Hunter X-Core controller strange issue

Cusser · Aug 17, 2022

Landscaper installed sprinkler system with Hunter X-Core controller in January. During power outages (even momentary), the controller forgets time/date/year but remembers times to water, which stations to water, etc.

E-mails to Hunter get the response that it must be the #2032 memory battery, which I tested at 3.21 volts. I also installed 2 other #2032 batteries which measured over volts, same issue. I personally doubt that the battery would be weak enough to "forget" the time/date but OK to remember the sprinkling settings. I think the "tech" at the E-mail response just doesn't know or care enough to find the solution, will likely tell me that "no one ever had this issue before". So any fixes for that?

To get warranty replacement, the landscaper would have to come out and remove the controller, take it 30 miles to the Hunter dealer, then re-install, as he has the paperwork or computer information in his name. Any help is appreciated.

Wet_Boots · Aug 17, 2022

If you have a fresh battery installed, in the correct polarity, and the controller won't retain the time and date, you need a new controller. The first thing to look for, after installing a fresh battery, is that you get a blinking "no AC" display after unplugging the controller.

As you noted, the program settings are retained in a different memory bank, and will not go away after power-down.

Cusser · Aug 17, 2022

The polarity was correct. Next time I go into town, I will buy a brand-new #2032 to try.

You stated: "the program settings are retained in a different memory bank, and will not go away after power-down" - the "tech" at the help desk apparently is not aware of this !!!!

Wet Boots - would zapping out the entire system, like resetting to default "zero settings" help me any??? You seem to know more about these than Hunter, thanks.

irritation · Aug 17, 2022

Make sure the plastic insulator strip is removed, I've forgotten myself before.

Wet_Boots · Aug 17, 2022

From the "overlook nothing" department comes..... (okay, someone else got there first)

By the way, the last X-Core I installed no longer came with a full instruction manual. You can download one from Hunter's website. Some useful tips and tricks there.

Cusser · Aug 17, 2022

Yes, the plastic strip was removed (several months ago). I actually was able to call Hunter HQ and talk to a technician. He stated the battery is only for the clock/date settings, the sprinkler settings are on some internal memory, why I only lost the date/time. He also said that if the battery is working/connected correctly, that it should show "No AC" when the AC power is switched off, and it doesn't.

I took a closer look, and it appears to me that one tab contacts the "+" side of the #2032 battery at the top, and that the other tab must tough the "-" side on the left side. But I tried moving those a little, didn't help at all. Those terminals are not shorted together or the battery would get real hot.

Hunter seems to feel that the X-Core controller is defective, and the phone tech said he'd never come across this issue before. Let me state that I'm not so special, never have won the lottery ! Of course an AC parts supplier told me no one had ever noticed or had issues with a 5.5mm depth difference of an AC line I had purchased, see photo. Look at the difference from O-ring to end of fitting !!!

So tech said to re-set after each power outage or see if the landscaper/installer could swap out under warranty.

Thanks for your input. Yes, I have that manual showing battery installation.

greenmonster304 · Aug 17, 2022

Are you a homeowner or are you in the trade?

Cusser · Aug 17, 2022

greenmonster304 said:
Are you a homeowner or are you in the trade?

I am the homeowner. A landscaper did the yard, 2000 SF of sod, 4 fruit trees, and installed the sprinkler system. Sod went in 2 month ago, all looks great. But we've had 4 power outages in the last month, so each screwed up the time and date for the sprinklers.

I've left a voicemail today for the landscaper, have not yet heard from him (Arizona, so 2:30pm now).

Hayduke · Aug 17, 2022

And thus the reason we contractors mark up our materials to cover these unforeseen warranty issues. It sounds like the timer is defective, which is becoming more and more common in the last couple of years. While the supplier may re-imburse for a new timer, the contractor's labor will not be covered. Hope your contract is tight and he/she made allowances for warranty issues!

Cusser · Aug 17, 2022

Hayduke said:
And thus the reason we contractors mark up our materials to cover these unforeseen warranty issues. It sounds like the timer is defective, which is becoming more and more common in the last couple of years. While the supplier may re-imburse for a new timer, the contractor's labor will not be covered. Hope your contract is tight and he/she made allowances for warranty issues!

I'll wait until I hear from him. If need be, I'm knowlegeable-enough to R&R the controller - 20 years ago I installed my own sprinkler system (plumbing, wiring, etc.) myself, just paid a trenching guy $70 to do the trenching.

Or maybe I'll just train myself to re-set the date/time every time there's a power outage. There's really not enough physical space in the X-Core for me to try to "jump" the contacts with 3 volts.

greenmonster304 · Aug 17, 2022

If you don’t get anywhere with the installer hunter might send you out a new one directly if you plead your case.

Wet_Boots · Aug 18, 2022

There's a chance that the battery backup portion of the controller is so uhh-duh reliable that they aren't checking it during the assembly process. Or maybe they do check it anyway, but some component failure took it off-line. Is your line voltage subject to spikes?

Cusser · Aug 18, 2022

greenmonster304 said:
If you don’t get anywhere with the installer hunter might send you out a new one directly if you plead your case.

From the phone conversation I had with Hunter Tech guy today, it would need to go back to the place of purchase for replacement. Then Hunter would have to pay return shipping and handle it several times, compounding their loss.

The Hunter E-mail "help" apparently just decided to "ghost" me and did not respond to the E-mail replies I sent Wednesday.

