How Do Sprinkler Valves Work? Rain Bird Irrigation 

Whomever invented that valve…Thank you!

Who so ever comments after this comment.... Thank you!

You're welcome.

Wym?? Rain bird made it

Yeah okay their system is garbage and instructions might as well be written in Japanese if they got the instructions you need like spring start up they didn't give me one thing on instructions on how to start I seen five different videos of people turning it on five different ways and none are working my system is 1 yr old GARBAGE

Hi Jeremy, if you have any questios, we'd be happy to try and answer them!

BOT COMMENT SYSTEMS ARE GARBAGE

Sorry, but without training or a lot of experience you will be quickly overwhelmed. You are on the right track though, with educating yourself.

Really? A Golf Course? Your playing in the big leagues and your new to this? Who are you rubbing elbows with?

@@noeeon9910 What's big league? Golf course or working with rainbird stuff? Irrigation is fairly simple imo. Now the comment is 3 years old and in retrospect it worked out well. I did my job well. No longer working with golf but thats for a whole different reason! :)

@@Zaru7t10 Golf Courses is big leagues... Not working with rainbird. And yes irrigation is fairly simple.... In theory. I'm sure you " fixed" the issue. But doubt you did it right.

@@noeeon9910 My boss at the time had worked on golfcourses some 20 years and he never complained about my work with our irrigation system. But yes, if you compare that course I worked on with the big league courses in US and whatnot, I wouldnt stand a chance ofc.

Fred Herrman a solenoid has a magnet inside it moving a metal rod

rain bird lá to the beach eu to do a lot of homework homework and then homework and homework to do and so we will be doing

Yep the spring is what allows it to overcome the inlet pressure

you dont adjust it. I think you're referring to the bleeder screw right above. unscrew it a bit and it opens up the diaphragm. Basically just a way to turn your valves on manually. You can do the same with the solenoid.

Bleeder screws main function is to help flush debris, it also turns on the valve by chance

Most likely debris in the valve.

@@coltwinchester6124 That was my guess as well when I went hunting for it. After a good clean though it still misbehaved, I suspected a worn diaphragm and replaced the top. All good since. That was months ago and as that retic line was a bit overgrown, and I hadn't drawn a detailed enough diagram for it, I started digging for the pipe and joins etc - goes under the driveway and branches to a couple of additional areas. I've still got to finish off that task, then put some rocks back. Something else always comes along that is a higher priority when you're a weekend DIY-er 🙂

@@fred4687 40 year experience here. You are on the right track, 🤔

yes you can blow air through a pop up head. then open up your other zones one at a time either manually or through your clock.

Curious, why is there an automatic drain 4 feet underground? Anyway to answer your question, no air will not escape through a closed solenoid.

Hi, The solenoid handle does not make any movement when receives voltage. It is only a tool to know what the current position of the solenoid is. Every time that system is winterized. The best option is to leave the valves opened. That is how the system gets pressurized manually and takes the remaining water out.

Few things you'll need to keep in mind. You need sufficient pressure upstream for the valve to function correctly, then you need something that will trigger the solenoid at 24vAC.

@@addleyscanada Finally i use a washing machine valve since the amount water that flow is small and also has better sealant and very little weight of few grams and fitted directly to the tube.The irrigation valve of 1 inch when filled with water weights about 1 kgr.

@@addleyscanada actually you don't even need 24vAC to actuate it. I have used as low as 8vDC to actuate it before.

what your asking: Is there is loss of flow because of the mechanical interworkings of an elec valve vs a manual ball valve? the answer is yes. There is a small loss of flow due to friction loss, this happens through out the whole system. there are charts for these calculations. Determine your GPM or ( Flow ) and find the friction loss for a 3/4" valve..

No, you valve is bypassing. Change your valve.

Yes, that's an important principle, like a bipolar junction transistor. It takes a lot of mechanical power to open a big valve. A tiny flow from a small solenoid valve, that doesn't take much power to operate, leverages the power of the water supply to actuate the big passage.

you still need a backflow if you're on culinary.

@@mariobeans Thanks. I replaced all my inline valves with anti-siphon valves. But now, when the sprinklers turn off a see a gush of water comes out. Is that OK

Jimmy Scott same ? Any update ?

