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Please look at the DIY Troubleshooting section before posting; answers to most questions can be found there.
You can also reply to other people’s questions if you like. (Thanks for helping)
Please try to include the following with your question, list:
1) the date code (located under the battery),
2) the model number shown on the face of the controller (usually below and to the left of the dial, e.g., RD-600 or RD-600-R).
3) Color (mostly Gray or Blue) based on the example rainDials shown at the top of the page.
My RD 600R is flashing “SEn”. What does that mean. Trying to get the sprinkler system to come on temporarily and not the normal schedule.
Hi Frank,
Check out the DIY Troubleshooting page – it explains everything you need to know about the Sen message. If it helps, leave us a donation, if not, let me know and we’ll figure it out.
Regards,
Brian
Have 6 station controller dated 10/5/93. Works good as programmed. Three issues. 1. when trying to run manual on any station + key is sticky and has to be pressed many times . 2. have to jiggle dial to get the right thing to show up on the display. 3. ran a semi-auto. Later in the day one of the stations came on without any input from me. Is it repairable and what do I need to send to you?
Hi Sol,
I can repair buttons, switches, etc… I sent you a separate email with details; if you don’t get it, let me know
Regards,
Brian
RD-900. One station does not come on via the timer anymore. I can turn it on manually at the valve and it works. Why won’t it come on using the timer.
Hi Rick,
I think you sent an email too. Try switching the wire going to the one bad station with the wire for one that’s working. that way you’ll know if it’s the timer causing trouble or the valve/wiring is bad. hopefully that makes sense; if not, let me know.
Brian
Hardie 1994 system. Works on scheduled time, but will not run manually. Repair or replace?
Hi Susanne,
they’re excellent timers that can go 30 years easily. If it’s in good condition physically, I’d say try the repair. If isn’t doesn’t seem like a good candidate for repair, I’ll let you know and we can look at other options. The newer timers are proving to not be as reliable as the older ones, so I’m a fan of them.
See the ‘how to get it repaired’ in the menu for all the details.
Thanks for posting,
Brian
Hi, I am working on a RD-600 for a family friend here in Tucson. She has been having intermittent issues with it for a while. I guessing its a controller issue. The 9v battery doesn’t last long. Last week every time I would snap the controller in place the display would shut off. Today when I was there the display was blank, the battery was dead, we had 27vac on the terminal board. I pulled the controller and the terminal board off today and brought them home with me, incase i need to ship them to you (She lives almost an hour away. I also know she was getting a FUS 2 fault. I measured the resistance of valve 2 and it was shorted, read about 6 ohms. I am assuming its a bad valve, but will check that later. Anyway what do you advise? Should she upgrade to the RD-600-R?
Thanks in advance,
Galen
Hi Galen,
You’ve done a great job troubleshooting. I’d agree that there are multiple issues. The solenoid needs replacing, and I’ll send you all the repair information for the timer.
Thanks,
Brian
Hi Brian, I’m having trouble with the controller. I’ve reset everything after the water was turned back on. Normally everything is still set from last year. This year we had to reset everything and now it is erratic. It comes on at different times and when we tried to program it a second time program B has a message EVR. I don’t know how to set it to go back to original default and that my not even help. Its over 15 years old and I have an extra one that you repaired last year so if it’s something that isn’t worth repairing let me know.
Hi Bud,
I haven’t seen an EVR message before, that’s strange. I’d say send it in. They can go easily to 30 years of life after repair. If I can’t repair it, there’s no charge. I’m glad you’ve got a spare to work with for a while.
Look at the How to get it repaired menus for additional info if you don’t have it.
Have a good weekend,
Brian
Mr Irritol system is set to come on 5:30 AM and 7:00 PM. The AM does not come on and just pulses on the popups that pulse up 1/4 inch and back down and up again. If I attempt manual the same thing happens but the night time setting works perfectly. Any recommendations?
Hi Freddy – yep, it’d be a standard repair item – I’ll send you email with the details.
Thanks
Hi. Only 1 of my 4 zones is working. Plus none of the 4 zones will work if I set to manual. Thank you.
Hi Robert,
That’s usually due to a valve or wiring issue. Try looking at the section about testing the transformer in the RD600 troubleshooting section. You can bypass the timer and connect the valve to the transformer directly to test it. If you have questions, let me know.
Regards,
Brian
Hello Dr. R! I am trying to troubleshoot a problem with a 1200. One zone does not turn on. I have tested that solenoid with connection to another zone wire and it works fine. Deduction is that its the Zone 4 live wire problem. When I put a continuity tester on #4 on the circuit board it is fainter than the other zones. are the circuit boards prone to problems like this? tx, in advance. btw, I sold my house and am trying to get out of this for as cheaply as possible!!
Hi Scott,
After conversing on email, it sounds like there were two problems I’m glad it’s all working well again.
Regards,
Brian
Train Dial 600 R
The initial watering valves 1&2 are working fine, however, when their watering, both #1&2 immediately repeat. What do I need to adjust.
Thank you Don
That’s a scheduling conflict, usually with overlapping or too many start times. Look for that on all schedules, a, b and c.
If all else fails, do a factory reset by following the DIY Troubleshooting page instructions.
I can also do a phone consultation to get you going again, and am happy to help.
Let me know what you think and we can go from there.
Regards,
Brian
I have a brand new RD600R. My installer said that there is an out of the box failure. There is no 24 VDC on the MV/Pump contact…which is where he is connecting a pump start relay switch wire. Are out of the box failures common on new units?
Hi Patrick,
We had some emails going to figure it out. For the readers wondering about this RD600 issue, here’s the result: The timer has a feature that turns on the pmp/mv circuit when a station is on. This feature can be turned on/off per station. The feature was simply turned off. Once turned on (see the manual), everything worked normally.
Thanks for the generous donation Patrick, I appreciate it.
Brian
I have reset my RD1200 both ways still no power. The valves turn on manually. It is only @3 years old. Any suggestions?
RD1200 ext-r blue
Hi Terry,
When you turn them on manually, do you mean manually at the valve itself, or using the manual function on the timer (Pressing the Manual On button after adding some minutes)?
Brian
At the valve.
I did lose power a few times this winter.
Ok, thanks. That helps. I’ll send u a separate email with som options…
hi, I have a RD-600-R. only using 2 stations. B station doesn’t always come on as programmed. any suggestions?
I sent you a separate email with some additional questions and info; if you didn’t get it, post back here and let me know. You might want to review the DIY Troubleshooting page for the programming tips and information. Stations have nunbers and schedules have letters.
thanks
Brian
My rd600-ext-r has one set of valves cooing like a dove and they continuously leak water if I turn the cap it leaks into the valve box but the cooing stops. What do I need repaired?
I sent you a separate email with some additional questions and info; if you didn’t get it, post back here and let me know.
thanks
Brian