I've not got a lot of confidence in Hunter, had to Internet-track down their phone number, apparently they try to discourage folks calling - hey man: less telephone interactions = cost savings !!!

Wet_Boots said:
There's a chance that the battery backup portion of the controller is so uhh-duh reliable that they aren't checking it during the assembly process. Or maybe they do check it anyway, but some component failure took it off-line. Is your line voltage subject to spikes?

I don't know about voltage spikes, do know that there were 4 outages recently. When I asked the Hunter telephone tech if i re-set the entire unit to "zero condition" would help, he responded "no" so I didn't try it. I haven't heard back yet from the landscaper, so don't want to do that unless he tells me to.

The Model is Hunter XC-400, and part of me wants to order this XC-400 from Amazon Prime then return my bad one within 30 days, so no charge to me.....even no cost return https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Sprin...t=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030323&hvtargid=pla-350162262864&psc=1

Ron Wolfarth · Aug 18, 2022

Cusser said:
From the phone conversation I had with Hunter Tech guy today, it would need to go back to the place of purchase for replacement. Then Hunter would have to pay return shipping and handle it several times, compounding their loss.

The Hunter E-mail "help" apparently just decided to "ghost" me and did not respond to the E-mail replies I sent Wednesday.

I've not got a lot of confidence in Hunter, had to Internet-track down their phone number, apparently they try to discourage folks calling - hey man: less telephone interactions = cost savings !!!

I don't know about voltage spikes, do know that there were 4 outages recently. When I asked the Hunter telephone tech if i re-set the entire unit to "zero condition" would help, he responded "no" so I didn't try it. I haven't heard back yet from the landscaper, so don't want to do that unless he tells me to.

The Model is Hunter XC-400, and part of me wants to order this XC-400 from Amazon Prime then return my bad one within 30 days, so no charge to me.....even no cost return https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Sprin...t=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030323&hvtargid=pla-350162262864&psc=1

Don't do that As a last resort, call back Hunter Tech Support, ask for a supervisor. Tell the supervisor, you want to talk to "Rod W." The supervisor will know who you mean.. That is Rod with a D. Tell Rod your story succinctly and that his buddies here said he would take care of you given your predicament.

1idejim · Aug 23, 2022

Looks like someone didn’t read Bernie’s sticky.

Hayduke · Aug 23, 2022

Cusser said:
I've not got a lot of confidence in Hunter, had to Internet-track down their phone number, apparently they try to discourage folks calling - hey man: less telephone interactions = cost savings !!!

Well if you call their help line and pretend you are a contractor...just saying. I have had great luck connecting with Hunter Tech Support.
But it has been a few years. And things have kind of changed on the service end of things since then. I wouldn't pin it on Hunter though

Wet_Boots · Aug 23, 2022

I could imagine tech support staffs might have difficulties with something simple and straightforward the first time it shows up as a product flaw. I've heard "That's a good question" more than once, which I can translate into "We haven't the foggiest idea" - (forgive me, tech support)

Cusser · Aug 23, 2022

Cusser said:
Yes, the plastic strip was removed (several months ago). I actually was able to call Hunter HQ and talk to a technician. He stated the battery is only for the clock/date settings, the sprinkler settings are on some internal memory, why I only lost the date/time. He also said that if the battery is working/connected correctly, that it should show "No AC" when the AC power is switched off, and it doesn't.
Hunter seems to feel that the X-Core controller is defective, and the phone tech said he'd never come across this issue before. Let me state that I'm not so special, never have won the lottery ! Of course an AC parts supplier told me no one had ever noticed or had issues with a 5.5mm depth difference of an AC line I had purchased, see photo. Look at the difference from O-ring to end of fitting !!!
View attachment 519640

We had the GM dealer repeatedly fail to repair a faulty sunroof on a 2005 Yukon that would intermittently not close (no hum, no sound, no nothing, but would ALWAYS open). Before the first repair, I made it clear that I would pay for a repair but would not pay for guesses; after about 3 follow up "repair" trips, the dealer told me "we have absolutely no idea what is wrong". So I had to fight to get the money returned (did, about $250), and I eventually took out the fuse when the sunroof decided to close.
So much for knowing one's products.

I decided against buying a new X-Core from Amazon and returning the faulty unit to Amazon; apparently I still have some integrity....likely I'll live with it re-setting to midnight after a power outage, as subsequent timing will just be off a few hours until I re-set it.

Africanacity · Nov 2, 2022

Sitting in Cape Town, South Africa with exactly the same setting loss situation, due to our regular national loadshedding woes. Has any considered hooking up a small UPS to tide the controller over until AC is restored (like recommend for a router)?

RigglePLC · Nov 2, 2022

By "loadshedding" do you mean the power is actually cut off to certain areas at certain times to reduce power use? This in Cape Town South Africa?
I do not do irrigation. So...
The battery is supposed to do that--retain the time and irrigation program. Right?
And it is spring in South Africa, snow not likely.
Yes a UPS , Uninterruptable Power Supply--would be useful.
Maybe you can make use of the battery on your electric drill or electric leaf blower.

Hunter X-Core controller strange issue

Cusser

Wet_Boots

Cusser

irritation

Wet_Boots

Cusser

greenmonster304

Cusser

Hayduke

Cusser

greenmonster304

Wet_Boots

Cusser

Ron Wolfarth

1idejim

Hayduke

Wet_Boots

Cusser

Africanacity

RigglePLC

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