Question
hi, i need to know why i have to go up and flip the switch on the pump every time i turn the sprinklers on from my rainbird system. if i dont do that then the sprinklers just run the water that the gravity is pushing through them creating large puddles in my yard. can you please advise? i have very hard ground on my property so i am forced to water many times a day for small periods of time and when watering manually, that takes lots of time out of my day to go up to the pump house and flip that switch. thanks!

Answer
Hey Ethan, I hope this helps. I don't know exactly how you have your pump set up, but normally you will have a relay switch at the pump, that is turned on by your controller. It sound as if either the relay switch has gone bad, or the controller is not sending the right signal, or there is a problem with the wire from the controller to the relay switch. I would check in back of the controller and see if you have a wire that is hooked up to either a terminal marked PS (pump start) or MV (master valve). Start here and check to see if the controller is putting out about 22 to 26 volts when the controller kicks on, or even if you have a relay hooked up. Did it used to work before? Also, some controller require you to program that the master valve or pump start are on. Do you know what kind of controller you have? There are alot of variables working here, you need to find out if you have a relay switch, and if it is operating properly. Let me know if I can be of anymore help, thanks and have a great day.