Rainbird Wiring Diagram (2024)

FAQs

How do I find the common wire in my sprinkler system? ›

Every irrigation has a common wire that connects all of the solenoids together and in most cases it is a black wire, as this is the colour most commonly used. The common wire is found in the 'c' terminal and is vital to the systems operation.

Electrical power for fire pumps shall be supplied by a dedicated circuit.

Without digging, it is possible to find sprinkler lines by getting a design map from the company that installed the system. If this is not possible, one could go to the valve box and follow a line back to each of the head sprinklers in a circuit. Or one could utilize an electronic water-detection device.

When using a wire-tracking tool you can hear the signal strength as well as follow the null meter. The signal will be stronger on either side of the current being sent through the wire from the wire tracking tool. After you have located the break, it is helpful to cross the path to narrow down the hot spot.

A thermostat wire cannot be used for a sprinkler wire because it is not ranked for direct burial. If anything, it is best to keep sprinkler wire and thermostat wire to their respective applications. The differences in price are not significant to swap one for the other for budgeting reasons.

The common wire is usually white in color and runs from your controller to your master cylinder and then to each of the other valves on your irrigation system in turn. If something happens to cut your common wire, then every valve after the cut will fail to turn on when activated.

On average, a traditional sprinkler system zone boasts five to six rotary heads or eight to ten spray heads. At a minimum, you usually need four or five to cover a small square or rectangle.

Doing your own sprinkler installation can be a more budget-friendly way to keep your lawn and garden well-watered. Make sure to plan your project out. Check your water pressure and install enough sprinkler heads to provide the coverage you need. Keep your new sprinklers performing well with regular maintenance.

The common wire is usually white in color and runs from your controller to your master cylinder and then to each of the other valves on your irrigation system in turn. If something happens to cut your common wire, then every valve after the cut will fail to turn on when activated.

How do you find the common wire? ›

Identifying a common wire isn't so easy, so we simplified it for you: Unscrew the cover of the thermostat, and take a hard look at the wires inside. Note the number of wires and their colors. If you live in the U.S., as per electrical codes, a common wire should be either white or gray.

In the US, the common wire should be white or sometimes gray. However, some homes have incorrectly colored cables. A professional electrician can test your wires to find the common wire, or you can use a multimeter.

The easiest way to know if your system already uses a common wire is to remove the faceplate of your thermostat and check if any wire is connected to the C-terminal. If the terminal is empty, you have the following five options when installing your thermostat.