X Core Hybrid Controllers

Posted on 2nd November 2012 in Controllers, Installing, Never Seen That One Before, Products

This is the control box you would use if you have no access to mains power. It is totally battery operated and does not require a 240v supply.

I came across one of these in Butler this week and only realised when we arrived that it was a hybrid. The trick here is that none of your regular 24v solenoids will work with it, so because we were laying retic and turf that day it meant a frantic search to locate some DC latching solenoids.

In the end Total Eden in Balcatta had 3 we needed so it was long drive there and back to make it work. I’m not sure why anyone would use one of these in Suburbia where power is not an issue. The other thing to remember with these controllers is that the solenoids are expensive. You will pay $80.00 for each solenoid rather than the regular $30.00 so it adds to the cost of the job.

I believe you can use regular Hunter valves and simply change the coil to DC latching, but I haven’t tested that method.

Next time I’ll be making a note of whether the controller is AC or DC!

 

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Can I Repair My Retic Control Box

Posted on 5th July 2012 in Controllers, What's Going on There?

The short answer is probably ‘yes’. You can repair anything if you want to, but it isn’t good economics.

The last time I checked the cost of repairing a control panel for a retic box it was around $150.00 at an electronics specialist. Then there is the removal and replacement – allow another $150.00 and you are already close to replacement cost, but with no warranty.

So in short – like most things these days a retic control box is a disposable item, so my advice is to get one with a decent warranty.

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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.

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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.

 

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

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Reticulation Controller for the Tap?

Posted on 28th April 2011 in Controllers, Installations

 

Reticulation off the tap can be done, but always with significantly less pressure than off the mains. If you are going this route then it makes sense to get both a ‘double adaptor’ for your tap and a good quality digital controller that will allow the reticulation to function as if it were off the mains.

Personally I favour the Holman controllers as they are cheaper, easily programmable and haven’t let me down yet.  You can also use a Galcon but these tend to be a little more expensive for the same functionality.

Either way they are battery powered and you can get a year out of a good set of batteries before needing to change things over.

 

 

With either controller you can add a ‘two way alternating valve’ that will allow you to run two stations off the one tap controller. You simply screw on the alternating valve and then set two start times on the controller. For example set start 1 at 5.00am and start 2 at 5.15am. Each time a new start kicks in the valve adjust to allow water flow through a different pipe

That’s the basic set up and the rest is plumbing!

If I had one tip for people setting up tap irrigation it would be to use plumbing tape and heaps of it and check your seals as you go. There is nothing worse than discovering a small leak in the first join after you have put it all together!

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

 

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Unknown Error Message on Holman 1248 Controller

Posted on 5th March 2011 in Never Seen That One Before

I was doing a backyard install yesterday on a home in Carramar where the developers had used a 6 station Holman 1248 Control Box. Everything was looking sweet but each time I tested the new stations (5 & 6) an error message would appear on the display. It said ‘error 2 station 3′ and the ‘fuse’ message was flashing.

So the puzzle was that:

a) I hadn’t messed with station 3 so it should have been ok

b) The controller fuse was intact

c) I got the message intermittently and there was no consistency to it. Sometimes it would stop the whole cycle of watering and other times it would appear once the cycle was completed

I immediately figured it would have been the station 3 coil as it seemed to be the only logical reason.  I tested a different controller (The Rainmaster 469) and didn’t have any problems with station 3. The Rainmaster 469s will blow a fuse if the coil is faulty. It didn’t blow…

So I ended up ringing Holman in Osborne Park to ask them. The technician in the office didn’t know the solution, but put me onto the bloke who did know.

‘Ah yes – that’d be the adjustable fuse setting that is showing that message’ he said.

‘The what?…’

It turns out the control box allows you to adjust the amperage setting of the fuse (I don’t know why) and that it was obviously having a meltdown and in need of changing.

I had left the job by that stage and passed on the info to the homeowner who was able to make the changes themself.  I guess the moral of the story is that unless you need a complicated controller with a whole array of functions it may be better to stick with a simple one where the faults will be obvious.

The manual for the 1248 is here should you need it (but it doesn’t mention the error I just explained!)

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

 

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