Question
Hi,

I was wondering if you could provide some insight into this. I am an absolute newbie and recently found that my Rainbird E-9 Controller seams to be "dead". Other than checking the power supply, I am not sure if there is something else I can do to set this right? There were couple of power outages a few days back. Not sure if this is related to that.

Thanks in advance!!

Answer
Hi Thomas

The E-Class controllers were discontinued a few years back, however there is a manual available from Rain Bird's web site.  Copy and paste this link in your web browser to get one:  

http://www.rainbird.com/pdf/turf/man_E-Class.pdf

If there's no power at the 24VAC terminals on the controller, check the 110V outlet the transformer is plugged into.  If there's power there but no power at the controller, it could be a bad transformer.

There are a couple of other considerations:  Unplug the transformer from the 110v outlet, wait 1 minute then plug it back in.  Turn the dial to Auto and open and remove the lower cover. With a metal object (like a small slotted screw driver), momentarily connect two contacts at the back of the RESET Tunnel located to the right of and just above the terminal strip. Remove the metal object. If the display returns, you can now reprogram the controller.

Or there could be bad news.  Verify that the controller is still getting power from the transformer with a multimeter.  It should read 24-27 volts at the terminal strips.  If the controller is still receiving power and the display remains blank, an electrical surge exceeding the controller's built-in surge protection may have damaged the controller's microprocessor.  If this is the case, your controller has to be replaced.  

Hope this helps

Tony