It’s pretty miserable outside today but Sunday and Monday are looking very nice!
Call us to ensure you’re retic Controller is working and set correctly.
Time to Turn Your Reticulation Back On?
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Tag Archives: clarkson reticulation controllers
If You Look Hard Enough
Yesterday I went to try and sort out why the retic pipe kept bursting on a bore in Ridgewood.
Usually there is an obvious answer. The first step was a new controller and then a check that the solenoids were all opening as they should have been.
All good there.
I dug a hole and found two 25mm pipes going to the rear yard – but with no water coming out of the sprinklers.
I drilled small holes at various points along the pipes and water cane out. Hmmm… water is definitely getting thru, is there a blockage somewhere? Has someone capped off the line and not told me?
The pipes were under pavers so it wasn’t easy to test them. Eventually after 90 minutes of trying to locate the problem I lifted a slab right at the end of the run to the back and discovered that each pipe had a filter attached and the filters were completely blocked.
I have never seen filters at that place in a pipe before but once I removed them water flowed freely.
Moral of the story = for every problem there is a solution if you look hard enough (and long enough)
If you have a tricky problem then give me a call. I reckon I can fix it 🙂
The Irritrol Kwikdial Fuse Message
Its that time of year when I get a multitude of calls asking about the fuse message on Irritrol Kiwkdial controllers.
So firstly – if you have spent time looking for the ‘fuse’ then you will be frustrated because there isn’t one.. And the battery symbol with the line thru it doesn’t mean that the battery is dead, because there isn’t a battery either…
Ok – so whoever designed these wasn’t thinking ease of use!
What does the fuse message mean?
a) You have a solenoid coil that is faulty and causing the controller to fail.
b) The controller has a problem and needs replacing.
Usually I can tell by looking at the controller which is the most likely scenario. If your controller is old, outdoors and looking like its been exposed to rain then chances are it will need replacing. If the error is intermittent then its almost certainly the controller and if the screen is flickering just a little then that is another clue that the controller is about to die.
If your controller is in good condition, maybe inside a garage and the display is stable then it may be that one of the solenoids is the problem. We can determine that by removing solenoid wires and testing to see if it fails with various solenoids disconnected.
As a guide, a solenoid is usually around $150-250 to locate and replace while a controller is around $385.00 to replace.
Checked Your Controller?
Its still winter, but very soon we will be able to switch the retic back on and chances are you may discover that your controller has died over the break.
Spring is the time the rush begins so why not check your controller’s status now and call us to replace the old one before the warm weather begins.
We supply and install top quality controllers at excellent prices all over the metro area.
Reticulation Controller Supply and Installation in Clarkson
If your retic controller is dead, giving you trouble or just difficult to operate then give me a call!
I am based in Yanchep but service the northern suburbs. I carry a range of boxes onboard at all times but generally recommend the Hunter X Core for reliability, ease of use and value for money.
The Hunter has a two year warranty, a back up battery that will last 5-7 years and is remote control enabled (purchased separately).
It is also easy to use and comes with a lockable casing.
Prices as at March 2017 are $375 for a 4 station controller, $385.00 for a 6 station and $415 for an 8 station. These prices include GST and I am a licensed electrician so you can rest assured the job will be done safely and competently.