Question
QUESTION: I bought this house with the sprinkler system already installed by the previous owner.  It has a Toro Ecxtra timer.  The timer works fine in manual mode, but the automatic mode does not work.  Nothing comes on at the start time.  I called Toro and after checking the programming said to unplug the unit for half an hour and then reprogram it.  If it still didn't work, then it needed replacing. I got a new one and had the exact same results.  One thing I have noticed is that the display is supposed to show the programs scheduled for that day at the top of the display and it doesn't. When I hooked up the power to the new one, it did at first, but after connecting all the wires, it no longer did.  Any ideas why it doesn't work in auto mode?  

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

ANSWER: Hi Bruce:

It is the new timer a Toro Ecxtra? do you have a rain sensor?

If you have a rain sensor be sure you have the correct settings: ENB and NO or  NC. If you don't have a rain sensor be sure you have the the SW on DIS and have a jumper at the rain sensor ports. If  you have set it to ENB and do not have a jumper the auto mode will not work.

Regards
Guillermo

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Guillermo,

First thanks for answering my question.  I'm not sure how new the unit is.  It looked just like the new one I returned however.  I don't have a rain sensor at this time though I plan to purchase one.  I've waited since I can't get it to work on auto and didn't want to spend the money.

I checked the settings.  It is on disable.  The sensor input had the original white tag stuck to it over the input holes.  I removed the sticker and I don't see anything inserted there.

So, my question is, what can I use for a jumper?  I'd like to try that and see if it then works, but there is no jumper with the unit that I can see.

Once again, thanks for your efforts.

bruce

ANSWER: You can use a small wire as a jumper. Try and we will see.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Guillermo,

Well, I wish I could say that that worked, but the timer still doesn't work in auto mode.  I used a wire to jump the sensor connector and made sure the setting was on disable.  Still did not run my program or show the programs to run that day at the top of the display as in the manual.  Any other ideas?  Could it be because I'm using the Time Pod to program it?  I have tried manually programming however and it still did not work.  Perhaps I should just buy a different brand of timer and see if that works.

Thanks again.

bruce

Answer
Hi Bruce

Calls my attention that you say the new timer fails after you connected all the wires. So make sure you have a ground wire (green), and look for any short circuit at the selenoids valves. To do this use a multimeter, set it to measure ohms (Ω)put the black lead on the common port (COM) (where the white wire is connected) and the red lead to each one of the zone ports( each used port  should have a colored wire). If your reading is below 20 ohms at any given port the selenoid is in short circuit and should be replaced. If all the wiring is fine probably you should try a different brand, like the Rain Bird ESP modular, the basic unit with 4 zones costs about $ 90. I'm assuming you have at least the following: one program with start time, watering days, watering time for each zone, the rain delay is set to 0 and the season adjust is set to 100%

Regards
Guillermo