How to Troubleshoot a Rainbird Sprinkler

Rainbird is one of the biggest names in the sprinkler business. They have a very good reputation, and the spray bodies usually come with a 3- to 5-year warranty. They are also known for having a great co-molded wiper seal. With any sprinkler system, however, you are bound to run into problems. If you'd like to avoid the cost of calling in a sprinkler specialist, try troubleshooting the difficulties yourself.

Instructions

1. Make sure the dial is set to the AUTO position if the automatic irrigation is not occurring. The unit may be in SUSPEND mode due to user entry, so set the dial to AUTO and press the RESUME button. Make sure the Configure Controller dial position is not on BLOCK. It should be on ALLOW. The irrigation may be suspended due to measured rainfall. If this is the case, move the dial to the Special Features position and change the user value from Advanced Controller Setup to a higher rainfall threshold.

2. Push the RESET button located on the back of the controller front panel if the display is partially or completely blank. An electrical surge may have disrupted or damaged the controller's electronics. Make sure to turn off the controller before you disconnect the 9V battery. Allow the controller to rest for 2 or 3 minutes and then reconnect the battery. The controller will once again accept programming commands and function normally if the electrical surge did not do any permanent damage. If this is not the case, you will need to call in a professional.

3. Rotate the dial to the Fine Tuning Watering dial position if a zone is too wet or too dry. The problem may be that incorrect zone parameters are set. Specifically, the Sprinkler Precipitation Rate may be incorrect. You will want to decrease, or increase, watering in 1-percent increments. You should only increase to a 30-percent difference.

4. Rotate the dial to the Input Zone Information position if run-off is occurring on a regular basis. Then, change the soil type and/or the degree slope. Your problem may be that zone input information does not match active site conditions.

5. Clean any debris off of the Debris Screen if inaccurate rainfall measurement occurs regularly. The debris screen may be clogged and not allowing the rainfall to activate the tipping bucket mechanism. You should also check to see if the Sensor Rain Funnel is clogged. If it is, clear the funnel of any debris.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check manufacturer recommendations before making adjustments to your Rainbird Sprinkler.

References

• Rainbird Sprinkler manual
• Rainbird Sprinkler review