How to install an outdoor Irritrol Rain Dial timer ft. Josh - hardwired | fun version | detailed

[@johnskitzis6540]

Great video with lots of detail. Thank you!👍

[@BGLENN-dp4tx]

Nice work. One suggestion about using the "white" wire. First, just to clarify the "VC" label on the PC board, the initials stand for "Valve Common", thus "VC". While the video is exactly correct that accepted logic is that "white is common" is true, that's actually been in effect for a very long time. So, yes, that is correct. HOWEVER, this is a carryover A-C current power standards - Black is "hot" and White is "common (or cold)". (Valves are 24VAC current operated. But, any suggestion to choose the white wire arbitrarily here must clarify to viewers the importance of VERIFYING that this convention pre-existed in the "old" system. When replacing a controller, this rule cannot be blindly applied without careful attention and common sense (no pun intended). It is entirely possible that whomever wired the original valves MAY have used a color other than WHITE for common connections to all valves. I have seen about every color used but the most common color other than WHITE has been the use of BLACK. If the video is going to include the verbiage suggesting use of the conventional use of color white, I suggest that emphasis be included pointing out that viewers verify that is was used previously before they dissemble the existing/old controller. They must VERIFY that the original wiring DID IN FACT use WHITE for "VC", i.e., "Valve Common". I have found that suggesting to people that they simply take a photograph of their "old" controller wiring BEFORE disconnecting it, is good insurance for resolving any doubt or questions that have a way of surfacing when all the "spaghetti" of dangling wires is being reconnected. Perhaps this was recommended in the video and I missed it. So, just in case... Alternatively, if for some reason this option is overlooked or forgotten before noting the pre-existing colors used for zone connections, there is one other foolproof way to verify what color is presently wired to the valves for the function of "valve common". DO THIS: Simply go to the location of the valve manifold or existing valves which are wired. Apply a little common sense and notice the color that is shared & connected to multiple valves. That is, each valve has two connections - one wire connects to its unique color in the cable. The other wire shares a common/multiple connection with all the other valves. It's THIS SHARED CONNECTION that is, obviously, the "valve common". So, simply note the color of the cable wire that connects to several valves. THAT'S THE COMMON color. It maybe WHITE, BLACK, or any other color depending on the level of professionalism of the original installer. Hopefully, by noticing the VC color before removing the "old" controller, determining the "VC"/common color used will be a very simply task. Great video - Seriously. This is one of the best videos on this topic I have seen. Kudos. So, not to just complain, a 1950s rural America working man envied nice tools that helped put food on the table. So, I suppose that's the roots of my old-fashioned notion of respecting one's tools and probably why I winced when seeing that nice battery-powered, multi-speed drill being used as a.... well, you know. Nuff said. I really don't want to visualize that again. 😦 (lol)

[@SprinklerPros]

Thank you. Yes, I have encountered plenty of systems which had commons other than white but we just wanted to mention the industry standard. Josh said, “The industry standard now is to use white as the common so to be consistent it's a good idea for you to do that as well.”

[@bokunkel]

I noticed that you only installed the new Timer, wouldn’t it been appropriate to fill in the existing hole before putting in the new one

[@SprinklerPros]

Yes, you're right. I used to carry a product to fill the holes but it got so hot in my tool box that it would harden after just a couple of uses. My clients normally take care of any holes that are still exposed after the installation. I have never had someone complain about it. Good call, though.

[@alansheaffer7082]

do I need to worry about doing the ground wire if it's inside and plugged in to an outlet instead of hardwired

[@SprinklerPros]

Alan, great question. No. That is just there for the outdoor models when a person wants to run a solid copper wire to the soil to protect it against electrical wows like lightning strikes. I don't do it where I live because lightning isn't a threat, but in the Midwest and in the South it would probably be a good idea.

[@kc6442]

🕷 "whoopsi" ⚡️ 😂

[@everythinghomerepair1747]

Nice job on the install. That timer is nine years old if it’s still there lol.

[@SprinklerPros]

Yep. It's still there. Thanks

[@stevemcgavren7645]

System works on manual. Timer set to correct time. When time is reached nothing happens. Any thoughts please?

[@SprinklerPros]

Steve, correct date/day of week? How many start times? Which programs are the start times on? A, B, or C?

[@stevemcgavren7645]

@@SprinklerPros Checked all of those but will check again. New motherboard on the way. Capacitor was good.

[@SprinklerPros]

hmm. Yep, tough to tell without onsite diagnostics and testing. Sorry about that.

[@samuhrick]

How do you program

[@SprinklerPros]

I have a video about how to program a Rain Dial timer.

[@abdelbassetrhyby4571]

How much price of the timer please

[@SprinklerPros]

You can get the current price by going to the Resources site linked below the video.

[@BGLENN-dp4tx]

Dude, Google it. Only you know your details, i.e., world location/vendors/currency exchange rates/etc. depending on where you live. IMHO, the 6-zone external controller is a great choice but like I said, only you know how many zones you need, etc. etc.