How to Wire a Sprinkler Timer
To keep your lawn green and fresh all year, consider investing in a sprinkler system. A timer will allow you to set sprinklers to water the lawn at fixed intervals. Check your favorite hardware or gardening store for the timer and some sprinkler wire (18 gauge). Count the number of valves in your system, then buy as many strands of wire, plus one extra. Now it's just a matter of connecting the right colors to the right terminals. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Instructions
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The main objective of wiring a sprinkler timer is to use the sprinkler wire to link all the valves in the system to the timer. Each valve contains one solenoid, a magnetic coil with two wires. Make sure that once you have a path laid out for the wire, the valves and solenoids are within reach. Find a safe spot for the wire. Run it through a trench in the soil or hide it under a pipe. When you reach the timer, dig up the wire and hold it above ground. If the timer is indoors, you'll need to drill a hole through a wall and feed the wire inside.
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Now back to the solenoid. The white, all-purpose wire connects to one wire on each solenoid. Pay close attention to the color-coded strands of wire and attach a different-color wire to the second wire on each solenoid. When you're hooking up the timer, the color coding is not of major importance, but each valve must be wired individually.
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The only color wire that requires a particular terminal is the white wire, which corresponds to Terminal C. Hook up the other wires so you can remember the placement. The last step is to attach the power pack to a source. Once the power is in place, you are ready to set the timer.
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Tips & Warnings
Switch the power to the timer off when you're setting the wires.
