Question
I have a James Hardie Rain Dial Controller, to which I can't seem to find a model number.  It has 9 zones on the face, however 12 "lugs" inside.  I've just recently tried using it for the first time this year, after having no problems for the 6 years I've been in the house, and I get no zones working whatsoever.  I have manually opened the main valve and the 5 valves I can actually find - 4 are burried somewhere - and I get water at all of the zones I open manually.  I've discovered my rain sensor wire is cut and probably never has worked.  My transformer is showing I'm getting 24 volts, and each valve is showing somewhere between 22-28 volts each when opened.  I tried a new transformer, and I got nothing.  My only guess is that the controller is bad.  Is there a way I can tell it's bad before taking the time to buy and install a new controller?

Thanks,

Bob

Answer
Thanks for your question.
I think you may have discovered the problem and didn't realize it. The rainswitch. They normally cut the common wire to route it through the rainswitch. The common must make a complete circuit from the controller to the valve. I suggest connecting the 2 wires going to the rainswitch, bypassing it.
If this doesn't help. reply back.

Matt