Which Reticulation Control Box?

Posted on 9th March 2012 in Controllers

In one sense its fairly easy as they all do pretty much the same stuff these days. You can have multiple start times, various programs, and set it to do some very specific things.

There are 3 different boxes I’d recommend.

1. Rainbird – These are a top unit by a well known brand and do an excellent job. Easy to use and very reliable they also have a 24 mth warranty. $450-$500 supplied and fitted. These are probably the most expensive of the domestic range.

 

2. Hunter X Core – These come in a 4/6/8 station box and are very easy to use. There is a two year warranty on the X Core and they are a very reliable box. $320-360 supplied and fitted.

 

 

3. Rainmaster – made by Holman these boxes are easy to use and have a 5 year warranty which is very appealing. Lately I have had a few of these fail on me so I’m less keen to use them now. Holman do honour their warranties with no quibbles, but I’m just a little more cautious on using these now. $380-420 supplied and fitted

 

This is the Brighton Reticulation Blog and our main site can be found here For service or advice with the issues in this post call Andrew on 0400044236, or email us here
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Controller Manuals

Posted on 24th January 2012 in Controllers, Installations, Local Knowledge, Products

 

Not sure how to set your control box and lost the manual?

Then just check this page and you may well find your box listed and them manual that is required.

This is the Brighton Reticulation Blog and our main site can be found here For service or advice with the issues in this post call Andrew on 0400044236, or email us here
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The Sprinkler Police Will Get You

Posted on 24th January 2012 in Controllers, Local Knowledge

Seems the water authority have been sending out their inspectors pre dawn and in the evening so if you are watering when you shouldn’t be then you might want to think twice. Its a hefty fine…

If you aren’t sure how to set your control then just give me a call.

Here’s the story

This is the Brighton Reticulation Blog and our main site can be found here For service or advice with the issues in this post call Andrew on 0400044236, or email us here
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Control Box Problems

Posted on 1st December 2011 in General, Local Knowledge

Every now and then you hit puzzling jobs. Today was one of those.

Yesterday I tested the retic, set the control and box and left with everything working well. Then just as I had got home the phone rang and it was the person who I had just worked for.

Their retic no longer worked…

What had happened in the 2 hours in between?…

Well… a bobcat had come thu and made a mess of one solenoid, but now the station that did work no longer worked. Strange…

I got there today to test things. The most obvious check is to test for power at the solenoids. I did that and we had it, then we didn’t, then we did again… and so on.

I suspected a broken wire because the only solenoid that would work was the master. However it too stopped working… So we went to the control  box and tested each terminal for power. One registered voltage and the others were dead.

After looking everywhere for the obvious broken wire (a bobcat had been thru so anything could have happened) we ended up coming back to testing the control box and discovering that it was the issue. We replaced the control nox and everything worked.

Bizarre… nothing very logical about it, but by a process of deduction we got there. So if you have similar problems it may be your control box.

 

 

 

 

This is the Brighton Reticulation Blog and our main site can be found here For service or advice with the issues in this post call Andrew on 0400044236, or email us here
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How Much Does it Cost to Set a Reticulation Controller

Posted on 1st September 2011 in Controllers

 

Before I got into retic I used to get my wife to do this… so if you find it difficult then know you’re not alone!

These days I can set most controllers quickly and easily so its a case of having a minimum charge. For local suburbs (anywhere north of Hester Ave) I charge $35.00, but for other areas it is a minimum fee of $65 + GST.

 

 

This is the Brighton Reticulation Blog and our main site can be found here For service or advice with the issues in this post call Andrew on 0400044236, or email us here
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How to Turn Off Your Retic

Posted on 1st June 2011 in Local Knowledge, sprinklers

Some of you will know how to do this, but if you don’t then you need to know because in Western Australia today is the start of winter and it needs to be turned off for the next 3 months.

Basically whichever controller you are using, the dial needs to be turned to the off position. If you aren’t sure what to do then you can either give me a call, simply turn it off at the switch or remove the fuse if its a hardwired box.

Hopefully it will be pretty straightforward.

We desperately need lots of rain this winter and for everyone to turn their retic off!

 

This is the Brighton Reticulation Blog and our main site can be found here For service or advice with the issues in this post call Andrew on 0400044236, or email us here
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How Do I Know How Many Stations I Have on My Reticulation?

Posted on 27th April 2011 in Repairs, What's Going on There?

 

The easiest way to answer this is to go to your control box and see how many wires are connected to the station terminals. Here’s how to do it.

When you open the panel on the control box you will see various terminals.

C = Common wire (usually black)

M or P = Master valve or Pump

1-x = Station Terminals – On a 6 station box you will have 6 of these. If you have wires going to 3 of them then you have 3 stations. If you have wires going to 4 of them then you have 4 stations.

On occasions you may have 2 wires going to the one terminal. This is where two solenoids have been wired together. They function as one station but are actually two separate solenoids.

For help with any of these issues call Andrew on 0400044236 or email brightonreticulation@gmail.com

 

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Reticulation Control Boxes

Posted on 26th April 2011 in Installations, Repairs

At the moment I prefer to use the same box on every job I do.

Its the Rainmaster 4/6/9 or alternatively the modular version that can be expanded up to 18 stations. The biggest reason I choose this as my preferred control box is that it comes with a 5 year warranty and the after sales service is excellent.

All other control boxes come with a 12 mth or 24 mth warranty leaving you high and dry after that period of time if anything should go wrong.

The Rainmaster is also, cheap, very easy to use and has all the functions of a Rainbird or a Hunter – two of the bigger name brands.

Made by Holman, with a local branch service is easy to come by and if the unit fails in those first five years the guys at Holman are excellent at honouring their warranty. Its 5 years of no headaches.

The Rainmaster has a battery back up that will save your settings in the event of a power outage and comes in a waterproof outdoor housing.

If you need a new control box then give me a call on 0400044236 or email brightonreticulation@gmail.com and I will supply and fit for $320.00 inc GST.

 

 

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