I've installed probably a few... yeah I'd say 3 in my lifetime backwards and when I went to kick them on.... nothing happened. After closer inspection I realized I was moving so fast I put it on backwards

For drip irrigation systems, you'll need a low flow valve or control zone kit. Here are some options: store.rainbird.com/nsearch/?q=low+flow+valve

I hope you dont own an irrigation company.

@@noeeon9910 I do and have been in the industry of close to 20 years. I posed the question to settle and argument with a new "Irrigation Contractor" who was advising people to simply let the controller run through a cycle to prevent freezing in the system. Very misguided advice in my opinion. If you would care to weigh in on the subject I would be interested in your opinion.

@@marvisirrigation4796 misguided advise? You are a pleasant fellow. Theres too many variables for me to give you advise on that matter including backflow device, region, and design in order to winterize properly. With that said however that new irrigation contractor is very misinformed.

If the valve isnt working, the first thing to try is to flush out any debris that may be interfering with its operation. You do this by opening the Bleed screw about one turn. Sprinkler zone will turn on as you do this, so be aware.

Solenoid to raibird controller? I can help but I need more details.

Just for simplicity, run pair of wires to the solenoid. One wire from the solenoid to the common on controller, the other wire to the zone on the controller. That's it.

Yes

Yes turn the solenoid

Turn solenoid counter clockwise (loosening) about 1/4turn. Or some valves have a small plastic manual control next to solenoid that raises plunger when flipped.

I prefer unscrewing the bleeder screw

Not if it is installed within the manufacturer's pressure ratings.

bleeder screw. you use to to open valve manually. you can do the same by loosening the solenoid a tad

I had this problem with on of my stations. To prove it is not a problem with the solenoid, I took a solenoid from another station and used in the troubled station. It did not make a difference. At that moment, I was pretty certain the problem is with the port, which allows water from the inlet to get into the top of the diaphragm, blocked by debris. Since the water from the inlet port does not flow to the top of the diaphragm and thus no water pressure is there to hold the diaphragm down to prevent water from the flowing from the inlet port to the outlet port . The filter of this port can't be cleaned out easily and the diaphragm is 15 years old; thus I simply replaced it. It is about $5 in Lowes and Home Depot.

I have found some problems with the bonnet, sometimes they crack where the selenoid dump port is, causing the valve to stay open all the time, I have seen that problem with Hunter and Rain Bird valves, a hair thin crack barely noticeable.

Most likely debris in the inflow.

Replace it, diaphrams probably stuck half closed. Or just completely deteriorated.

check the water pressure also.

only hand tightened.

No.. if the valve doesnt shut off you will have to go back to the source and shut it off there.

This video depicts the operation of a reverse flow valve (as noted in the narrative). If a reverse flow valve gets a hole in the diaphragm, the valve will close. That higher flow of water through the diaphragm will overwhelm the solenoid dump port allowing water pressure to build on the top side of the diaphragm. That pushes the diaphragm closed. So, if a valve won't open, one possible cause is a hole in the diaphragm.

Having same issue. Did you figure out what the problem was?

@@mrmastertj89 yes, I replaced the diaphragm with a kit from home Depot and it fixed everything. Working perfectly now

This one rainbird does answer.... way to go rainbird!

Yup it was the solenoid that was bad

I know this is 4 years later, but that screw "bleeds" the water from the top of the diaphragm thus lowering its water pressure and allowing the valve to open. However the solenoid is still closed, so as soon as you tighten the screw again the pressure begins to build in the top of the diaphragm and shuts the valve. I had exactly the same question as you, so it's not uncommon. These things don't exactly come with instruction manuals.

