Question
QUESTION: I have a Toro controller.  It has started blowing the 1 1/2 amp fuse.  There is also a 3/4 which is fine.  Seems that the controller works fine.  I ohm'd all connections and one wasn't shorted, so I assumed that was my problem.  But after disconnecting that wire and putting in a new fuse it blew.  I then removed the common wire to segregate whether it is a controller or valve issue and fuse didn't blow.  I then hooked all wires back up and everything was fine.  Then when I was manually going through the zones, somewhere from the sixth zone on (the last time I looked, zone six was on and everything appeared to be working), the fuse blew again.

Any ideas?
thanks,
Mike

ANSWER: Hey Mike, I hope this helps. When this fuse blows, it means either you have a short in the field wire(s) going out to the valves, or a solenoid is shorting out. What I would recommend, is turn on each valve manually by the controller one at a time. Let each of them run for about 5 minutes. Eventually you should get to the valve # that is causing you problems. Lets say it shorts (blows fuse) on the #7 valve. To tell if it is the solenoid, or the wires, un-hook the wires at the solenoid. Now turn valve #7 back on. If it still blows the fuse, then it is in the wire, if it doesn't blow the fuse, then it is the solenoid. Good luck and let me know if I can be of anymore help. Thanks and have a great day.

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

QUESTION: great answer and right on the money.  Next question, how do I find the location of the valves?  I found the ones in my front yard by poking around with the shovel, but I've had no luck in the backyard even though I followed that wire out of the house.  Heard about some device that attaches to the controller and somehow makes noise where the valves are.  Anyway for a do it yourselfer to figure this out?

thanks,
Mike

Answer
Hey MIke, you are correct. What you need is called a wire tracer (valve locator). What this does, when you attach it to the field wire inside the controller, is send out a signal that is picked up by a hand held wand hooked to a headset. It allows you to trace your wire to the
valve(s). When you come to the solenoid on the valve, it will send out a louder signal, indicating where the valve(s) are located. You might check with a irrigation supply company, sometimes they will rent the wire locator. Let me know if I can be of anymore help, thanks and have a great day.