How to check valve wires
 
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  How to check valve wires
TOOLS THAT YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE THIS JOB:

--Voltmeter
--Wire Strippers
--Waterproof Connectors
--Shovel (you might have to do some digging)

Note: If you are checking the continuity of the wires, there are two ways to check: both ways will be explained.

FIRST METHOD: Checking the wire from the irrigation controller:
1. First take the wire or wires that you are checking and unplug them from the irrigation controller.
2. Disconnect the common wire as well (in most cases, it is the white wire).
3. Take your voltmeter and turn the dial to 200 on the Ohms (the horseshoe shaped sign) meter.
4. Take the voltmeter and make sure the black and red wires are plugged into it.
5. Take and touch the red wire coming from the voltmeter to the wire coming from the valve.
6. While still holding the red wire, take and touch the black wire coming from the voltmeter to the common wire (The white wire).
Note: *If you don't get a reading of 0 or 1, then it is damaged somewhere under the ground. If you get a reading somewhere between 22-40; in most cases the wire is OK.
If you get a reading higher than 45, in most cases; the solenoid has gone bad. Some valves, like Weathermatic, do read a high number.
**Take a wire that you are certain that is in good working condition and follow all of the steps to make sure that it isn't the common wire.

SECOND METHOD: Checking the wires from the field.
1. Identify the valve that you are going to be working on.
2. Remove the wire nuts.
3. Disconnect the wires from the solenoid.
4. Take your voltmeter and turn the dial to 200 on the Ohms (the horse shoe shaped sign) meter.
5. Take the black wire coming from the voltmeter and twist the common wire (in most cases, the white wire) onto it.
6. Take the other wire and twist it on to the red wire coming from the voltmeter.

Note:You should get a reading of 22-24 Ohms; if you don't the wire is most likely damaged.To find were the break in the wire is you can go to your local rental yard and rent a wire locator. I like using the 521 by Progressive Electronics/Greenlee.If damaged, you can fix it by splicing a piece of wire between the break.
1. Take the wire locator and trace the wire following the manufactures instructions.
2. Once you have located the break dig till you find the wire.
3. Taking the wire, make a clean cut and strip both ends of it and twist them together. Place a waterproof wire nut over it to seal it.
4. Go and repeat steps 3-7, using the first method above.
Note: If it is, then you are done and can bury the wire. I like to put any wire splices in a small box so I have easy access to them in the future.