No, not generally. The solenoid's wire coil has more impedance to AC than DC. If you apply DC, too much current flows, and the coil overheats and fails. Same thing applies to contactors that actuate on 24VAC. The Rain Bird TBOS solenoids operate on 9VDC, and are drop-in replacements for the original 24VAC solenoids, so you could try that if you need to convert a Rain Bird solenoid valve to DC instead of AC. Furthermore, the TBOS design is a latching solenoid, so you only apply a voltage briefly to turn it on or off. This how the Rain Bird valves are converted to run on battery-powered controllers that can't afford to power solenoids continuously or with AC. The 24VAC controls are obsolete, dating back to when controllers comprised only transformers and crude switches.

exactspace me too and I have no idea what he’s talking about haha

So fun

Anne I'm drunjj

+john Kosheluk The center spring on top of the rubber diaphragm does several things. First, it helps the valve seal a little quicker when the solenoid is de-energized as water under pressure has to flow back on top, thru the tiny bleed hole, to create a pressure difference. At this point, not only does it help timing as the next zone opens, but secondly also helps in alignment of the rubber valve seat to close. With the Toro brand, the spring is on the solenoids tube which acts as a guide, but still aids in quicker closing of that zone & its water flow. Try it sometime without the spring, then note how much longer it takes the water to shut off. The next zone opens, with a slight delay, but having two zones open, creates a drop in supply pressure. If that occurs, the zone timing will be off and the next valve to open will take longer to unseat the rubber diaphragm. It is like an automatic transmission valve upshift. A valve allowing hydraulic fluid to hold the component for 2nd gear operation, has to release quicker that the valve that allows for 3rd gear to starts holding. Otherwise, you have some holding of two gears at the same time, which is bad. Hope that helps.

@@deankay4434 you guy you

Likely then you're sprinkler will always either on or off. Pretty sure always on.

@@securus777 i have seen many 2 way valves with integrated solenoid have spring attached with the diaphragm and some other type 2 way valves dont need springs. can you explain the advantage of not having springs in the diaphragm. in dorot make 2 way valves there is no spring required in the diaphragm.

@@xtrememotoroads Nope, sorry. Just a homeowner with a super basic system I'm trying to figure out on my own. :D

@@xtrememotoroads I can answer that question, I just need to know what other type of 2 way valves without springs you are talking about, like ball valves?

@@xtrememotoroads In some designs the rubber elasticity of the diaphragm itself provides the spring component, to save cost. But having a metal spring makes the operation more responsive and reliable, and gains the adjustable flow control stem feature. The spring stays the same over a lifetime, but a rubber part gets stiffer and goes "out of tune", so only the metal spring will last.

The "smaller knob" is a bleeder valve. It opens the valve manually by releasing the pressure at the top of the diaphragm that holds the valve down, similar to the dump chamber underneath the solenoid.

@@PhuryousOne ahh interesting, thank you!

I have the same issue. Did you figure it out?

Check the 2 wire going to solenoid . Orbit station terminal if you get 24 volt when you turn it On . If you get output . Then check the end of that wire that connect to Solenoid if connected the one with waterproof wire connector.

Your solenoid "piston" could be stuck. Solenoids are super easy to replace.

replace with new matching solenoid

You want them to pay you?

Valves are pretty cheap

So you’re saying Rain Bird doesn’t know how their own sprinkler valves operate? That they designed? This is the legit Rain Bird company RU-vid. I kind of trust their word over yours no offense.

Im sayin the illustrator or the explainer is all wet. The main water flow never passes above the diaphragm, and thats a fact.

Normally you do need a back flow preventer, for the times when the city water is shut down. At that time, there might not be enough pressure to keep the diaphragm closed, and water from the outlet side of the valve can flow backwards through the valve and into the city water supply. And theoretically that water can contain contaminants - fertilizer, E coli, etc. You should check with your city building department to see if a backflow preventer is required.

@@rockwellmath Thanks. How serious is it. My landscaping contractor just installed inline valves in both front and back yard. Also, it is causing a loud thump in the plumbing house when the sprinkler valve closes ( I assume that due to the water pressure hitting the valve and bouncing back). Do you recommend getting a back flow preventer or just replacing the existing system with anti-siphon levels

@@sunitbansal For anyone reading this and wondering, you should ALWAYS install a vacuum breaker/backflow preventer. Any modern municipality requires it by code. Also, what you described is called water hammer and I can't imagine that is being caused by a sprinkler valve. They close too slowly to cause water hammer, unless you have crazy high water pressure at your house. You might have a master valve before the actual sprinkler valves. Could be the cause? Either way, homes with copper piping should have water hammer arresters installed, if the home doesn't already have them.

You will need separate backflow preventer. These valves (rubber diaphragm and contaminated water) will fail.