Question
Hello,  I recently tried to get my sprinkler system up and running for the spring.  When I turned the system on, all zones came on to run at once.  I tried opening and shutting the valves manually and there is no difference in zones 1 and 2, but I can adjust the other zones a little bit (they still run all the time, just lower or higher pressure as I open and close the valve.)  I checked the wiring and saw 24V running to the solenoids so I'm pretty sure that's not the problem.  I also checked water pressure for the house and am running about 50psi.  I have tried bleeding the valves.  I have taken them apart and checked for debris.  I have flushed the valves.  Finally, last night, I trenched out the main line to look for leaks but did not find any.  Am I missing a step here.  I've put a bunch of work into this, but I can get the zones to shut off.  Any troubleshooting steps would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Thanks for the question.
This may sound simple, but have you unplugged the controller? I've had a few controllers get fused so they are applying power to the valves all the time.
Next would be to remove a solenoid and make sure the plunger is moving. When you have it in your hand, have someone turn the zone on and watch the center of the solenoid. You should see or hear the plunger snap in and then out when the power is turned off.
If you could give me the model of controller and valves, it would help diagnose the situation.


Matt