k install, and have a 9k install pending, a 4k install, and a 15k install to do before the end of the year. (irrigation that is) (about 200k left in landscape installs before dec 31)

still... not one blow out.

[Kiril]

When plugged-into circuits that have other demands; garage-door open, freezers, etc., solid state is at risk.

This again. :waving: ::waits for a feed the stomata comment::

[Wet_Boots]

We won't be doing any blowouts this year...:(........

We'll dedicate one to the great state of Texas.

[txgrassguy]

I have had similar problems with electrical surges and lightening strikes.
At one recent install, customer calls me up reporting the system isn't working. So I go out and look.
The damned door and panel to a Pro-C was lying in the adjoining field over thirty feet from where it was mounted on the house. Looked at the chassis hulk and it is all burned up and melted.
So I ask the home owner about a lightening strike - he says nope, didn't happen. As I am standing there a electrical company truck pulls up, guy walks over and hands the home owner a bill for like 7 grand.
Come to find out the homeowner backed his brand new 27' boat over the junction box for five houses in that neighborhood and shorted out the 2000+ volt feed entering the box.
Then the homeowner demands a replacement controller, pump start relay and 19 solenoids - under warranty. I literally spit about four ounces of coffee all across his shirt as I started laughing while he demanded the replacement.

[Mike Leary]

I had a client call about a Hardie Touch Command fried by "lightning". I told him we only have sheet lightning out here, very few forks, and mostly in the foothills. The smell of burning wiring was overpowering in the garage, I could not believe that smell was caused by just the clock. I checked the freezer and fridge, fried also. We went into the house (summer home, they were away), found all appliances, including the computer fried. WHF? Turned out they were having a new drain field installed, the contractor failed to call for a locate, went too deep, caught the main feed and somehow shorted the 220 leg into the house and garage. He went out of business after they took everything, including the first born. :dizzy: