Question
QUESTION: You had mentioned in a previous question for the person to get back with you with the number of zones and you would make a controller recommendation, I'm not the person, but we have 4 zones (I think, I'm new to sprinklers, but we have 4 areas that water separately on 3 different schedules.  Currently have a Hardie controller, but it's starting to not register at certain times when you turn the setting dial.  What would you recommend to replace it and is it something a lay person can readily do?

ANSWER: Thanks for your question.
I would recommend choosing a mid grade controller. In Rainbird a STPi would work fine or an ESP. It's reasonably priced and have a number of features. With Hunter a EC or XC Series controller would also provide good value and have multiple features. Hunter also has a PRO-C which is a better mid-grade controller. All of these controllers are user friendly and easy to install. Stay away from the cheap controllers you find at the "big home improvement store". They are made to meet a price not a level of quality.
To install, I would recommend taking a picture of the controller with it's cover open to the wiring. This way you will have a reference to the original wiring. Once you get to that point and have questions, feel free to submit any questions to me.
You will spend about $100 for good a 4 station controller.

Matt

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

QUESTION: Thanks.  In the meantime (until we buy a new controller), we still need the current Hardie model to work.  I saw instructions for ones similar to ours (in another message), but not specifically ours (and we're new to the house).  In the directions in the box cover, it says you can put like a summer schedule on A and a winter on B (we have ABC), which would imply that the system only runs whichever program the slider switch is set for.  However, the instructions for a similar box seems to imply that if there is programing on ABC, that it would run A, B and C (this would defeat having a summer and winter schedule if both were running all the time).  We have 4 stations on three different schedules, so currently have the drip outfront on A (2 hrs once a week), garden and palms on B (30 mins twice a week) and citrus trees on C (20 mins 3 x's a week).  The slider for ABC is on A, the auto /manual slider is on auto and the setting tuner is straight up on "current time".  At this point, does it sound like all stations should be watering on their respective schedules?  If not and if we have different schedules for different areas, how would we set that?

Answer
To help programming, I need to know the model # of the controller. There are so very many variations of Hardie controllers. I think you do have it set correctly for your application.
You are correct, the controller should operate all programs (within the week) on their respective schedules. The only way I can think of for a summer winter schedule would be: "A" is summer and "B" is for winter. This won't accomplish what you want to do with the different plant types you are to water.

Matt