Any hints for finding shorted valves?

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

In toronto sucking cold ones waiting on my next flight.
Bcg......trace the common and flag it. Put the black clip on the zone wire and the red clip on the common. You should pick up a strong signal right after you pass the valve. Go back a little listen intently and it should be there.
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[Some Sprinkler Guy]

RB Seem to be the worst to find when shorted. I dont have any special tricks.

On a side note I used the TDR for the first couple of times this week after having Jim explain them in detail to me and the tool is unbelievable. I had shelved the unit before talking to Jim due to my misunderstanding of how the TDR operates.

It told me within 5 foot where the problem was on a 1100' signal wire. I didnt believe the reading until I found it. Top that off the problem ended up being on the common (TDR found it the same).

Same day TDR told me within a few feet where a valve was 950' from a controller on a different site. Saved me a lot of time on both jobs. Even with the 521 I would have had to do a ton more walking. I had fun with my guys when I told them "Its that valve right there I bet you 20 bucks"

This is a awesome tool that we all need to learn about and bounce off each other.

The TDR could tell you within a few feet of where the valve is in this situation.

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by Some Sprinkler Guy

This is a awesome tool that we all need to learn about and bounce off each other.

Special thanks to Jim for all the info/help he's given us. I'm looking forward to meeting him next week for a locating seminar.

[Some Sprinkler Guy]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

Special thanks to Jim for all the info/help he's given us. I'm looking forward to meeting him next week for a locating seminar.

I very much appreciated our discussion and wish the seminar was a tad closer so I could make it.
No doubt Jim is an asset to the members of this board.

Thanks again for the help Jim!
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[mitchgo]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

Special thanks to Jim for all the info/help he's given us. I'm looking forward to meeting him next week for a locating seminar.

me too!

I got the 12th off. My boss wanted to come too but he's on vacation this coming week with the family


As far as the post goes..
My first attempt would be/

I would spray paint / flag the wire trace. Then follow step 2 of the locator by hooking the red power connector to common and the black ground to the missing zone wire ( make sure the controller is off) .. You can't really trace the wire this way but it will sure as hell ping out a bad valve.

[1idejim]

Originally Posted by bcg

One of my guys is at a customer that has a valve reading .3 Ohms and he's having trouble finding it. He's found every other valve on the site. I told him to go slow and that he's probably going to just lose the signal when he gets over it instead of it screaming at him and suggested he run a tracer wire down the lateral line to see if he can get to it that way. Anybody got any other suggestions besides poke, poke?

Thanks.

i had a nice conversation with your man mike today, pm your email address and i'll send you the same information i sent him.

[bcg]

Thanks, Jim. I really appreciate the help.

[1idejim]

Originally Posted by bcg

Thanks, Jim. I really appreciate the help.

you're welome, happy to be involved.

i'm getting pretty good at over the phone locates, i don't think it took more than 15 minutes of total phone time to find that valve.

[CAPT Stream Rotar]

The TDR is the tool of the future..


I really don't know how to use it but I'll learn.

[ARGOS]

Originally Posted by FIMCO-MEISTER

In toronto sucking cold ones waiting on my next flight.
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Hey Peter!! I hope your having fun. When you get a chance upload some pictures of your daughter...oops...:::ease up there budy:::...I mean upload some pictures of you and your daughter doing something fun in front of something scenic.

AND thanks a ton for the book. Very kind of you to think of us. I am going to read it to the kids that aren't old enough yet. I have never read it.

"A Dog of Flanders"