Volt Meter For Irrigator

[1idejim]

Are you asking me Bernie?
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[bcg]

Whoever answers but you're probably more qualified than most to do so, Jim.

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by 1idejim

he has no clue of the condition of the system.

Bingo: it's clock, amperage (typically .25 amps) and ohms. Depending on the solenoid, as brother Jim already said, it will be between 20 to 60 ohms. I've had many solenoids show good until they heat-up and fail. Bottom line, is a short is when the measured resistance is below 20 ohms for a single solenoid. Above 60 ohms will indicate a open when measuring the field wiring.

[Wet_Boots]

Originally Posted by 1idejim

You can use a low cost clamp to measure solenoids shoes, you have to make 4 or more turns around the meters jaw. The result is then divided by the number of turns.
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the fact that there's a Harbor Freight clamparound for less than 20 bucks that does the solenoid current readings without needing any slack wire to make extra turns with, means there must be something comparable in the realm of real measuring devices

[ed2hess]

I am not into measuring current on selenoids but I do use meter for measuring resistance at the controller. And for that I need a good clamp on device.....sears one is poor. I want a hard wire running from the plug on the meter to the clamp on with no slip fit devices in between. I dont want to be guessing whether their is a open in my meter lead goofing up my measurements.

[bcg]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

Above 60 ohms will indicate a open when measuring the field wiring.

True but...depending on the controller, up to 200 ohms may still function without problem. Sometimes they ohm "high" but still work fine. They almost never ohm "low" and still work though.

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by bcg

True but...depending on the controller, up to 200 ohms may still function without problem. Sometimes they ohm "high" but still work fine. They almost never ohm "low" and still work though.

That could well be true, and why I prefer to spec clocks that measure amperage, which will get me started to the heart of the problem.

[greenmonster304]

Originally Posted by 1idejim

he has no clue of the condition of the system.
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I think this is the norm for your average tech. I will admit that before I came on this site 6 or so years ago I only knew the basics because the guy who taught me only knew the basics.
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[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by greenmonster304

I think this is the norm for your average tech. I will admit that before I came on this site 6 or so years ago I only knew the basics

Now you know "basics" don't mean squat!

[Wet_Boots]

just help yourself to the cornucopia of swell advice here, and you'll have everything covered from squat to diddlysquat